LULAC National Scholarship
Scholarship Sponsored by League of United Latin American Citizens
Introduction
Founded in 1975, LNESC partnered with LULAC to launch the LULAC National Scholarship Fund (LNSF) to help more young people access higher education. LNSF combines local, grassroots fundraising by LULAC Councils with corporate support secured by LNESC. Every dollar raised by a participating local council is matched by corporate partners arranged through LNESC, increasing award totals and creating a true community–corporate partnership. Past LNSF recipients have gone on to leadership roles in business, science, government, and education. A strict selection process is used to identify future scholars who meet the same high standards.
Eligibility
To be considered for an LNSF award, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or a beneficiary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
- Have applied to or be enrolled as a full-time student at a college or university, including two-year institutions or vocational schools that award an associate degree. (Graduate applicants must have applied to or be enrolled as part-time students.)
- Not be related to any member of the scholarship committee, the local Council President, or anyone who has contributed to the local council’s scholarship funds.
- Have a participating LULAC Council in their area. Applicants should confirm a council’s participation before beginning an application; if there is no participating council in the applicant’s area, they are not eligible.
Award Categories and Criteria
Applicants compete for one of three award levels:
1) National Scholastic Achievement Award — $2,000
- Available to students with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
2) Honors Awards — $500 to $2,000
- For students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
3) General Awards — $250 to $1,000
- Academic record is considered, but this category may place greater weight on personal qualities such as motivation, sincerity, and integrity, which can be demonstrated through the personal essay and interview. Financial need, community service, and leadership activities are also factors in award decisions.
Selection follows a rigorous review to ensure recipients reflect the program’s standards of excellence.