Cesar Chavez Memorial Scholarship

Cesar E. Chavez was a labor organizer and community leader who dedicated his life to serving others, in particular the poorest and most oppressed workers in America, the farm workers. Chavez himself grew up as a migrant farm worker and was able to learn about organizing through the teachings of Mahatma Ghandi, the Catholic Church, and his work with the Community Service Organization in the 1950s. He sacrificed security and family life to begin the hard work of creating a farm worker’s union in the 1960s. Through the force of his own moral code, and a belief in non-violence and social justice, he was able to lead an international movement that resulted in the first formal recognition of a farm labor union by employers in American history. Chavez’s union, the UFW, established service centers that help the working poor survive by providing emergency relief for the unemployed, employment assistance, and retirement benefits. The Chavez legacy has been to inspire thousands throughout the world to sacrifice for community service. In this spirit, the Chicana & Chicano Studies Department awards annual scholarships recognizing students who have demonstrated their commitment to community service.

To apply for this scholarship, submit a General Application.

If you do not meet all of these requirements in a given term, you may lose your scholarship eligibility and your scholarship may be canceled.

Requirements:

• Applicants must be enrolled full-time to remain eligible for this scholarship.
• Applicants must be studying Chicano/a Studies major or minor, Latin American Studies major, or Social Science major.