Organization for Chinese Americans (OCA) Colorado Endowed Scholarship

Purpose:
The Fund is established to: support low-income students of primarily Asian-Pacific Islander descent who plan to use their education to benefit their Colorado community.

Founded in 1973, the Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) aims to embrace the hopes and aspirations of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States. With over 80 chapters and affiliates across the nation—including in Colorado—OCA is focused on developing leadership and community involvement. Its national office in Washington, DC allows it to monitor legislation and policy issues affecting Asian Pacific Americans. However, it takes no collective position on the politics of any foreign country. Instead, OCA focuses on the welfare and civil rights of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States.

Criteria:
The scholarship recipient shall:
• Be a Colorado resident
• Be an undergraduate student
• Demonstrate financial need up to 2x Pell-eligible (moderate financial need) as determined by the MSU Denver Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships based on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
• Have a complete FAFSA and financial aid file
• Maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher
• Be taking a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester
• Be meeting MSU Denver’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements and cannot be in default or owe any refund/repayment of federal, state or institutional aid.
• Provide a 600-word essay responding to the following question: “How will this scholarship, the education it supports, and the opportunity to interact with OCA Colorado help you have a positive impact on your community?”

Preference will be given to students of Asian- Pacific Islander descent, First-generation college students, and those who are lawfully present in the U.S.

Students may be renewed if they continue to meet the eligibility requirements (contingent on available funds).

Students who receive this scholarship must participate in at least one OCA Colorado event, program, or initiative during the academic year. Students who fulfill this requirement will be eligible for subsequent OCA Colorado scholarships.