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The application program will be available again in early 2024. Please return then to view the updated Eligibility and Awards for the upcoming academic year! If you are an applicant who would like to discover more scholarship opportunities you might qualify for, please continue to the Scholarship America Hub and sign up!

The PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship
Application status: Closed

The PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. (Success Matters in Life & Education) Scholarship is designed to help students transition from designated partner community colleges to four-year colleges and universities.

The PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship seeks to break down barriers for students lacking access to financial support and professional development opportunities. To qualify for this need-based scholarship, students must identify as a member of an underserved community (i.e., not receiving enough help, products, or services), or otherwise meet one of the eligibility criteria listed in the application.

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 PepsiCo Foundation S.M.I.L.E. Scholarship must:

  • Be a current college undergraduate attending one of the following colleges:
    • Westchester Community College – Valhalla, NY
    • Dallas College – Dallas, TX
    • City Colleges of Chicago – Chicago, IL
    • Valencia College, Orlando, FL
    • Colorado (CCCS), Denver, CO
      • Community College of Denver
      • Community College of Aurora
      • Front Range Community College
  • Have completed 45 credit hours by January 2024
  • Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited four-year college or university for the entire upcoming academic year (2024-2025)
  • Have a minimum grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent)
  • Have an indefinite right to work in the United States without visa sponsorship after degree attainment
  • Agree to receive communications directly from PepsiCo
  • Agree to a recorded final video interview
  • Applicants must be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in an eligible STEM or Business Major.

PepsiCo employees and children of PepsiCo employees are ineligible.

Study in any medical field is not eligible.

Selection of Recipients

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

  • Academic record
  • Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
  • Work experience
  • Statement of goals and aspirations
  • 2 Essays*

Financial need will be considered. Recipients must demonstrate need.

Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. In no instance does any officer or employee of PepsiCo Foundation play a part in the selection. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

*Essay Topics
2000 characters each:

Essay 1: How could receiving this scholarship help you overcome obstacles, including financial challenges, and ultimately reach your educational and career goals?

Essay 2: How are you advancing the journey toward a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable society?

Awards

If selected as a recipient, the student will receive a $25,000 award. Up to 50 awards will be granted.

Awards may be renewed for up to one additional year. Renewal is contingent upon satisfactory academic performance in a full-time course of study and continued enrollment at an accredited four-year college or university. If an award recipient changes their major to an area of study outside of the eligible Business and STEM Majors, they will forfeit eligibility for the scholarship.

Awards are for undergraduate study only.

Award funds may be used primarily for tuition and fees and for education-related expenses including room and board and indirect educational expenses included in the cost of attendance.

In addition to funding towards cost of attendance, the scholarship also offers a rich series of professional development events, workforce readiness tools, and mentorship, to help recipients prepare for the transition to a successful corporate career.

Recipients MUST be enrolled in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited four (4) year college or university for the entire 2024-2025 academic year (fall and spring terms.) Scholarship funding will be applied for the entire 2024-2025 academic year. Failure to confirm enrollment for the Fall 2024 semester will result in forfeiture of the entire scholarship award.

Notification

All applicants will be notified in late May.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of PepsiCo Foundation. Payment is made in early August.

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

  • A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display student name, school name, grades and credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.

Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.

PepsiCo Foundation has partnered with Scholarship America. Selecting the button below will redirect you 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.