Scholarship Details

Sonora Area Foundation holds and administers dozens of scholarships. Click on each scholarship for details.

If you have been awarded one of the scholarships listed below, visit our Information for Scholarship Recipients page to learn how to request the release of funds. Please note:

  • All scholarship awards are sent to schools, not to individuals.
  • Scholarship amounts are subject to change.

To view of list of Sonora Area Foundation scholarships listed by the schools to which they are available, click here. All SAF scholarship funds also are listed here.

For questions about Sonora Area Foundation scholarships, contact Rebecca Gorham at (209) 533-2596 or rebecca@sonora-area.org.

 

Single-Payment Scholarships

Multi-Payment Scholarships

Eligibility: Tuolumne County high-school graduate attending Columbia College; Female seeking a career in nursing or teaching; Financial need; Full-time enrollment; 3.0 GPA Scholarship Amounts: Two $500 scholarships Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Tuolumne County high school student planning to attend a four-year college; financial need; minimum 3.0 GPA; full-time enrollment. Other requirement: Essay on why the student is continuing education at a four-year college. Scholarship Amount: $500 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Summerville High School student athletes; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA; continuing education with full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amount: $150 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Black Oak Casino Resort employees and their families; financial need; enrolled in accredited institution of higher learning (including trade/vocational schools). Other requirement: Black Oak Casino Resort application; essay. Scholarship Amount: $1,000 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Attending Columbia College; pursuing career in fire science; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amount: $200 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Tuolumne County high school student; participation in music activities during high school; seeking two- or four-year music degree; financial need; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amount: $1,000 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Sonora High School and Summerville High School students; two- or three-sport athlete; involved in leadership activities including community service; intending to continue as a college athlete (two- or four-year college); financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA. Scholarship Amounts: Two $500 scholarships Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Tuolumne County students applied and accepted to UC Berkeley University. Other Requirements: Top applicants will be invited to in-person interview. Scholarship Amount: $1,000

Eligibility: Sonora High School student attending Columbia College; pursuing certificate or degree in any CTE field. Scholarship Amount: $250 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Sonora High School and El Diamonte High School students pursuing a career in medical, humanities and/or general education; past participation in sports and community volunteer work; attending two- or four-year college or trade school; financial need; minimum 2.5 GPA. Scholarship Amount: $250 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: At-risk Cassina High School students who show resiliency and effort to succeed; graduating seniors or county residents seeking vocational, college, university or community-college degree from an accredited institution. Scholarship Amount: $250 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Sonora High School students seeking a college degree, or planning to attend trade school; financial need; full-time enrollment; consideration for students that may not have received other scholarships and for underprivileged students that have worked hard to succeed. Scholarship Amounts: Two $300 scholarships Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Sonora High School graduates attending Columbia College for a career in education, including teaching or counseling; financial need. Scholarship Amount: $250 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Sonora High School students seeking a two- or four-year degree in music or physical education; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amount: $500 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Sonora High School graduates desiring further education in the humanities; financial need; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amounts: Two $1,000 scholarships Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Sonora High School students who are well-rounded in their approach to life with a strong interest in language, athletics, music, art or history; seeking an academic degree from a two- or four-year accredited college; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amount: $500 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Students of any Tuolumne County high school or Columbia College seeking two- or four-year degree in fire science or nursing (scholarships alternate between fire science and nursing annually); financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amount: $500 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Full-time college students at Columbia College or Napa College in the fire-technology field; active member of fire department (volunteer/scholarship firefighter); financial need; minimum 2.5 GPA. Scholarship Amount: $500 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Summerville High School graduates pursuing post high school education, including trade school, vocational training, college, CTE or other. Applicants must maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher. Multiple award scholarship. Scholarship Amount $500-$2,000 Single payment

