Application deadline for Moorpark College scholarships extended to March 20

The+Moorpark+College+Performing+Art+Center.+Photo+courtesy+of+the+VCCCD+photo+archive.

The Moorpark College Performing Art Center. Photo courtesy of the VCCCD photo archive.

By Andres Garcia

The deadline to apply for scholarships from Moorpark College has been extended to 11:59 p.m. on Monday, March 20.

This year, 113 scholarships are being offered through the Moorpark College Foundation. Students interested in applying or learning more about what scholarship opportunities are available can click here.

The requirements for each scholarship vary. While some scholarships are reserved exclusively for full-time enrolled students, others are open to part-time students. Grade point average, selected major, campus involvement and cultural background are some of the many factors that can earn students scholarships.

Scholarship amounts also vary. For example, the Jean Osborne Memorial Music Scholarship awards $500, whereas recipients of the League of Women Voters of Ventura County Scholarship can receive up to $3,000.

The number of rewarded applicants for each scholarship varies as well since some scholarships are awarded to multiple students, including the scholarships offered by the Associated Students of Moorpark College.

This year’s ASMC scholarships are the Full-Time Enrolled Working Student Scholarship, Grieving the Loss of a Loved One Scholarship and Student Involvement Scholarship. To apply for these scholarships, students must submit a resume and expand on how they meet the eligibility criteria.

Even with the diverse selection of scholarships provided, the school’s financial reward opportunities have largely gone unnoticed. In an email sent out to first-year students, a student success coach brought attention to the lack of scholarship applicants this year. According to the email, over 40 scholarships offered through Moorpark College have received little to no applicants.

Jerico Bernardus, a second-year student at Moorpark College, is one of many students unaware of the Moorpark College Foundation scholarships.

“I was not notified about any academic scholarships here at Moorpark College,” Bernardus said. “I believe that they (Moorpark College) do not advertise this as much as they should.”

While students such as Bernardus only recently discovered the scholarships, others have already finished their scholarship applications.

Luis Felipe de Oliveira Gentil, an first-year and international student at Moorpark College, described the scholarship application process as extensive but worthwhile.

“It took me a lot of time to apply because it requires a lot of writing,” Gentil said. “[However,] I love that Moorpark College is giving all the students the opportunity to win a scholarship,”

The general application requires basic background information such as the applicant’s name, student ID number and unofficial transcript. Students then answer a series of questions regarding their major, academic/career interests and campus involvement so that the college can consider them for the appropriate scholarships.

Additionally, applicants must submit at least one letter of recommendation and a written essay that delves into why they are deserving of these scholarships and how they plan to utilize any scholarship awards they receive. Scholarships such as the ones provided by ASMC may request additional materials such as resumes.

In the United States, the cost of attending college has been on the rise for the last 20 years, which is why many students rely on scholarship awards to mitigate the resulting financial hardships. The U.S. Department of Education encourages students to apply for as many scholarships as they can.

As the deadline to apply for the Moorpark College Foundation scholarships has been extended to today, March 20, at 11:59 p.m., students still have a chance to submit their application for scholarship consideration.