Scholarships - 2024
Investing in Future Leaders!
Since 1989, over two million dollars in scholarship benefits have been awarded through USPAACC. Major corporations have established their Hallmark Scholarships with USPAACC, and Asian American businesses have stepped forward to support the Scholarship Program and endow their own scholarships
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- 12 Scholarships in 2024
- 3,300+ Applications Received Annually
- $46,000 Amount Awarded in 2024
- 9 Scholarship Sponsors in 2024
Process
Complete online application
Deadline: March 01, 2024
PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE STARTING THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Prepare supporting documents
Every document is required and must be submitted through our online application.
- 2" x 2" Photo of Yourself
- 2 Essays Responses
- Please respond to 2 essay questions from the 3 questions below, If you would like to be considered for Denny’s scholarship, you must respond to essay question 3 as one of your two responses. (Word or PDF file for each)
Question 1: Please tell us about yourself including the obstacles you faced along the way and how you overcame these obstacles.
Question 2: If awarded this scholarship, how will you leverage your relationship with USPAACC to assist you in giving back to the community at large? Please provide us with specific examples.
Question 3 Denny’s scholarship: How can Denny’s help bring communities together? - High school Transcript
- Copy of the most recent household tax return signed and dated by taxpayer(s).
Must include the applicant’s name, a statement of the actual household income, and the taxpayer’s signature. Please black out all social security numbers as a security precaution. - (2) Letters of Recommendation
(1) one from high school, (1) one from a community service organization
MUST be on letterhead and signed by recommenders. - Post-secondary Information
Information on the proposed post-secondary course of study (major) and associated costs
Criteria
Applicant requirements
- High school senior
- East, South, Southeast Asian, or Pacific Island heritage
- Citizen or permanent resident of the United States
- Beginning full-time study at an accredited post-secondary educational institution in the United States in Fall 2024
Award requirements
- Academic achievement of 3.3 GPA or higher
- Leadership in extracurricular activities
- Involvement in community service
- Financial need
Scholarship recipients are asked to
- Participate in scholarship activities.
- Write a Thank You Letter to the sponsor of their scholarship and send it to USPAACC.
- Keep USPAACC informed of their college life and studies during their first four years in college by writing at least once per year.
Testimonials
Alissa Tokumoto
School: Cornell University
Sponsor: UPS
"the USPAACC scholarship helped cover my tuition for my first year before being able to complete my transfer process to my dream school"
Alissa Tokumoto
Cornell University
UPS
I got accepted as a transfer student to Cornell University’s Agriculture and Life Sciences School for my second year of college as a TO, where I plan to pursue my degree in agricultural science and minor in business. Needing to complete my first-year credits at another institution, the USPAACC scholarship helped cover my tuition for my first year before being able to complete my transfer process to my dream school. In my first year institution, while also making my studies my priority, I am an active participant in all kinds of campus activities and societies. Thanks to such active participation I was able to attend the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) National Conference in Atlanta, Georgia earlier this month. Although it is not common for first-year college students to be able to attend this conference, I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to be one of the few in the whole conference to attend.
Here I was able to grow professionally, speak with many recruiters from different companies and get interviews for summer internships. After this event and after going through multiple interviews, I will get a paid internship this summer as a first-year college student.
I joined the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) and The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) on campus since I am both Asian and Latina. This week, I was invited to speak for the AAPI Event “Our voices” as part of the panel to celebrate Asian heritage and diversity on campus. I am very happy with how involved in campus life I am since it allowed me to meet so many people, make friends, and get so many opportunities like attending the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers National Conference and The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers National Conference next month.
Ever since I attended USPAACC Business Conference I understood how important and useful attending conferences and exposing myself to be proactive. I learned how essential constantly putting myself out there and looking for opportunities can be. Networking, learning about people’s success stories, attending workshops, constantly trying to learn more, etc. Getting exposure at a conference like USPAACC had a lasting impact on me and my view on self-improvement even now in college.
Izzy Alvarez
School: Eastern Washington University
Sponsor: CVS
"After receiving the USPAACC’s CelebrASIAN scholarship, an enormous weight was lifted off my shoulders as I felt my struggles as an Asian American were not only seen and heard, but also valued. With the money from the scholarship, I was able to invest in my educational goal of becoming a high school teacher and giving back to my community"
Izzy Alvarez
Eastern Washington University
CVS
After receiving the USPAACC’s CelebrASIAN scholarship, an enormous weight was lifted off my shoulders as I felt my struggles as an Asian American were not only seen and heard, but also valued. With the money from the scholarship, I was able to invest in my educational goal of becoming a high school teacher and giving back to my community. Because of this scholarship, I can fully pay for my college education and I was even able to acquire further education and certifications due to your generosity. I will graduate with a major in Secondary English Education with an endorsement in English as a Second Language and a certificate to Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages. I will be certified and endorsed in English as a Second Language by the end of March of 2023. Currently, I am designing curriculum and teaching English to a group of foreign exchange students from Asia. I count it as my biggest joy to be a part of their journey as they learn English and become integral members of our community.
