ACUMEN stands for Aspire to College or University: Meet your Education Nexus. The ACUMEN Scholarship seeks to provide scholarships to students from Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA) in Berkeley and Oakland Tech High School and McClymonds High School who face serious financial challenges and who are committed to attend college.
Scholarship Details
- Up to three new scholarships awarded each year
- $5,000 awards for students attending a two-year college
- $8,000 awards for students attending a four-year college or university
- Funds may be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and other educational costs
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be one of the following:
- A current YSA participant graduating from high school
- An active YSA participant or alum who has graduated high school and has not started college or has only attended community college
- A current graduating senior at Oakland Tech High School
- A current graduating senior at McClymonds High School
- Must plan to attend a two-year or four-year college or university in the upcoming fall
- Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
- Must be eligible for the federal free and reduced-price lunch program
- Not open to first-time applicants already attending a four-year college
Application Process
- Verify eligibility based on school affiliation, YSA involvement, GPA, and financial need
- Complete the ACUMEN Scholarship application through the program’s designated platform
- Provide academic transcripts confirming a minimum 2.5 GPA
- Submit documentation showing eligibility for the free and reduced-price lunch program
- Prepare responses or essays demonstrating purpose, motivation, and commitment to education and community
- Submit all required materials by the posted deadline
This scholarship also strongly encourages its scholars to take advantage of academic, social, and/or cultural support services at their higher education institution. Students who do so will be eligible to renew their awards in future years. Current ACUMEN scholars are invited to renew their awards each year of college by demonstrating "good standing."
