SDIAS Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship

Scholarship Description
The Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship is intended to provide financial support for community college students who demonstrate financial need and are the first in their family to attend college. The amount of the scholarship will be determined annually based upon the number of awards and available funds.

Eligibility Criteria
Students must meet the following criteria to be considered for the scholarship:
• Must be currently enrolled at San Diego City, Mesa, or Miramar College
• Must have completed a 2022-2023 FAFSA or Dream Act application (demonstrate financial need)
• Must be pursuing a career-technical program of study

Selection Criteria
Students will be selected based on how well they meet the following selection criteria:
• Must demonstrate commitment to peace and nonviolence

Note: Priority consideration may be given to students who are the first in their family to attend college

Application Materials*
• Must write a one-page typed essay on the importance of peace and non-violence in our community and the world*

Application Process
• A slate of finalists will be selected by the District scholarship committee
• Finalists will be required to participate in a short interview with members of the San Diego Indian American Society to be conducted on campus

Scholarship Disbursement Information
The scholarship will be disbursed at the beginning of Fall 2023 and is contingent on the following:
• Enrolled at San Diego City, Mesa, or Miramar College for Fall 2023
• Attendance of the 40th Annual Mahatma Gandhi Memorial and Awards Ceremony

*Incomplete applications will not be considered

If there is no funding or there are no qualified applicants that reflect this format the scholarship will not be awarded for that year.

Award
$1000
Deadline
02/27/2023
Supplemental Questions
  1. I have completed my 2025-2026 FAFSA or Dream Act application
  2. If selected as a final candidate I understand I must go through an interview process before the awardee is selected.
  3. Are you a first generation college student (A first generation student is considered a student who is the first in their family to attend college)?
  4. • Essay on non-violence: Mahatma Gandhi was a world-renowned Indian civil rights leader who inspired several non-violent, peaceful yet highly impactful movements championing civil rights and freedom across the world, through his staunch adherence to Truth, Non-violence, Equality for all, Compassion, and Kindness * Write an essay (about 350 words) using the following guidelines. Include a brief summary indicating what such values mean to you, if any of those values resonate with you. *Optionally, you can create and upload a video addressing the same guideline (maximum 3 minutes) instead of an essay. ***From your own life describe an experience or situation in which you incorporated (or could have incorporated) Mahatma Gandhi's values in (a) your own personal life, (b) in your interactions with your community, to produce better results. *** OR Considering recent events/occurrences/situations happening in the world, in our nation, or more locally- If you were in charge of sdias.org SAN DIEGO INDIAN AMERICAN SOCIETY (SDIAS) IRS 501(c)(3) Mutual Benefit Non-profit Organization of the situation, which of Gandhi's values would you have incorporated to achieve a better solution?