Fresno Unified will boost the amount of scholarship money it awards to $300,000 for 2023, awarding three times what it has been able to award in past years. This means the district will triple the number of recipients as well, to more than 200 scholarship winners. This exciting expansion of the scholarship program to support more students pursuing their higher education dreams follows the launch of the Foundation for Fresno Unified Schools last year and the subsequent $20 million donation to the foundation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
The district will open the scholarship application window for Fresno Unified seniors on Monday, Jan. 9. High schools across the district are encouraging all students who meet the eligibility requirements to apply for the scholarships, which will range from $1,000 to $2,500. Students are invited to apply online here: Fresno Unified Scholarship Application. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 1.
Eligible students are also encouraged to apply for the Jim Newton Memorial Scholarship, a new $5,000 scholarship offered through the foundation. Mr. Newton was a longtime principal in Fresno Unified.
Information about the Jim Newton Memorial Scholarship
“We are thrilled to be able to triple the scholarship dollars we will award to our students this year to support their college journey. Too often, students who have worked hard throughout high school are held back by their financial realities as they strive for their college goals. With about 83% of our students at a socioeconomic disadvantage, we are now poised to make a much greater contribution to their success,” said Superintendent Bob Nelson.