May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, which means it's the perfect time to honor and celebrate students who are also Asian and Pacific Islanders within the United States! According to The Postsecondary National Policy Institute, AAPI students make up 8% of the population at public four-year colleges, 6% at private non-profit institutions, and 5% at four-year for-profit schools. Their overall college enrollment has increased 36% since the 2000-01 academic year.
Why May? According to the government's Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month site, "the month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants."
What began as a week-long celebration in the 1970s, the honor was extended to a month under President George H.W. Bush. May became the official designation of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month after President Bush signed it into law in 1992.
In honor of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, Fastweb is celebrating students with Asian-Pacific heritage with the following list of scholarships, all of which celebrate the value of a student's diverse background.
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: Varies
The CCAPW Scholarship is available to female undergraduate or graduate students of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. You must be a resident of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, or Tulare County to be eligible for this award.
Available to: Graduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000
The Hsiao Memorial Social Sciences Scholarship is available to graduate students of Asian heritage. You must be pursuing a degree in social sciences / economics and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award.
Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $5,000
The Jihoon Rim Scholarship is available to full - time undergraduate students of Korean American or Korean descent. You must be attending a four – year college in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. to be eligible for this award. A 1,000 – word essay is also required.
Available to: High School Seniors & College Students
Award Amount: $1,000
The Against The Grain Artistic Scholarship is available to high school seniors and full - time college students of Asian and / or Pacific Islander ethnicity. You must be pursuing a major in the performing / visual arts, journalism, and / or mass communications and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. You must also demonstrate leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities.
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $5,000
The AAa/e Scholarship is available to full - time students pursuing a degree in architecture, interior design, engineering, or construction. You must be a student member of the Asian American Architects and Engineers Foundation to be eligible for this award.
Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $1,500 - $3,000
The MAPS Scholarship is available to full - time undergraduate students majoring in Japanese language, Japanese literature, Asian studies, or illustration and animation. You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $3,000
The Helen Gee Chin Scholarship is available to full - time undergraduate students who have studied one or more of the Chinese martial arts for at least five years. You must have a minimum "B" average to be eligible for this award.
Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $5,000
The KASF Western Region Scholarship is available to high school seniors and undergraduate and graduate students who are of Korean descent. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and attend school in one of the designated Western states to be eligible for this award. Selection is based on academic achievement, community service, school activities, and financial need.
Available to: Law Students
Award Amount: $3,750
The SAIL Scholarship is available to first - year law students who have a strong interest in and commitment to public service. You must demonstrate outstanding professional promise and leadership potential to be considered for this award.
Scholarships for Asian-Pacific American Students
CCAPW Scholarship
Deadline: 5/14/23Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: Varies
The CCAPW Scholarship is available to female undergraduate or graduate students of Asian and Pacific Islander descent. You must be a resident of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, or Tulare County to be eligible for this award.
Hsiao Memorial Social Sciences Scholarship
Deadline: 5/19/23Available to: Graduate Students
Award Amount: $1,000
The Hsiao Memorial Social Sciences Scholarship is available to graduate students of Asian heritage. You must be pursuing a degree in social sciences / economics and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible for this award.
Jihoon Rim Scholarship
Deadline: 5/31/23Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $5,000
The Jihoon Rim Scholarship is available to full - time undergraduate students of Korean American or Korean descent. You must be attending a four – year college in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, or Washington, D.C. to be eligible for this award. A 1,000 – word essay is also required.
Against The Grain Artistic Scholarship
Deadline: 5/31/23Available to: High School Seniors & College Students
Award Amount: $1,000
The Against The Grain Artistic Scholarship is available to high school seniors and full - time college students of Asian and / or Pacific Islander ethnicity. You must be pursuing a major in the performing / visual arts, journalism, and / or mass communications and have a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible for this award. You must also demonstrate leadership abilities through participation in community service, extracurricular, or other activities.
Asian American Architects and Engineers Association Scholarship
Deadline: 5/31/23Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $5,000
The AAa/e Scholarship is available to full - time students pursuing a degree in architecture, interior design, engineering, or construction. You must be a student member of the Asian American Architects and Engineers Foundation to be eligible for this award.
MAPS Scholarship
Deadline: 5/31/23Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $1,500 - $3,000
The MAPS Scholarship is available to full - time undergraduate students majoring in Japanese language, Japanese literature, Asian studies, or illustration and animation. You must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible for this award.
Helen Gee Chin Scholarship
Deadline: 6/15/23Available to: Undergraduate Students
Award Amount: $3,000
The Helen Gee Chin Scholarship is available to full - time undergraduate students who have studied one or more of the Chinese martial arts for at least five years. You must have a minimum "B" average to be eligible for this award.
KASF Western Region Scholarship
Deadline: 6/30/23Available to: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
Award Amount: $5,000
The KASF Western Region Scholarship is available to high school seniors and undergraduate and graduate students who are of Korean descent. You must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and attend school in one of the designated Western states to be eligible for this award. Selection is based on academic achievement, community service, school activities, and financial need.
SAIL Scholarship
Deadline: 6/30/23Available to: Law Students
Award Amount: $3,750
The SAIL Scholarship is available to first - year law students who have a strong interest in and commitment to public service. You must demonstrate outstanding professional promise and leadership potential to be considered for this award.