Study Abroad Scholarship Application

West Valley College scholarships are designed to recognize accomplishments and to provide tangible encouragement to students who have demonstrated academic achievement, leadership, community service, and financial need.

Each year the West Valley College Scholarship Program awards scholarships ranging from $200 to $3000. The funds for these scholarships are provided from a joint investment of contributions from the private sector, from WVC, and from WVC employees.

Because scholarships are awarded based on information provided in each application, if changes occur in educational plans and/or financial situation, it is possible for designated scholarship recipients to become ineligible to receive a scholarship. If there is a change in your information or enrollment status after you submit your application, please contact the Renee Paquier at [email protected] ASAP.

There are 8 scholarships available to cover the majority of the cost and five scholarships available to cover a portion of the cost.

Awardees are required to contribute $95 (paid by check to EF Tours) to cover the non-refundable deposit with the travel company, EF. Students will also pay for their passports (and any other required documentation), and their personal and incidental needs. Assistance with passports will be available, if necessary.

Priority is given to students who have previously not been awarded a WVC Study Abroad Scholarship.

• Status in good standing
• Have completed at least 9 units by December 16, 2022
• At least 18 years old by June 2, 2023
• Personal Statement
• One letter of recommendation
• Scanned or photo image of Midterm Grade Evaluation form signed by your professors
• Completed application form

Students’ personal statement must be no longer than 250 words and must focus on describing how and why attending this global experience will benefit the student’s academic and career plans.

The letter of recommendation must be written by the student’s previous or current WVC professor, and it must be emailed from the professor’s WVC email address directly to Renee Paquier at renee.paquierFREEWEST_VALLEY

The letter of recommendation must include an explanation on why the student is a good candidate for this scholarship, and comments regarding the student’s academic achievement, leadership and character qualities, and employment or volunteer service experience.

The complete application must be submitted online by 5:00 PM on Friday, December 2, 2022.

1. Compose your 250-word personal statement. You will need to upload your personal statement when completing the application form
2. Download and complete a Work-In-Progress Report and have it ready to upload when completing the application form.
3. Complete and submit the scholarship application form by 5:00 PM on Friday, December 2, 2022.
4. Request a letter of recommendation from your former or current professor at WVC and verify that it is emailed from a WVC email address, to Renee Paquier at renee.paquierFREEWEST_VALLEY by 5:00 PM on Friday, December 2, 2022.
5. Applicants will be notified by Friday, December 16, 2022, if the committee decides to conduct interviews.

Note

• Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
• Award notifications will be emailed by Friday, December 16, 2022 (at the earliest).

For additional information contact

West Valley College Financial Aid/Scholarship Office 14000 Fruitvale Ave. Saratoga, CA 95070 (408)741-4643

A committee made up of faculty members, staff/administrators, and private donors will select the recipients based on, but not limited to, the following criteria:

• Match between the goals of WVC Global Experience program and the student’s expressed academic and professional goals
• Quality of essay
• Strength of letter of recommendation
• Completed Midterm Grade Check form
• Financial status

When awarded a WVC Global Experience Scholarship to attend a Summer 2023 trip, the student accepts these obligations:

• Have a passport in hand by March 1, 2023 and obtain any additional documents needed to travel outside the USA and to enter either Peru or London, Paris and Amsterdam by May 1, 2023.
• Sign a contract detailing the student’s obligations and submit a $95 check to cover the non-refundable deposit to EF Tour.
• Attend pre-departure workshops
• Compose a 250-word statement with pictures (about the benefits you gained by participating in the global experience) or create a video which will be posted in the WVC Global Citizenship blog.