In the Spring of 2023, I will be formally admitted into Eastern Washington University’s Education program where I will begin nine months of student teaching at one of the high schools in my city. In March of 2024, I plan to graduate summa cum laude and begin my lifelong journey to help others grow academically, thrive in the face of difficulty, and give back to the communities that supported them. After college, I plan on attaining my master’s in education so I can better serve refugee and immigrant communities.
Thank you for investing in me and giving me the chance to invest in the future generations.
Joyce Li
School: UCLA
Sponsor: Denny's
"Since receiving the scholarship, I already achieved many goals academically and career-wise. Relieving some of my financial burden allowed me to focus more on my studies"
Joyce Li
UCLA
Denny's
Since receiving the scholarship, I already achieved many goals academically and
career-wise. Relieving some of my financial burden allowed me to focus more on my
studies. In my time at UCLA, I consistently remained on the Dean’s List. In addition to
psychology courses, I pursued more knowledge in my other interests through
parasitology, dance, biomedical research, and financial accounting classes. During my
freshman year, I secured two internships. The first was a real estate internship through
Project Destined on team Eastdil LA. We won second place nationally for our residential
real estate presentation and financial analysis. My second internship,which I am
currently participating in, is for an angel investment fund that specializes in startups
within the healthcare, life science, or biotech field. Without the help of USPAACC, I
would not be as successful as I am now at UCLA. Thank you for your support.
Mariam Majeed
School: University of Michigan
Sponsor: Dayblink
"On campus, I’ve joined a social entrepreneurship consulting club, Enactus, as well as the BBA DEI committee, as I continue to further my educational interests through social impact"
Mariam Majeed
University of Michigan
Dayblink
I’m currently halfway through my Junior year as a Business major at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. I’m taking core courses in Business Law and Ethics, Behavioral Theory in Management, Operations Management, Business Communication, as well as electives in Asian studies and Institutional Humanities. This past summer, I interned full-time at a creative advertising agency as an Account Coordinator Intern, while simultaneously working part-time on a consultancy basis with a community nonprofit. I’m hoping to continue exploring my interests in Branding and Communications, as well as Consulting, career-wise.
On campus, I’ve joined a social entrepreneurship consulting club, Enactus, as well as the BBA DEI committee, as I continue to further my educational interests through social impact. I am still an active member of the Muslim Business Student Association, Muslim Student Association, and Michigan Business Women organizations. I am currently preparing for a semester abroad come January 2023 where I will be attending the Bayes Business School at City, University of London.
FAQs
What is the scholarship selection process?
The USPAACC Scholarship Committee typically consists of entrepreneurs, corporate representatives, government officials and educators. They meet to review the applications, deliberate and make their selections. Then, the Committee members present their recommendations to the USPAACC National President & CEO for final review.
Do you have the instructions for the scholarship online application?
Yes we do. Please find the instruction HERE.
What is the amount of the scholarship?
The amount of the scholarship depends on the sponsors’ contributions and usually varies between $3,000 and $5,000. USPAACC will send the scholarship funds directly to the school the recipient will attend in the Fall semester.
How many scholarships are provided each year?
Each year the number of scholarship awards varies between 10 and 20.
When will the scholarship recipients be notified?
Scholarship recipients will likely be notified in April or May. Due to the thousands of scholarship applications we receive, we will notify ONLY the awardees.
Am I required to attend the annual conference and the scholarship award presentation ceremony?
If possible, we would like for winners to attend our conference and scholarship award presentation at the end of May.
What ethnicities qualify as Pan-Asian American? Can I apply if I am not of Pan-Asian American heritage?
We accept applicants of Pan-Asian American heritage. Pan-Asian American refers to having an ethnic background from the following countries: Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Thailand.
What should I include in the essay?
The essay is your best chance to share your story with the scholarship committee and should include your background, upbringing, and achievements. Tell us about what you have had to overcome and how these hardships have affected or influenced your goals for the future.
Does the transcript need to be official?
Yes, if the school will provide it to you. If not, you can attach an unofficial transcript.
What if I do not have anybody outside of school to write a recommendation?
USPAACC scholarship applications require two recommendations—the outside-of-school recommendation is a requirement. The outside-of-school recommendation will enable the Scholarship Committee members to evaluate and better understand your achievements outside of academia.
Is any picture acceptable?
No. Photographs should be in color, 2"x2" in size, and of good quality. Scanned photos will not be accepted. Passport-sized photographs or yearbook type photographs are ideal. We will be printing the pictures of scholarship recipients in the Conference Program Book.
I do community service through my school (key club, after school activities), can I get a letter of recommendation from them?
Yes, as long as the recommendation letter is from a faculty member responsible for the club. We are looking for recommendations based on community service/leadership. Recommendation through the school is fine as long as they stick to the topic only.
Why do I need to submit my tax return form and do I need to submit it in its entirety?
We need to verify that it is really YOU! You will only need to provide us with enough of the tax return to state the applicant's name, the household income, and the taxpayer's signature. Please make sure all this information is stated clearly on the form.
US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation (USPAACC) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (EIN #52-164-1440) which makes all donations to us tax-deductible.