Cuyamaca and Grossmont graduates celebrating at commencement with regalia and leis
Investing inStudent Success

HOW SCHOLARSHIPS WORK

Scholarships are one of the most meaningful ways to make a direct impact on a student’s educational journey. Thanks to generous support from our community, the Foundation for Grossmont & Cuyamaca Colleges offers more than 300 scholarship opportunities to current Grossmont and Cuyamaca College students, ranging from $500 to $2,500, each semester.

The process is simple for our students and donors: Students apply by submitting one online application through AcademicWorks. Then they are automatically matched to the scholarship opportunities they qualify for. A third-party scholarship review committee of over 100 members reviews all applications, and scholarship specialists at both colleges review scores and award scholarships.

After scholarships are awarded, donors receive a report introducing their scholarship recipient(s), allowing them to see the meaningful impact their generosity made on a student’s educational journey.

SCHOLARSHIP TIMELINES

Fall Scholarships

  • Scholarship funds from donor to FGCC received by:
    End of April
  • Student application period: Late March–Early May
  • Scholarship funds disbursed to recipient: Mid-August
  • Scholarship reports sent to donor:
    End of August–Early September

Spring Scholarships

  • Scholarship funds from donor to FGCC received by:
    End of October
  • Student application period: Late September–Early November
  • Scholarship funds disbursed to recipient: Late January
  • Scholarship reports sent to donor:
    End of January–Early February

START A SCHOLARSHIP

Contributing to scholarships is a great way to directly impact students. If you would like to support students through a scholarship, there are several options to consider.

Named Scholarship

minimum $2,000

Minimum required to establish a non-endowed named scholarship. Honor someone special while directly supporting student success.

Endowed Scholarship

minimum $25,000

Establish a scholarship that lives in perpetuity. This provides approximately $1,000 per year in scholarships, funded solely by interest.

Contribute to Existing

Any amount

Donate to an existing scholarship fund that aligns with your interests. See the list below, or contact Kerri Ewing for guidance.

FUND AN EXISTING SCHOLARSHIP

You can donate to an existing scholarship fund that aligns with your interests. Each scholarship below links directly to its donation page.

Scholarship Name College About
Grossmont & Cuyamaca Established in honor of Grossmont College Political Science professor Brian Jennings, known for his humor, respect for divergent political opinions, and passion for teaching.
Grossmont Two scholarships awarded to Occupational Therapy students.
Cuyamaca Awarded to a Cuyamaca student majoring in English, History, or Philosophy.
Cuyamaca Awarded to a Cuyamaca student involved in Disabled Students Programs & Services.
Grossmont Awarded to a Grossmont student involved in the ESL program.
Grossmont & Cuyamaca Scholarships to help cover the cost of books, supplies, basic needs, or whatever students need to be successful.
Grossmont Distributed to a STEM student each fall.
Cuyamaca Distributed to a student in the Center for Water Studies at Cuyamaca College.
Grossmont & Cuyamaca Established by the GCCCD Retiree Committee to support current students.
Grossmont Supporting the UMOJA (Unity) Program, a critical learning community at Grossmont College.
Grossmont & Cuyamaca Established by University of Phoenix to support students pursuing their educational goals.

Looking for more options? The Foundation manages over 100 scholarship and program funds. Visit our Programs & Scholarships page to see the full list, or contact Kerri Ewing at (619) 644-7883 for assistance.

JOIN THE REVIEW COMMITTEE

The Scholarship Application Review Committee ensures that scholarships are awarded to the most deserving students. Your insight is vital to this process.

Participation is entirely online — no in-person meetings required. Each application review takes roughly 2 to 5 minutes to complete, and the review window is approximately two weeks. It is a great way to stay involved with the colleges and see student needs first-hand.

To volunteer, please email kerri.ewing@gcccd.edu.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I start a scholarship?
The Foundation requires a minimum of $2,000 to establish a non-endowed named scholarship. When you have collected your scholarship deposit, contact Dana Rivers at (619) 644-7652 to get started.
What if I want the scholarship to live in perpetuity?
You would need to raise $25,000 for a scholarship to live in perpetuity. This would provide approximately two $500 scholarships per year based solely on interest.
What if I want to change my scholarship criteria?
Criteria can be adjusted based on recommendations by the college or Foundation with the originator’s approval. Work with your Foundation representative to make adjustments using the Scholarship Modification Form.
What if I do not have $2,000 to start a named scholarship?
There are several existing scholarships that gladly accept any contribution. You can find donation links in the table above, browse the full Programs & Scholarships list, or contact Kerri Ewing at kerri.ewing@gcccd.edu for assistance.
How are scholarship recipients selected?
Scholarship recipients are selected by an outside review committee facilitated through the Financial Aid offices at both colleges. Students submit one application through AcademicWorks and are automatically matched with qualifying scholarships. Three separate reviewers score each application, and the scores are averaged. Top-scoring applicants are selected.
How can students apply for scholarships?
All currently enrolled Grossmont and Cuyamaca College students can apply during the application period at gcccd.academicworks.com. The minimum criteria for all scholarships is a 2.0 cumulative GPA. Visit the student scholarships page for current timelines.

Students

Apply for scholarships through AcademicWorks. One application matches you with every scholarship you qualify for.

Apply Now

Donors

Start a scholarship or contribute to an existing fund. Every gift helps a student complete their education.

Start a Scholarship

Volunteers

Join our Scholarship Review Committee and help select the next generation of scholarship recipients.

Join Committee

To start or fund a scholarship: Dana Rivers, Director of Development — (619) 644-7652

For contributions under $2,000 or to join the review committee: Kerri Ewing — (619) 644-7883