Rising Immigrant Scholars through Education
The Issue
Every year, over 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school across the United States. At least 25, 000 are from the state of California. Due to their immigration status these students are ineligible for all federal and state funded financial aid; they forfeit the pursuit of their dreams to attend a four year university as well as the opportunity of becoming talented professionals.
Our student organization, therefore, recognizes that all students regardless of their citizenship status should have access to a higher education. With the objective to close the educational gap among underrepresented communities, we seek to recruit, inform, and retain students from this particular background by providing them with the necessary resources to successfully navigate and achieve a higher education in order for them to contribute to the well being of our state economy.
Who is an undocumented student?
A student is undocumented if he/she:
1) Was brought to the U.S. as a young child by his/her parents without legal permission;
2) Entered the U.S. using a tourist and/or student visa that expired (aka overstayed their visa)
An undocumented student is ineligible to apply and receive:
· FAFSA: Federal and State Financial Aid Support
· Work Study
· Cal and Pell Grants
· Bank Loans
· Scholarships requiring U.S. Citizenship and/or permanent residency status
· Study abroad opportunities
· Driver’s license and California ID
· Inability to legally work in the U.S.
An undocumented student IS eligible for:
· Internship stipends
· Private scholarships that do not require U.S. citizenship and/or permanent
residency status
· Private contributions/donations from businesses, friends, colleagues, and
family members
· Having private fundraisers to fundraise his/her education
Every year, over 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school across the United States. At least 25, 000 are from the state of California. Due to their immigration status these students are ineligible for all federal and state funded financial aid; they forfeit the pursuit of their dreams to attend a four year university as well as the opportunity of becoming talented professionals.
Our student organization, therefore, recognizes that all students regardless of their citizenship status should have access to a higher education. With the objective to close the educational gap among underrepresented communities, we seek to recruit, inform, and retain students from this particular background by providing them with the necessary resources to successfully navigate and achieve a higher education in order for them to contribute to the well being of our state economy.
Who is an undocumented student?
A student is undocumented if he/she:
1) Was brought to the U.S. as a young child by his/her parents without legal permission;
2) Entered the U.S. using a tourist and/or student visa that expired (aka overstayed their visa)
An undocumented student is ineligible to apply and receive:
· FAFSA: Federal and State Financial Aid Support
· Work Study
· Cal and Pell Grants
· Bank Loans
· Scholarships requiring U.S. Citizenship and/or permanent residency status
· Study abroad opportunities
· Driver’s license and California ID
· Inability to legally work in the U.S.
An undocumented student IS eligible for:
· Internship stipends
· Private scholarships that do not require U.S. citizenship and/or permanent
residency status
· Private contributions/donations from businesses, friends, colleagues, and
family members
· Having private fundraisers to fundraise his/her education
