Scholarships

About the Alumni Association Scholarships

The Alumni Association scholarship program helps students pursue their goals of higher education at Sacramento State. Initially funded by donations from life members of the Alumni Association, these scholarships are now broadly supported by those that value the education they received while attending Sacramento State. These awards range in size from $500 to $3,000 for the academic year.

Applications for the 2020-21 academic year.

Our next round of scholarship awards will be for the 2020-21 academic year. If you are graduating in 2020, you are not eligible to apply. Applications are now being accepted online with a deadline of Sunday, March 15, 2020.

Please thoroughly read all of the instructions to ensure that the appropriate information is submitted. Please make sure the contact information you use is current and will be through June 2020. If you need any assistance or accommodations with the application process, please contact the Scholarship Office. (916-278-6179 or scholarshipFAQs@csus.edu)

How to Apply

(In the 'Search By Key Word' box, enter scholarship name or the word 'alumni'.)

Scholarships awarded by the Alumni Association are as follows:

• Alumni Association Life Member Scholarship (min. award $3,000)
  • Freshman: High school seniors only—must enroll full-time at 12+units/semester; 3.7 GPA or better
  • Continuing Undergraduate: Transfer or current Sacramento State students—must carry 12+units/semester; 3.4 GPA or better
  • Graduate: Incoming or current Sacramento State graduate students—must carry 6+ units/semester; 3.7 GPA or better
• Placer Alumni Chapter Scholarship
  • This scholarship is intended to support Sacramento State students who graduated from a high school in Placer County.
    • Freshman: High school seniors only—must enroll full-time at 12+units/semester; 3.7 GPA or better
    • Continuing Undergraduate: Transfer or current Sacramento State students—must carry 12+units/semester; 3.4 GPA or better
• ECS Chapter Continuing Undergraduate Scholarship—3.4 GPA or better
  • Current Sacramento State students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science.
    
• Construction Management Undergraduate Scholarship—3.4 GPA or better
  • Current Sacramento State students in the Construction Management Program.
    
• HPPA Scholarship—3.4-3.7 GPA or better based on class standing
  • Current Sacramento State students preparing for careers in public policy or related areas.
    
• Latinx Alumni Chapter Scholarship—3.4 GPA or better
  • Current Sac State students participating in CAMP, EOP or related programs.

• Henry Steven Giron Memorial Scholarship—3.4 GPA or better
  • Current Sac State students committed to student life and activities as demonstrated by ongoing involvement.
• Visual and Performing Arts Scholarships—3.4-3.7 GPA or better based on class standing
  • Dorothy Augusta Memorial Music Scholarship—Scholarship award will benefit students with a declared major, minor, and/or extracurricular school activities and experience in the visual and/or performing arts, specifically music with an emphasis on vocal performance.
  • Colonel J.L.S. Hopkins Scholarship—Students must have a declared major, minor, or extracurricular school activities and experience in the performing arts and/or communications studies, including graphic design, public relations and all related areas.
  • Earl Payne Memorial Scholarship—Students must have a declared major, minor, or extracurricular school activities and experience in the visual arts, specifically photography or graphic design.
    
• David P. and Margot Shinnamon Bach Scholarship
  • Intended to support former foster youth who are now undergraduate students involved with the Guardian Scholars Program. Must be enrolled full-time at 12+ units/semester with a 2.0 GPA or better.
• Margot Shinnamon Bach Communications Scholarship
  • Intended to support Sacramento State students majoring in English or a communication studies concentration. Must be enrolled full-time at 12+ units/semester with a 3.5 GPA or better.
• Penny and Terry Kastanis Teacher Education Scholarship—3.4-3.7 GPA or better
  • Current Sacramento State students enrolled in the single-subject or multiple-subject teacher credential program.
• Les and Anita Harper Scholarship - application period closed
  • Freshman: High school seniors only—must enroll full-time at 12+units/semester; 3.7 GPA or better
  • Continuing Undergraduate: Transfer or current Sacramento State students—must carry 12+units/semester; 3.4 GPA or better

Applications must be submitted online by the deadline—Sunday, March 15, 2020 by 11:59 p.m. NO EXCEPTIONS.

2020-21 Application Timeline

• March 15, 2020: Application deadline
• March-April 2020: Alumni Association Scholarship Committee reviews applications
• May 2020: Scholarship recipients are notified
• August 2020: Reception hosted for scholarship recipients and their families at the Harper Alumni Center, Sacramento State

For questions, please contact Renee Siden at (916) 278-4723 or renee.siden@csus.edu.

About our Scholarships

Freshman, Continuing Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships

Each year about twelve $3,000 scholarships are awarded within three categories: freshmen, continuing undergraduate and graduate. Each application is evaluated by the Sacramento State Alumni Association Scholarship Committee on the basis of;

1. demonstrated academic success;
2. demonstrated leadership and participation and service in school and the community; and
3. hardships and/or obstacles, financial or otherwise, that the applicant has overcome

Leslie and Anita Harper Alumni Scholarship Endowment

In December 2010, Leslie and Anita Harper established the first endowed scholarship as part of the Alumni Scholarship Program. Passionate about education, their intention is to support Sacramento State students that have strong academic backgrounds, demonstrated leadership and service, as well as financial need. Leslie graduated from Sacramento State in 1955 with a degree in business administration.

Visual and Performing Arts Foundation Scholarships

The Visual and Performing Arts Foundation of Sacramento funds scholarships to incoming and continuing students who are majoring in the visual or performing arts at Sacramento State. The following scholarships will be awarded on a rotating schedule:

1. Dorothy Augusta Memorial Music Scholarship—music majors
2. Colonel J.L.S. Hopkins Scholarship—performing arts or communication studies majors
3. Earl Payne Memorial Scholarship—visual arts and/or photography majors
4. Doug Peckham Scholarship—theatre arts and film majors

Margot Shinnamon Bach Scholarship

Established by alumna and former Sacramento State Alumni Association President, Margot Shinnamon Bach, this award recognizes a student with dedicated commitment to the pursuit of an English or communication studies degree.

David P. and Margot Shinnamon Bach Scholarship

This scholarship was established by David P. and Margot Shinnamon Bach to support former foster youth who are now students involved with the Guardian Scholars Program.

Penny and Terry Kastanis Teacher Education Scholarship

Established by alums Penny and Terry Kastanis, this award recognizes a student dedicated to the pursuit of a teaching credential.

Henry Steven Giron Memorial Scholarship

The Henry Steven Giron Memorial Scholarship was established in memory of Henry Giron, who was a member of the graduating class of 2011 and participated in many campus activities. This scholarship recognizes a student that is involved with campus student clubs, organizations or government.

HPPA Scholarship

The Hornets Policy & Politics Alumni (HPPA) Chapter Scholarship was established in 2015-16 to recognize students planning a career in public policy or the public sector.

Placer Alumni Chapter Scholarship

This scholarship was established by the Placer Alumni Chapter in 2020 to support Sacramento State students who attended high school in Placer County.

Construction Management Chapter Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 2015-16 by the Construction Management Alumni Chapter to recognize undergraduate students planning a career in construction management.

Engineering and Computer Science Alumni Chapter Scholarship

This scholarship was established in 2010-11 by the Engineering and Computer Science Alumni Chapter to recognize the value of their education and experiences gained at Sacramento State. This scholarship was created out of the chapter's desire to assist superior engineering students attending our University.