Eligibility: Sonora High School students interested in local government or politics; full-time enrollment in a two-or four-year college; financial need. Scholarship Amount: $500 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Sonora High School students studying agriculture in high school and seeking to pursue a career in agriculture; financial need. Other requirement: Submit a personal statement. Scholarship Amount: $1,500 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Sonora High School graduating senior pursuing further education in creative visual arts, including: painting, drawing, illustration, sculpture, crafts, printmaking, photography or digital art. Scholarship Amount: $1,000 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Graduates of any Tuolumne County high school pursuing a degree in science, technology, engineering or math; financial need; minimum 3.5 GPA. Scholarship Amount: $1,000 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Sonora High School students pursuing a two- or four-year degree in education or oral communication; financial need. Other requirements: Submit a personal statement. Finalists will be asked to deliver a five- to seven-minute oral presentation to the scholarship-selection committee about the importance of oral communication and how the student plans to utilize it in his or her career path. Scholarship Amount: $500 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Sonora High School students seeking an associate degree or bachelor’s degree with a vocational emphasis; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amount: Four $2,000 scholarships Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Students attending any Tuolumne County high school who are enrolled in a certificated program in healthcare field (human and/or animal); financial need; minimum 2.5 GPA. Other requirement: Students are to submit an essay about their reasons for choosing a healthcare career path. Scholarship Amount: $500 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Students of any Tuolumne County high school seeking a four-year college or university degree in any subject; financial need; minimum 3.0 GPA; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amount: $1,000 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Students from Ted Bird, Cassina and Sonora High School pursuing any formal art-education program. Scholarship Amount: $1,000 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Students from any Tuolumne County high school pursuing education in plumbing, pipefitting, mechanics, HVAC and/or fire sciences; financial need; minimum 2.5 GPA. Scholarship Amount: $1,000 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Sonora High School and Summerville High School students who graduated from Jamestown Elementary School District; attending university or vocational school; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA. Scholarship Amount: $750 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Students of any Tuolumne County high school pursuing a business career at a two- or four-year college or university; financial need; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amount: $500 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Sonora High and Summerville High School students who have participated in a sport during high school and who are facing personal challenges; financial need. Other requirements: Provide a letter of reference from your coach. Provide a personal statement describing challenges you have had and how you intend to overcome them. Scholarship Amount: $1,000 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility: Children of fallen wildland firefighters planning to attend a two- or four-year college, technical/vocational school, and/or graduate school; under the age of 27; financial need. Scholarship Amount: $500 Payment: 1 full payment

Eligibility:

Sonora High School students seeking a two- or four-year degree; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA; full-time enrollment.

Scholarship Amount:

$300

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

Students residing in 95321 or 95305 zip codes enrolling in a two- or four-year college or trade school; financial need.

Scholarship Amount:

$1,000

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

Sonora High School students who are well-rounded with leadership qualities and are seeking a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture; financial need; minimum 3.0 GPA; full-time enrollment.

Scholarship Amounts:

Two $1,000 scholarships

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

Students of any Tuolumne or Calaveras County high school whose parents are current or retired fire-service employees; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA; full-time enrollment.

Scholarship Amount:

$400

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

  • Active member of a Tuolumne, Calaveras or Mariposa County fire department (volunteer or intern); or
  • Full-time Columbia College fire-science program student with a minimum 2.5 GPA; or
  • Tuolumne, Mariposa or Calaveras County high-school graduate with a minimum 2.5 GPA enrolling full-time in the Columbia College fire-science program; and
  • Financial need

Scholarship Amount:

$500

Payment:

One full payment

Eligibility:

Sonora High School students who are Sonora Elementary School graduates who have the most-improved GPA throughout high school (minimum 2.5 GPA), who are not receiving other scholarships, and who are pursuing a career in education; financial need.

Scholarship Amount:

$500

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

Sonora High School athletes seeking a two- or four-year degree; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA; full-time enrollment.

Scholarship Amount:

$300

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

Students from any Tuolumne County high school who currently are studying music and are planning to study music in college; financial need.

Other requirements:

Submit a personal statement about why music is important to you and the community.

Scholarship Amount:

$500

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

Sonora High School students in the top 10 percent of their graduating class who lettered in at least one varsity sport, and who are attending a four-year college; financial need.

