Scholarships for Students

One of the primary goals of UCSC Community Connections is to provide educational opportunities for local high school students entering UCSC and continuing re-entry students through scholarships and academic support.

Garden tours, phantom tea parties, art and silent auctions, chocolate festivals, membership dues and individual donations are some of the ways funds have been raised over the years.

Through these efforts since 1976, the former Women’s Club assisted older students for whom studies in their chosen field may be an unattainable dream. Over the past 46 years, the Women’s Club has awarded 526 scholarships for a total of $453,151 for research activities, tuition, and childcare.

The former Affiliates began awarding scholarships in 1991. Over the ensuing 30 years, 62 awards have been made for a total of $230,242 to students entering from Santa Cruz, Monterey, or San Benito counties. These scholarships have encouraged success for local students.

Scholarship monies given to students come from two sources: money raised directly to be awarded for scholarships and money that is interest income from our endowment. While we continue to raise money for both direct scholarships and to invest into the endowment, our current effort is to increase the endowment to ensure our scholarship program for future generations.