Each year, CLF selects 45 students to be part of the Leadership & Scholarship Program. As a recipient, awardees will participate in a year long program in the following ways: 

  • Awardees will attend all Leadership Institute sessions in July 25-27, 2025 and February 2026
  • Community college and under-graduate students will receive a scholarship of $1,500, which is split into two payments. Graduate and PhD students will receive a scholarship of $2,000, which is split in two payments.
  • Awardees will be invited to attend the Annual Award Dinner in January 2026.
  • Awardees will act as CLF Ambassador for 10 hours during the 2026 Application cycle by completing outreach on their campuses

Program Eligibility

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible to apply:

  • Self-identify as a Chicana and/or Latina
  • Be enrolled in an accredited college, university, or community college in one of the following California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Sacramento, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, San Francisco, Sonoma, or Yolo
  • Have lived at least two (2) years in one of the above Northern California counties at the time of application
  • Community College and Undergraduate students must:
    • Be enrolled in a full-time college student (as defined by your institution) for the Fall 2025 – Spring 2026 Academic Year.
    • Have completed 12 college units after high school graduation
      • If you have earned college credit but are still in high school, you are not eligible.
    • Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 college coursework
  • Graduate students must:
    • Be enrolled graduate/professional students completing course/thesis/dissertation; or have been accepted into graduate/profession school for the Fall 2025 – Spring 2026 Academic Year.
    • Have a cumulative GPA of 2.7 for college course work
  • Commit to attending all required events stated above.

Supporting Documents Needed

  • 5 Personal Insight Questions
  • Current college transcripts (can be unofficial)
  • One letter of recommendation is required. It can be from a professor/counselor (past or present) or community member, who can speak to your community/civic involvement, leadership qualities, academic achievement, and personal characteristics
  • Graduate students must also include a Resume or CV (curriculum vitae a written overview of person’s experience and other qualifications)
  • If selected as a semi-finalist, you will be invited to attend an in-person interview on June 7th, 2025.

Past CLF awardees may re-apply four years after receiving our scholarship. Please contact Sarah Jiménez, Program Manager, at sarah@chicanalatina.org, for any clarifying questions.

Apply!