Scholarship Amount:

$2,500

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

Sonora High School students studying fire science or law enforcement; financial need; full-time enrollment.

Scholarship Amount:

$500

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

Sonora High School students who have overcome extreme adversity, and who are seeking continuing education at a college, vocational or trade school; financial need; minimum enrollment of 6 credits or full-time trade-school equivalent.

Scholarship Amount:

$500

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

Teacher-recommended Tuolumne County classical music students ages 8 to 20.

Other Requirements:

Audition.

Scholarship Amount (for private, classical music lessons):

Varies.

Eligibility:

Students of any Tuolumne County high school who have a demonstrated interest in textile or fiber art and/or sewing, who have participated in community service and/or co-curricular activities, and who are seeking a two- or four-year college degree or a technical certificate/degree; financial need; minimum 2.5 GPA.

Scholarship Amount:

$500

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

Tuolumne County high school students who have graduated from Sonora Elementary School; financial need; full-time enrollment.

Scholarship Amount:

$500

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

Sonora High School students pursuing a college education in art or nursing, who is not receiving another scholarship; full-time enrollment; financial need.

Scholarship Amount:

Two $500 scholarships

Payment:

One full payment

Eligibility:

Students of any Tuolumne County high school who have a disability, and who are seeking a degree from a community college, college or university; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA.

Scholarship Amount:

$500

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

Summerville High School students who have demonstrated interest either in serving others, in technology or in special education, and who have overcome a challenge; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA; full-time enrollment.

Scholarship Amounts:

Two $500 scholarships

Payment:

1 full payment

All Tuolumne County Schools

Eligibility:

Tuolumne County and Calaveras County high school students who are pursuing career paths related to aviation careers, such as Pilot/Flight crew, FAA aircraft maintenance, Aeronautical engineering, Air traffic control, etc. High school students must maintain a 2.5 GPA.

Scholarship Amount:

Amount: $500

Payment:

Single payment

Eligibility:

Summerville, Sonora and Bret Harte High School students who have overcome adversity and who are continuing with vocational education, trade school or college; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA.

Scholarship Amounts:

Two $200 scholarships

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

Students of any Tuolumne County high school who are pursuing a business career; financial need; full-time enrollment in college or community college.

Scholarship Amount:

$500

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

Students of any Tuolumne County high school who are seeking a college or university education in agriculture or a related field; financial need; full-time enrollment.

Scholarship Amounts:

One $500 scholarship and one $250 scholarship

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

  1. Women residing in Tuolumne County;
  2. Women returning to school to further their education;
  3. Women remaining in or returning to Tuolumne County after school and joining local workforce;
  4. Financial need

Scholarship Amount:

Varies.

For more information, visit:

https://tcwomensnetwork.com/scholarship-program/

Eligibility:

Columbia College graduates who graduated from a Tuolumne County high school, and who are continuing on in the nursing field; financial need; minimum 3.0 GPA.

Scholarship Amount:

$750

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

“Service Above Self” | Summerville high school graduates with community service experience. Applicants must maintain a 2.5 GPA, have financial need with plans to pursue trade, vocational or college post high school.

Other Requirements:

Candidates are required to attend an in-person interview.

Scholarship Amount

$500-$1,000

Single payment

Eligibility:

Sonora High School Alternative Education students who are continuing their education at a vocational/trade school, college or university; financial need.

Scholarship Amount:

$250

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility:

Graduates of any Tuolumne County high school who are serious art students, and who are seeking a two- or four-year degree in fine arts or graphic arts; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA.

Other requirements:

Portfolio of art work to be included with application.

