Scholarships

SCHOLARSHIPS OVERVIEW

Napa Valley College provides a variety of scholarships to current students.  These scholarships are made possible by the generous donations from the Napa Valley College Foundation and various local individuals, organizations, and businesses.  We are grateful for the support they offer NVC students.

The application period is now open. All applications must be completed and submitted by February 6, 2024. Students can apply through AwardSpring.

Register for a Scholarship Application workshop:

Thursday, 11/30/2023 from 12:00pm - 1:00pm (register for the 11/30/2023 workshop).

or-

Thursday 01/11/2024 from 3:30pm - 4:30pm (register for the 01/11/2024 workshop). 

CRITERIA

• Have completed 12 units at Napa Valley College by the end of fall 2023 semester.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. However, some scholarships require a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Be enrolled at Napa Valley College in fall 2023 semester.
• Be enrolled at Napa Valley College spring 2024 in 6 or more units.
• Current Napa Valley College students who plan to transfer to a university in fall 2024 or continue at NVC next academic year are also eligible.

IN ADDITION

All students are encouraged to complete the financial aid application (FAFSA) www.fafsa.ed.gov (AB540 students who are not U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens should complete the Dream Act application to be considered for the widest range of scholarships. For more information about available financial assistance, please visit the Financial Aid website. 

Contact us by phone at (707) 256-7301, or email us at nvcscholarships@napavalley.edu 

SCHOLARSHIP opportunities outside of napa valley college 

There are opportunities for students to apply for scholarships from outside organizations. Napa Valley College has gathered some information to assist our students in seeking these opportunities. Please be aware that by clicking on the provided links you are leaving the Napa Valley College website.

If you decide to apply for an outside scholarship here are a few tips to help you avoid scams:

• Never pay to apply for a scholarship
• Avoid scholarships that offer guarantees
• Never provide personal financial information, i.e bank account numbers, credit card numbers, etc. 

The Federal Trade Commission provides additional advice on ways to avoid scholarship and financial aid scams.

_{Local SCHOLARSHIP Opportunities}

• Napa Valley Community Foundation: https://www.napavalleycf.org/im-a-student/scholarship-opportunities/
• Solano Community Foundation: https://app.goingmerry.com/scholarships/solano-community-foundation-ca-scholarships/10165 
• Soroptimist International of Napa: https://www.soroptimistnapa.org/
• Napa County Hispanic Network: https://www.napacountyhispanicnetwork.org/

The below scholarship search tool will provide you with links to potential scholarship opportunities. Currently, you are unable to login using your Napa Valley College login. Instead, use the sign-up button to create an account.

Scholarship Search Tool

• Meet all application deadlines.
  Use a calendar or planner, make a schedule, and stick to it. If you miss a deadline, even by just one day, you may not be considered.
• Gather application materials early.
  Give yourself plenty of time to complete each step. Applications that have been rushed look sloppy, and incomplete applications probably won’t be accepted.
• Don't ignore small awards.
  Scholarships with larger awards have more competition. Whatever you can do to decrease your competition will be in your favor, so applying for all award amounts is a good way to ensure that you have a better chance of winning. Remember, there is no limit to how many scholarships you can apply for or win, so winning several smaller awards can really add up and serve the same purpose - paying for school.
• Request letters of recommendation early.
  A good letter of recommendation can make all the difference in your application. Think carefully about who should write these letters and choose people who can speak to your strengths and ability to overcome your weaknesses (letters from family members are generally a no-no). Give the person writing the letter significant time and a copy of your student resume so that they can easily reference your student activities. Be prepared to provide them with additional information about yourself or the scholarship. Make sure to follow up with your recommender to assure that your letter was submitted.
• Write a great essay.
  Think carefully about the question being asked and use this opportunity to tell the selection committee things about you that might not be shown elsewhere in the application. If a question doesn’t apply don’t leave it blank, instead explain why the question does not apply. Also, many essays can be re-purposed and applied to future applications. This can save you time, however, don’t just resubmit the same essay – make sure to edit it for each new scholarship essay question.
  
  Get help with editing for grammar and spelling but do your own writing—the committee wants to hear from you personally. Current Napa Valley College students can work with the Writing Success Center to receive free assistance in writing their essay.
• Attend a scholarship workshop.
  Scholarship Committee members hold workshops just before and shortly after the Award Spring application opens. These workshops can assist you in completing the NVC scholarship application. If you have a scheduling conflict, a recording of the workshop will be posted to the scholarship website.
• Sing your own praises.
  Applications will often ask you to talk about what you do with your time. As uncomfortable as this may feel, this is one of the times in your life when it's necessary to brag. Tell them about recognitions and awards you've received. Emphasize activities that show your talents and passions, especially things that demonstrate your ability to lead, take initiative, persist through adversity, and care for your community. Don't underestimate yourself - employment and family responsibilities can say a lot in your favor as well.
• Try, try again – don’t become discouraged.
  Keep trying even if you don’t win a scholarship right away. Cast a wide net; the more you apply for, the better your chances of winning. It is difficult at times to win, and not everyone is guaranteed to win a scholarship. It's vital that you never give up applying - because then you're guaranteed to never win one.