For New Applicants:

• Application Available Online: December 2023

• Application Due Date: March 15, 2024

• Finalist Interviews: week of April 9-12, 2024

• Award Notification: April 23, 2024

For Renewal Applicants:

• Application Emailed: May, 2024

• Application Due Date: June 21, 2024

General Information

• KACF-SF awards the Karen Ha Scholarship to two new students each year

• The scholarship award is $10,000 (2,500 per year, up to four years) for students enrolling as freshmen or $5,000 ($2,500 per year, up to four years) for students transferring as juniors from a local community college

Application Requirements

• Grade level: Incoming freshman planning to enroll full-time at an accredited four-year public college or university in California in the upcoming academic year

• OR: Transfer student from a Bay Area community college planning to enroll full-time at an accredited four-year public college or university in California in the upcoming academic year

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0

• Demonstrated financial need: your household’s pre-tax (gross) earnings are under five times the 2023 federal poverty level for your household size. See the 2023 guidelines. E.g. a family of four would need to make under $150,000 (5 x $30,000).

• Residency: Applicant must reside in one of five Bay Area counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara. Transfer student applicants must currently be attending a community college in one of these five counties.

• Undocumented students with DACA status are eligible to apply; International students are not eligible to apply

• To qualify for renewal, scholarship recipients must submit a renewal application annually, continue to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher each academic year and be in good community standing

Application Checklist

• Completed application with essay (online)

• One (1) letter of recommendation emailed directly from an adult who knows you well (i.e. teacher, coach, employer, pastor, etc.)

• Most recent transcript(s) of grades (including grading scale); unofficial transcripts are accepted

• Copy of SAT or ACT scores (optional)

• Copy of your and/or your parents’/parent’s most recent Federal Income Tax statement (short form)

• Copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR). To obtain SAR, visit: http://studentaid.gov/sa/fafsa

Submission

1. Please submit all required documents to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (email header: Karen Ha Scholarship, [YOUR NAME]) 

2. Please have your recommendation letters emailed directly to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (email header: Karen Ha Scholarship, [YOUR NAME])