Eligibility Requirements

Applicants to the Frank and Ruth Bila Charitable Fund must:

• Be a high school senior in Orange County, CA or graduated from an Orange County high school.
• Be planning to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year.
• Be 17 to 30 years of age as of the application deadline date.
• Be pursuing a career in Restaurant or Hotel Management.
• Have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent).

Applicants to the Robert C. and Lillian N. DuSoe Scholarship Fund must:

• Be a high school senior at Laguna Beach Unified School District or Santa Ana Unified School District OR
• Be a current undergraduate who graduated from Laguna Beach Unified School District or Santa Ana Unified School District AND
• Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year.
• Be pursuing a degree in music or writing.

Applicants to the Charles H. & Ethel E. Wolfe Scholarship Endowment must:

• Be a high school senior in Orange County, CA or graduated from an Orange County high school.
• Be planning to enroll in part-time or full-time undergraduate study at an accredited, non-profit two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year.
• Receive a recommendation by the high school principal of from which the student is graduating, based on the students high scholastic achievements and community involvement.

Applicants to the Orange County Centennial Academic Scholarship must:

• Be a high school senior in Orange County, CA who has completed their last three years of high school in Orange County.
• Have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent).
• Have an SAT score of at least 1400 OR an ACT score of at least 31.
• Demonstrate community involvement and leadership.

Applicants to the Orange County Centennial Arts Scholarship must:

• Be a high school senior in Orange County, CA who has completed their last three years of high school in Orange County.
• Be pursuing a degree in Art (dance, voice, opera, theatre arts, musical theatre, visual arts or music).

Applicants to the Orange County Centennial Certification Scholarship must:

• Be a high school senior in Orange County, CA who has completed their last three years of high school in Orange County.
• Be planning to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- year college, or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year.

Award Information

The Frank and Ruth Bila Charitable Fund will award up to three awards of $2,500 each.

The Robert C. and Lillian N. DuSoe Scholarship Fund will award between two to five awards up to $1,500 each.

The Charles H & Ethel E Wolfe Scholarship Endowment Fund will award between two to five awards ranging from $1,500 – $2,500 each. Financial need will be considered in determining the amount of each award.

The Orange County Centennial Scholarship Fund will award between two to five awards ranging from $2,500 to $5,000. Assuming there are qualified applicants, at least one of each Orange County Centennial Scholarship awards will be granted (Academic, Arts, and Certification). Financial need will be considered in determining the amount of each award.

Awards are one-time only. Past recipients may not reapply.

Awards are for undergraduate study only.

Students can only receive one award.

Selection Criteria

The program will use Scholarship America recipient selection criteria including the consideration of academic performance, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, a statement of career and educational goals and objectives, unusual personal or family circumstances and an online recommendation*.

*Recommendations for applicants to the Charles H. & Ethel E. Wolfe Scholarship Endowment must be from their high school Principal, based on the student’s high scholastic achievements and community involvement.

Financial need will be considered for the Frank and Ruth Bila Charitable Fund, Robert C. and Lillian N. DuSoe Scholarship Fund, and Charles H & Ethel E Wolfe Scholarship Endowment. Recipients must demonstrate need.

Financial need will not be considered for the Orange County Centennial Academic Scholarship, the Orange County Centennial Arts Scholarship, and the Orange County Centennial Certification Scholarship.

Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. In no instance does any officer or employee of Orange County Community Foundation play a part in the selection. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

Notification

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

Payment of Scholarships

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