The Sandra Frausto Student Award seeks to reward the achievements of University of California, Santa Cruz students who in their undergraduate years have combined academic excellence with a commitment to increasing the understanding or improving the welfare of Chicanx/Latinx people in the United States.  The award particularly seeks to recognize those whose UC Santa Cruz education will provide a foundation for a career in Education or in teaching.  The award is named in memory of Sandra Frausto, a student of Merrill College who died prematurely while studying abroad in Mexico City.

Scholarship Amount

$750.00 annually – to be awarded to a single student studying abroad during a program specified for the Summer, Fall, or Academic Year.

Timeline

Must be completed BEFORE MAY 1 2020 Withdrawal Deadline

February 22nd, 2020 - Application Opens

March 15, 2020 - Student Deadline to Submit 

April 2 - 15, 2020 - Application Review

April 16, 2020 – Recipient notified

April 20, 2020 - Recipient deadline to accept scholarship 

No later than May 1 2020 - Notification to Financial Aid

 

How to Apply

Students will complete an online application through their SlugsAbroad account in addition to uploading a personal statement (minimum 1-­2 pages, addressing each of the selection criteria listed below) and an unofficial transcript.

Eligibility

Students must be selected or have officially applied to a Summer, Fall, or Academic Year-­‐long UCEAP program and be a student of Merrill College.

Preferred Selection Criteria

These are preferred -­‐ students may still apply if they do not meet all criteria.  Applications will be reviewed and scored on the following:

  • Studying on a UCEAP program in Mexico or a Latin American country
  • Minoring in Education; and/or majoring in Community Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, Politics, or another Social Science field of study
  • Financial need
  • First generation college student
  • Integration of academic and/or career goals into selected UCEAP program, with particular interest in pursuing a career in Education or teaching
  • Participation in campus Chicanx/Latinx student organizations and/or volunteer experience in community-based non-profits or causes that effect positive change in the Chicanx/Latinx community

Personal Statement Guidelines

The personal statement should address how the student meets the preferred selection criteria listed above, with particular emphasis in describing the following, if applicable:

  • How their program will help them achieve their academic and/or career goals, particularly as related to a career in Education or teaching,
  • Impact financial need and/or being the first in their family to attend college had on their decision to study abroad, and
  • Involvement in Chicanx/Latinx student organizations on campus and/or volunteer experience in community-based non-profits or causes that effect positive change in the Chicanx/Latinx community, and how study abroad will impact continued community involvement upon return from abroad.

Selection

A selection committee consisting of one UCSC Study Abroad Advisor and two representatives from Merrill College (total of three) will review and score each application based on the criteria listed above.  0-5 points (with 5 being most met) will be awarded on the following:

  • Studying on a UCEAP program in Mexico or a Latin American country and minoring in Education and/or majoring in Community Studies, Latin American and Latino Studies, Politics or another Social Science field of study
  • Financial need and/or first generation college student
  • Integration of academic and/or career goals into selected UCEAP program, with particular interest in pursuing a career in Education or teaching
  • Participation in campus Chicanx/Latinx student organizations and/or volunteer experience in community-based non-profits or causes that effect positive change in the Chicanx/Latinx community, and how study abroad will impact continued or new community involvement in these areas upon return

Conditions of Award

  • If the selected student withdraws or is withdrawn from their UCEAP program, the student will no longer be eligible for the scholarship.  The scholarship will then be awarded to an alternate.
  • Upon completion of program, selected student must submit a letter of appreciation and a photo with brief description of study abroad experience to UCSC Study Abroad.
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For a PDF version of the above guidelines, click here.