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The application program will be live on or after March 28.
Please return then to view the updated Eligibility and Awards for the upcoming academic year!

Jennie V. and Marie Cook Scholarship & James L. Warner Education Fund Scholarship
Live application window: March 28, 2025 through May 1, 2025 3:00 pm CT/1:00 pm PT

The Orange County Community Foundation has established the Jennie V. and Marie Cook Scholarship Program & James L. Warner Education Fund Scholarship to assist students pursuing higher education.

The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor, and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.

Applicants to the James L. Warner Education Fund Scholarship must meet all of the following criteria:

  • Be high school seniors or graduates or current college undergraduates who have attended Whittier Union High School District for four consecutive years.
  • Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at Pomona College, Whittier College, University of Southern California, Stanford University or any campus of the University of California for the entire upcoming academic year.

Applicants to the Jennie V. and Marie Cook Scholarship must:

  • Be a current college undergraduate and plan to enroll full-time for the entire upcoming academic year at University of California – Irvine, University of California – San Diego, University of California – Los Angeles, California Institute of Technology, University of California – Riverside, California State University – Fullerton, California State University – Long Beach, or Occidental College.
  • Be pursuing one of the following majors: Engineering, Health Sciences, or Science (includes Nursing and Medicine).
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
  • Graduated from high school in Orange County, CA

Applicants may only apply for one award.

Award Information:

James L. Warner Education Fund Scholarship recipients will receive a $5,000 award. Up to four awards will be granted.

Jennie V. and Marie Cook Scholarship recipients will receive a $5,000 award. Up to five awards will be granted.

Applicants may only receive one award.

Awards are not renewable; however, students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements. Awards are for undergraduate study only.

Notification

Applicants will be notified in June. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of The Orange County Community Foundation. Payments are made in one installment in early August.

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

  • Academic record
  • Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
  • Work experience
  • Statement of career and educational goals and objectives
  • Unusual personal or family circumstances
  • An online recommendation

Financial need will be considered. Applicants must demonstrate need.

Selection of recipients for the James L. Warner Education Fund Scholarship is made by Scholarship America. All Jennie V. and Marie Cook Scholarship applications will be sent to the Orange County Community Foundation for evaluation and recipient selection. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

As part of your application, you must upload the following document:

  • A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Unofficial or online transcripts must display:
    • Student name
    • School name
    • Grades
    • Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.

      NOTE: If you are providing SAT or ACT test scores, and those scores are not listed on your high school transcript, you will need to upload a copy of your test score report(s) separately. If you are uploading a college transcript, those scores are not required.

One online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf no later than May 6, 2025 3:00 pm Central Time/1:00 pm Pacific Time.

Your application is not complete unless all required documents are submitted electronically through the Scholarship America Student Hub.

The Orange County Community Foundation has partnered with Scholarship America. Select the button below to be directed to the Scholarship America Student Hub!

Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address provided below in the footer as safe senders in your email contact list.