Diane Dawson Memorial Scholarship

Introduction

Will provide financial assistance, in the form of scholarships, for young men and women who have a parent or legal guardian with terminal cancer or other terminal illness, or who have lost a parent to the disease. Established through the Sacramento Region Community Foundation, the Diane Dawson Memorial Scholarship will assist those in the greater Denver and Sacramento areas. Through efforts of family and friends, Diane's love of life, community and dedication to education lives on.

Award Amount and Purpose

Each scholarship will be for one year only (provided all requirements are met) but may be renewable for future years (based upon academic performance and financial need). The scholarship amount is yet to be determined, but awards have ranged from $500 to $1,500 in the past. The purpose of this grant is to help pay expenses such as tuition and fees, books, and room and board. The scholarship will be disbursed over the course of one academic year. Disbursement will be administered by the Sacramento Region Community Foundation and made directly to the university on the student’s behalf. Continuous, fulltime university enrollment is a requirement.

Eligibility

To be eligible, an applicant must:

• Be a graduating senior at a high school in the greater Sacramento or Denver area.
• Have a four-year cumulative GPA of at least 2.5.
• Have a parent or legal guardian with terminal cancer or other terminal illness, or have lost a parent to a terminal disease during their tenure in high school.
• File a timely and complete application.

Evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: Financial need, 25%; potential and student merit, 20%; Personal essay, 20%; letters of reference, 10%; extracurricular activities, 10%; and unusual circumstances, 15%.