Bank of the Sierra Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Asian Pacific Community Fund

Here’s a clear, teacher-friendly version of the scholarship announcement that keeps every requirement intact and organizes the information so it’s easier to follow.

Overview
- Bank of the Sierra (Member FDIC) is awarding fourteen $2,000 scholarships to help economically challenged high school seniors in the bank’s service area pursue higher education. Awards may be used only for tuition at the institution you attend.

Who this is for
- Current high school seniors who live in one of these counties: Fresno, Kern, Kings, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura, or Tulare.
- Students who plan to enroll as first‑year (freshman) college students in Fall 2026 at an accredited U.S. 4‑year college/university or a community college. (If selected, you must provide an admissions/acceptance letter.)
- Minimum cumulative unweighted high school GPA: 2.5.
- Household income must meet the Low‑to‑Moderate Income level. If awarded, you will be asked to show a 2024 or 2025 tax return to verify income.
- Open to all majors and all ethnicities.
- Bank of the Sierra employees and their immediate family members are not eligible.

What you must submit
All items must be RECEIVED by 11:59 p.m. PDT on Monday, April 20, 2026. Anything received after that date/time will not be considered (postmark does not count). Application and recommender forms must be submitted online — hard copies will not be accepted.

Required materials:
- Application form (complete the common application once to apply for all eligible Bank of the Sierra scholarships)
- Recommender form (submitted online by your recommender)
- High school transcript

Important dates and notes
- Application opens: December 2025 (watch the Bank of the Sierra scholarship portal for the live application link and full instructions).
- Deadline: 11:59 p.m. PDT, Monday, April 20, 2026.
- If selected, you’ll need to provide a college acceptance letter and a 2024 or 2025 tax return (to confirm income eligibility).

Helpful tips (from a teacher)
- Start early: ask your recommender well before the deadline and confirm they submit the form online.
- Make sure your transcript shows your cumulative unweighted GPA.
- Keep copies of everything you upload, and note the exact submission time.
- Check the scholarship portal in December for the online forms and any updates.

If you want, I can help you draft a résumé or a short request message to a teacher for your recommender form.