Scholarships Info – For Students FAQ

The Los Angeles Valley College Foundation provides scholarships for students who register LAVC as their home campus and are enrolled at LAVC. Scholarships are designed to support students as they continue on their educational journeys. All scholarships are provided by the generosity of independent donors, community members, businesses, LAVC Alumni, and the campus community (and therefore vary in amounts, due dates, and eligibility requirements).

Students: Applying for Scholarships

How to Apply to Scholarships: Log in to your student portal and click on the “Scholarship Tile.”  Click on “Login Here” next to the Student Log In.

How it works: All scholarships are administered via the Next Gen digital platform and accessed through the Student Information System (SIS) portal. Students submit applications that meet standardized criteria, in addition to any criteria that is specific to certain scholarships. Next Gen uses an algorithm to match students to scholarships based on a student’s qualifications. This system streamlines the process by allowing students to apply for multiple scholarships using a single application. Independent committees then review and select qualified candidates.

Most LAVC scholarships open in the Spring semester and the deadline is several weeks later. The best way to see what scholarships are currently open is to log on to the student portal.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions for Students

WHAT ARE SCHOLARSHIPS?
Scholarships are monetary awards to students to support their education and can assist in costs for school, supplies, and living expenses. Scholarships are awarded based on a variety of criteria including academic excellence, GPA, and areas of study, and vary in amounts.

HOW DO I APPLY?
Students are encouraged to continually check the Scholarships Tab on their SIS Portal for all scholarship opportunities. The LAVC Foundation has opportunities all year long, with the majority being offered at the start of the Spring semester. Students must identify Valley as their home campus and be currently enrolled in classes at LAVC.

To apply: Log in to your student portal:
https://sso.laccd.edu/adfs/ls/idpinitiatedsignon.aspx?loginToRp=csprd.laccd.edu
Click on the “Scholarship Tile”. Click on “Login Here” next to the Student Log In.

WHAT SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE?
The most up-to-date list of scholarships currently open will appear in your student portal in the Scholarships tile, so keep checking there for opportunities. There are over 100 scholarships with multiple opportunities and criteria. Some scholarships are based on various areas of study or other commonality, for example Arts majors, transfer students, veterans, or student parents. Students are encouraged to complete all applications to all that are relevant to them. We encourage students to continually check the scholarships tab, as other opportunities outside of the LAVC Foundation office are often available, including those beginning with “DO” (District Office) – which are scholarships managed by the LACCD District Office. You are eligible to apply for those as well, but we at LAVC do not manage those.

DO I HAVE TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR EACH SCHOLARSHIP?
No, there are several applications that group scholarships together. By filling out one application, you are often applying for more than one scholarship. We also recommend that all students complete the Foundation General Scholarships application, which contains multiple scholarships within it. Based on the answers in your application, the system will then match you with the scholarships you qualify for, and committees will select who will be awarded.

WHAT IS THE DEADLINE FOR SCHOLARSHIPS?
Each application has its own deadline. Be certain to note the deadline for submission when beginning your application. Late applications are not accepted.

I AM AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT – CAN I APPLY?
Yes, international students are eligible for many of our scholarships.

I AM A PART-TIME STUDENT or NEW STUDENT – CAN I STILL APPLY?
Yes, there are several scholarships that allow part time and new students to qualify.

WHAT IF MY INFORMATION IN SIS IS INCORRECT?
To make any updates or changes to your SIS information, such as your name, address, or your major, please contact Admissions and Records. The foundation office is unable to make any edits to the SIS system. The scholarship application website pulls in much of your information from SIS automatically so if it is incorrect, it may affect your scholarship eligibility.

WHEN WILL I KNOW IF I HAVE RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP?
We will contact all students who have been awarded scholarships by email typically one month after of the close of the application date. Please check that your contact information is accurate so that we can easily notify you of your award. You can also check the scholarship tile in your student portal to see if you have received any awards.

WHO DECIDES WHICH STUDENTS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS?
Scholarship committees determine selection based on two factors. First, does the applicant meet the minimum criteria of the scholarship application? Second, how do students distinguish themselves from the rest of the scholarship applicants? We recommend you read questions carefully and emphasize qualities that may distinguish you from other applicants.

WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF RECEIVING A SCHOLARSHIP?
This depends on the scholarship and how many students apply and qualify for each scholarship. We encourage you to apply for all scholarships you are eligible for and to write thoughtful answers to the questions.

DO SCHOLARSHIPS AFFECT MY ELIGIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL AID?
Foundation scholarships do not typically negatively affect financial aid awards. For any specific questions about financial aid, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR ACCEPTING A SCHOLARSHIP?
Once a student is notified of an award, they must log into the SIS system, accept the award and write a thank you letter in the portal, which is also shared with the donor who funded the scholarship. For thank you letters, we ask that you make them personal and not simply a generic thank you letter. We ask that you include a bit about your personal journey, your personal or career goals, and what difference the scholarship will make in your life. Thank you letters that are generated by AI will not be accepted.

IF I AM AWARDED A SCHOLARSHIP, HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY AWARD?
All awards will be distributed directly via Bankmobile one to two weeks after you accept your award. Check your Bankmobile account to verify receipt.

PLEASE NOTE: Any outstanding fees with the district will be deducted from the award. This means that if you have any school fees that have not been paid, the scholarship will automatically go to pay those fees first, and you will see this reflected in your Bankmobile account.

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