OCCACC Foundation Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by OCCACC Foundation

OCCACC Foundation — Scholarship Program (OCCACCF)

Purpose
The OCCACC Foundation seeks to support driven students who have demonstrated achievement both academically and through extracurricular or community activities but face financial barriers to pursuing higher education. We prioritize students who show leadership and who we believe will contribute to stronger, sustainable communities.

Who is eligible
- Must be graduating from high school in the summer of 2026 from a school located in Orange County, Los Angeles County, or nearby cities.
- Must have an offer of admission (current-year acceptance) to a U.S. community college, college, or university by May 2026.
- Must be of Chinese descent.
- Must have a minimum cumulative (non-weighted) GPA of 3.0.
- Must demonstrate financial need (documentation required; see Submission Requirements).

Required materials and submission process
Step 1 — Application form
- Complete and sign the OCCACC Foundation Scholarship Application online.

Step 2 — Upload documents online
Provide the following digital documents:
- Proof of financial need: your FAFSA application (or equivalent documentation demonstrating need). Guidance on federal student aid eligibility is available from Federal Student Aid resources.
- Proof of low-income status: signed, complete family IRS Form 1040 (all pages and schedules, not just excerpts) for the two most recent tax years. Low-income is defined as below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) for your location and household size (refer to California state income limit tables for specifics).
- Recent headshot/photo of the applicant.
- Autobiography / Personal statement: approximately 500 words, typed, double-spaced in English. Suggested content: brief personal introduction, family background, interests, work and volunteer/ community service activities, educational and career goals, financial circumstances, and reasons for applying.
- Official cumulative high school transcript.
- SAT or ACT scores (optional; recommended but not mandatory).

Step 3 — Mail original documents
Send the following by U.S. mail (original signatures required where noted) to the address below:
- IRS Form 4506-T signed by the same parent(s) who filed the tax return (original signature required). This form authorizes OCCACCF to verify tax information. Print and sign the form before mailing.
- One (1) recommendation letter (no more than one page) addressed to the OCCACC Foundation. Acceptable authors: a high school teacher or advisor, a current or former employer/manager, or a leader of an organization in which the applicant served. The letter must be printed on the recommender’s official letterhead, include the recommender’s contact information, be signed, sealed, and mailed directly by the recommender to OCCACCF. Letters from friends or relatives will not be accepted.

Mailing address (for original documents only):
OCCACCF
78 Bunsen
Irvine, CA 92618

Timeline and important dates
- Application must be postmarked by March 31, 2026. (OCCACCF reserves the right to adjust this deadline under unforeseen circumstances.)
- Home visits for selected applicants: between April 12 and May 5, 2026 (scheduling via phone).
- Finalists notified by May 12, 2026 to schedule panel interviews.
- Panel interviews for finalists: May 16 and/or May 17, 2026.
- Announcement of OCCACC Scholars: week of May 20, 2026.
- Scholarship Award Banquet (tentative): June 20, 2026. All awardees must attend in person to accept the scholarship; failure to appear will result in automatic disqualification.

Award details and program rules
- The Foundation expects to select approximately ten (10) OCCACC Scholars. Awards are renewable for up to four (4) years at $5,000 per year. The exact number of recipients and awards granted is determined solely by the OCCACCF Board of Directors.
- Parental interference in the application process will result in automatic disqualification.
- Renewal requirements: to receive continued annual funding, each scholar must submit their college grades each year. A minimum annual GPA of 2.5 is required to remain eligible (a 3.0 GPA or higher is preferred). Eligibility for renewal is reviewed annually by the Board.
- Award payments: scholarship checks are issued annually in the student’s name and must be used for educational expenses.
- The IRS Form 4506-T must contain an original signature. Both the 4506-T and the recommendation letter must be mailed (not uploaded) to the address above.
- Final selection of recipients and decisions about ongoing eligibility for subsequent years until graduation are at the sole discretion of the OCCACCF Board of Directors.

If you have questions about documentation or deadlines, please contact OCCACCF prior to submission.