2023-2024 SBCSC Scholarships

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NOTE: The deadline for receiving applications and supporting documents has passed. We are no longer accepting applications or supporting documents at this time. This web page is for information only.

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Every year, the South Bay Chinese Service Club (SBCSC) awards scholarships to exemplary high school graduating seniors in Southern Alameda County.  Students residing or attending high schools in Fremont, Newark, or Union City, CA with a personal background in or appreciation of the Chinese or Chinese-American history, culture, heritage, or language, and an unweighted GPA of at least 3.0 (or 2.5 for “need-based scholarships” applicants) are eligible to apply.  Students residing outside of the Tri-city area are also eligible to apply if their parents or grandparents are members of SBCC in good standing.  The minimum individual scholarship award amount is $1,000. Students may be selected to receive multiple awards if they qualified for specific awards sponsored by our donors.

During the 2022-2023 school year, with the generous donations from many of our members and major sponsors and the partnership with Chinese Immersion Parents’ Council of Fremont, we awarded a record total of $46,375 scholarship awards to 28 students.

Applicants will need to submit their application online by January 31, 2024. [Please note that the deadline has passed and we are no longer accepting applications.] Upon notification of the acceptance of their applications, the students will be required to submit a 500-700-word maximum essay “How the Chinese culture, heritage, or language affects my goals and interactions with society” and an official (signed) seventh semester transcript (submitted by the school office or official transcript service site) by February 23, 2024.

CLICK HERE to download the 2023-2024 SBCC SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS document for more detailed instructions.

IMPORTANT: Do not wait till the last minute to submit the essay and the transcript.  Schools often need more than a week to process transcript requests and if we have received your application but have not received the essay or the transcript (and other supporting documents), your application will be rejected!

The purpose of the scholarship program is to recognize these talented students for their hard work and achievements, and to provide encouragement for the challenges ahead.  Scholarship award recipients are selected based on their academic achievement, leadership qualities, extracurricular achievements, community services, and a number of other factors.  We will also be awarding one or more “need-based” grants to qualified applicants from low income households. To qualify for the “need-based scholarship awards”, you family’s maximum annual income cannot exceed the following:
- Family size of 6 or more: $145,200
- Family size of 5: $135,600
- Family size of 4: $126,600
- Family size of 3: $115,600
- Family size of 2: $112,900
The actual number of scholarships will be determined by the amount of donations received.  Please visit our 2023 Scholarships Recap web page to view last year's award recipients and the photo gallery.

All applicants will be notified by March 29, 2024 whether they have been selected to receive a scholarship. The scholarship awards will be presented to the award recipients at the 2024 SBCSC Scholarship Awards Banquet to be held at Pearl Bay restaurant, Fremont on Wednesday evening, April 24, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. Scholarship winners will be invited to the banquet and will receive a complimentary dinner. The program will include a keynote speaker who will address the students, parents, and guests. 

NOTE: IF YOU ARE SELECTED TO BE AN AWARD RECIPIENT, YOU MUST BE PRESENT AT THE AWARDS CEREMONY TO RECEIVE THE AWARD. Please make sure you are available to attend the banquet on April 24, 2024 if you would like to apply for the scholarships.

Deadline to receive the completed application form is Wednesday, January 31, 2024.  All remaining application materials (a 500-700-word maximum essay, supporting document for special awards, need-based awards, and the official transcript) must be postmarked by February 23, 2024 or received as email attachment on February 23, 2024.