Scholarship Amount:

$500

Payment:

1 full payment

Eligibility: Tuolumne County high school graduates seeking post-high school education at University, trade or vocational school. Must attend church regularly, be enrolled as full-time student, maintain 3.0 GPA and complete written essay. Scholarship Amount $4,000 scholarship at $1,000 annual distribution. Amount: $4,000 Multiple payment

Eligibility: Students of any Tuolumne County high school who aspire to a career in aeronautics, aviation, space, public safety, law enforcement, or public service including education, government, law, fire or EMS; financial need; minimum 3.0 GPA. Other requirement: Submit an essay about what you love about this county. Scholarship Amount: $1,800 Payments: Two $900 payments in a school year

Eligibility: Sonora High School students pursuing a vocational or trades education in engineering, mechanics, agriculture, nursing or any other medical field; financial need; minimum 2.5 GPA. Scholarship Amount: $2,500 Payments: Four payments of $625 each, two per school year for two school years

Eligibility: Students of Sonora, Summerville, Tioga, Don Pedro or Cassina high schools, home school or Columbia College who are seeking a college or university education in math, engineering, computer science or a related field, and who are active in co-curricular campus programs, sports and/or part-time employment; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA. Scholarship Amount: $16,000 Payments: One payment of $4,000 each year for four school years

Eligibility: Sonora High School students who have participated in agricultural programs such as 4-H or FFA for a minimum of three years; continuing on to a vocational school, trade school, or two- or four-year college with agricultural intention; minimum 2.0 GPA; financial need. Scholarship Amount: $1,000 Payments: Two payments of $500 each in a school year

Eligibility: Summerville High School senior involved in Friday Night Live; financial need; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amount: $1,000 Payments: Two payments of $500 each in one school year

Eligibility: Sonora High School students who are pursuing a vocational or trade-school education in agricultural business, agricultural mechanics or other natural-resource field; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA. Other requirement: Submit a one-page essay about why you want to go into the agriculture or natural-resources field. Scholarship Amount: $2,000 Payments: Two payments of $1,000 each

Eligibility: Sonora High School students with a minimum 3.0 GPA with a history of community service, employment and demonstrated leadership who are attending a four-year accredited college or university; financial need; full-time enrollment. Other requirements: Submit a personal statement; a letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach or mentor; and a copy of your high-school transcript. Maintain a 2.7 minimum GPA at college/university. Scholarship Amounts: Two $60,000 scholarships Payments: Four payments of $15,000 each

Eligibility: Summerville High School students pursuing formal education, including trade school; financial need; minimum 3.0 GPA; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amount: $1,000 Payments: Two payments of $500 each, one in fall and one in spring

Eligibility: Students of any Tuolumne County high school seeking a two- or four-year degree, or continuing their education at a trade school (minimum nine credits), who demonstrate resiliency and show effort to succeed; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amounts: Several awarded; amounts vary Payments: Multiple payments

Eligibility: Students of any Tuolumne County high school, or Columbia College students who graduated from a Tuolumne County high school and who are no more than 25 years old, who are continuing their education in a vocational or trade-school program; financial need; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amount: $2,000 Payments: Two payments of $1,000 each, paid in fall for two school years

Eligibility: Female Summerville High School students seeking a degree in a non-traditional major; financial need; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amount: $10,000 Payments: Four payments of $2,500 each, one each fall and one each spring for two school years

Eligibility: Sonora High School graduates pursuing a medical career; financial need; minimum 2.0 GPA. Scholarship Amount: $1,000 Payment: Two payments of $500 each in one school year

Eligibility: Sonora High School students who have demonstrated academic achievement, and who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree at a fully accredited four-year college or university in the United States; financial need; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amount: $4,000 Payments: Four payments of $1,000 each, one each year for four school years

Eligibility: Students of any Tuolumne County high school who have been accepted to a University of California campus as a First Year Student; financial need; full-time enrollment. Scholarship Amounts: Two $15,000 scholarships Payments: Eight payments of $1,875 each, two per school year for four school years

Eligibility: Sonora High School students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement (minimum 3.8 GPA), and outstanding leadership and/or athletics; financial need. Other requirement: Submit a personal statement. Scholarship Amount: $2,000 Payments: Two payments of $1,000 each

Eligibility: Sonora High School graduates who have demonstrated leadership through an activity and/or community service, and who are attending a two- or four-year accredited college; financial need; minimum 3.0 GPA. Scholarship Amount: $1,000 Payments: Two payments of $500 each in one school year
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