East Bay College Fund -
Scholarship Opportunity

Attention graduating seniors! Oakland Promise is excited to invite applications for the East Bay College Fund scholarship. This scholarship is a one-time, $5,000 scholarship award, awarded to a student who best exemplifies the values of the Oakland Promise: community, long-term positive impact, humility, joy, equity, and transparency.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a graduating Oakland Public High School student
  • Eligible for other Oakland Promise sponsored scholarships
  • Willing to collaborate with Oakland Promise staff to transform your application materials into a 10-12 minute speech that will serve as the keynote address for the 2025 Oakland Promise Awards Ceremony in May 2025.
  • Enroll in a two year school, four year school, or trade institution in the fall of 2025 to further your education

Application Instructions:

To apply, please check the opt-in box on the regular Oakland Promise scholarship application and submit a pitch for why you should be selected as the recipient of the 2025 East Bay College Fund scholarship. Your pitch can take one of the following forms:

  • An outline of a speech (not to exceed 300 words)
  • A short video or audio clip (not to exceed three minutes)
  • Any format that best represents you, your community, and your educational journey and aspirations that can be submitted digitally and transformed into a speech.

We look forward to hearing your stories and celebrating your contributions to our vibrant Oakland community!

Selection Criteria for the 2025 East Bay College Fund $5,000 Scholarship

1. Alignment with Oakland Promise Values

  • Community: Demonstrates a strong connection to and active participation in their community.
  • Long-Term Positive Impact: Articulates a clear vision of how their education and future plans will contribute to lasting positive change in Oakland and beyond.
  • Humility: Shows a genuine and modest reflection on their achievements and acknowledges the contributions of others to their success.
  • Joy: Displays enthusiasm and a positive attitude toward their educational journey and future goals.
  • Equity: Demonstrates a commitment to fairness and justice, particularly in addressing educational or social disparities.
  • Transparency: Exhibits honesty and openness in sharing their story, challenges, and aspirations.

2. Creativity and Originality of Pitch

  • Evaluates the creativity and uniqueness of the pitch, considering how well the format chosen represents the applicant’s individuality and story.
  • Assesses the applicant’s ability to engage the audience and communicate their message effectively, whether through a written outline, video, audio clip, or other formats.

3. Educational Aspirations and Goals

  • Clearly outlines educational goals and how they align with the applicant’s long-term career and community impact.
  • Highlights specific academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and leadership experiences that reflect the applicant’s dedication to their educational journey.

4. Overall Application Quality

  • Consider the clarity, coherence, and professionalism of the application materials.
  • Evaluates the overall effort put into the application and the attention to detail in meeting the instructions and requirements.

How to apply for the East Bay College Fund scholarship:

To apply, please complete your Oakland Promise Scholarship application at scholarships.oaklandpromise.org and opt-in to the East Bay Scholarship selection process.

For questions or more information, please contact scholarships@oaklandpromise.org.

About East Bay College Fund

The East Bay College Fund (EBCF), founded in 2002 by a committed group of East Bay citizens, educators, and community activists, was a non-profit organization dedicated to providing college access, scholarships, mentoring, and life skills training to eligible students in the East Bay. From its inception until its merger with Oakland Promise in 2019, EBCF awarded over 1,000 scholarships, empowering students for academic and career success.

About Oakland Promise

Oakland Promise (OP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Oakland students from birth through college and into their careers. OP provides financial resources, educational programming, mentorship, and a supportive community to help young people thrive in higher education. Founded in 2016 and later merging with the East Bay College Fund, OP focuses on equity, educational opportunity, and economic mobility. Through its four core programs—Brilliant Baby, Kindergarten to College, College Access, and College Completion—OP partners with various organizations to empower Oakland's youth and create lasting positive impacts on the community.