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“Education is Our Freedom………” 

“And Freedom is Everyone’s Business,” the motto of the San Jose GI Forum Scholarship Foundation comes to life again. Every September, the Board of Directors begins its annual ten-month journey with companies and high schools to award scholarships to graduating Hispanic high school seniors throughout Santa Clara County.

The first step is fundraising. In the last three years alone the Foundation awarded 100 students over $130,000. The monies come from companies like Adaptec, Lockheed Martin, and United Defense. Many companies, such as Lockheed Martin have been supporting the Foundation since its beginning. Individuals, families and friends of families contribute to memorial scholarships awarded in the name of community leaders and family members who have passed away. 100% of all donations are given to students receiving scholarships.

The second step is getting students to apply for the scholarships. This is done with the help of school counselors who encourage and help students to complete applications and write autobiographical statements. Students also provide school transcripts and income tax statements to complete the process.

The third step is awarding the scholarships to students who have been accepted to a college or university. Every applicant must be interviewed and informed about the process. There are follow-up phone calls and then on the second Tuesday in May all the details are put together and the awardees are selected by the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors of the Foundation believes in the value of education for the students entering the next phase in their lives. All the work, fundraising, writing letters, mailing information packets or applications, calling companies, selecting the students, etc. is done by the Directors.

The final step is on the second Tuesday in June. The Scholarship Awards Dinner gathers the students, their parents, company representatives and friends to celebrate the accomplishments of the scholarship recipients.