Purpose

 

TOSCA scholarships provide opportunities for continued education through academic excellence. Individual scholarships range from $250 to $6,000 per academic year. Scholarships are based on a combination of academic achievement and involvement within the community and school. Volunteer work and employment are also considered.

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Scholarships Available

 

Scholarships are funded by private donations made to TOSCA. The awarding of individual scholarships and the amount awarded is at the sole discretion of the TOSCA Awards Committee with the approval of the TOSCA Board of Directors. The number of scholarships and their dollar amounts will depend on the monies available, the number of applicants, and their demonstrated achievement. Graduate School and Credential Program awards are based on the above criteria in addition to the number of units/credits in which the applicant is enrolled. Receipt of a TOSCA scholarship award may or may not affect other scholarship funding or state and/or federal grant funding.

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Who May Apply

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Any graduate from a high school in the Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District in the year of 2016 or later who plans to enroll as a full-time student in the fall of 2026 may apply. Full-time enrollment is considered to be 12 units or more for an undergraduate student. Graduate school students must be considered a full-time student as per the requirements of their school if enrolled with less than 12 units. Students must also be accepted and/or admitted to an accredited school in the United States.

 

Eligibility

 

Graduating high school seniors applying for an academic scholarship to a four-year college (BA/BS degree) must have a GPA not less than 3.0. GPA used for awarding shall be the Un-weighted Academic GPA as verified and calculated by the student's Official Transcript.

 

Graduating high school seniors applying for an academic scholarship to a two-year community college, or a vocational scholarship at a vocational/technical institution or community college, must have a cumulative Un-weighted Academic GPA of 2.5 as verified and calculated by the student's Official Transcript.

 

College students who are freshmen at the time of application must have a cumulative GPA not less than 2.5 as stated on your college transcript.

 

College students in their sophomore year and higher must have a cumulative GPA not less than 2.8 as stated on your college transcript.

 

• All college students submitting applications must have graduated from a Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District high school not more than ten years prior to the current scholarship award period.
   

• Students pursuing a BA/BS degree will be eligible for a TOSCA award in no more than five school years within the overall ten year eligibility period.
   

• An additional two years of TOSCA eligibility will be available to students enrolled in graduate degree and/or credential programs, three years for law school and four years for medical school.
   

• The maximum of three years will apply to community college and vocational/technical school students.

 

Application Process

 

Students applying for TOSCA scholarships for the academic year 2026-2027 must complete the following Scholarship Application, which consists of three pre-printed main documents:   The Verification of Completion Form, The Personal Information Form and The Student Academic Information Sheet. These three forms must be completed in their entirety. The entire application, which consists of the above three main documents as well as the supplemental documents listed below, must be computer generated – see TOSCA website (www.toscascholarships.org) for fillable pdf file available for download.  

 

No handwritten documents will be allowed except for signatures, and no two-sided documents - single sided only.  Please be as specific and thorough as possible when completing all application forms.

 

The usage of A-I generated text in any of the required documents is strictly forbidden. If detected, it will result in the disqualification of the submitted application.  

 

 The awards committee will review the applications on an anonymous basis. For this reason, use ONLY your Social Security number and headings as stated on the supplemental documents. Do not use your name, address, phone or email address. Do not make personal reference to yourself or any family members on any of these supplemental documents.

 

Educational and Career Goals - Write a statement describing your career and educational goals, and how you intend to reach those goals. Describe the qualities you have developed that will help you succeed in obtaining your goals and what type of career you wish to have after college or trade school graduation. You must include your social security number and document title as shown in the packet if you do not use the provided form.  (For OHS Seniors Only)

 

Activities - This is in resume format - not an essay.       OHS Seniors - describe your activities during your high school years. Your resume must  include any student government positions, organizations, clubs, sports, hobbies, employment or volunteer time. You should indicate how many years you participated, any offices held and the nature of your involvement in the activities. College applicants - please include activities and employment while in college.  Please label each activity clearly.

You must include your social security number and document title as shown on all pages in the packet if you do not use the provided form. 

 

 TOSCA Essay - (For OHS Seniors Only) An essay, not to exceed one page, single spaced, and typed on one of three following topics:  1 - Describe your reasons for wanting to attend one of the specific schools that you are applying to. Who or what factored into your decision? 2 - Discuss a book that you would call a “great book.” What makes the book great in your view? 3 - If you had 10 minutes and the attention of a million people, what would your TED Talk be about and why?

You must include your social security number and document title and topic as shown on all pages in the packet if you do not use the provided form. 

 

Essay Challenge - (For College Students Only)  An essay, not to exceed one page, single spaced, and typed on one of three following topics:  1 - Imagine that you could have one superpower. What would it be and how would you use it? What would be your kryptonite? 2 - Cite a famous quote that describes a lot about you and explain why you connect with it. 3 - How has your own background influenced the types of problems you want to solve, the people you want to work with, and the impact you hope your work can have? 

You must include your social security number and document title and topic as shown on all pages in the packet if you do not use the provided form. 

 

Applicant Questions -(For College Students Only) These are three questions that will help the judges better understand your personality and character as a student. You must include your social security number, document title and questions as shown in packet if you do not use the provided form. 

 

Academic Transcripts - An official copy (embossed, sealed or certified) of the student’s academic transcript from all applicable institutions must be submitted. If applying for graduate or credential program studies, please also include your undergraduate transcript(s). 

This document may contain the student’s name and school identification number. Do not alter the official transcript in any way. Request your transcript in a timely manner as this process could take several days/weeks.

 

Application Deadline

Completed scholarship application packets (including all supporting documents and  transcripts) must be postmarked by an official postal service office (not school store or mail house) no later than March 13, 2026, to be considered for a scholarship award. Scholarship packets must be mailed to:

TOSCA, P. O. Box 18, Newman, CA 95360. 

Additional postage will apply and postal tracking is recommended. You will be notified by mail if your application is NOT accepted for judging. 

 

If all items required for your scholarship application packet are not included, you will not be considered for any scholarships; there will be no exceptions and your application will be denied.

 

What Happens After You Apply

The TOSCA administration forwards all qualified scholarship applications to the Awards Selection Committee for its consideration.

Recipients of scholarship awards will be notified as soon as possible after April 15, 2026.

OHS recipients are required to attend the TOSCA Awards Presentation Ceremony to be held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Yolo Middle School. Post graduates will be notified by mail and/or email and are not required to attend the ceremony.

Certain restrictions could apply should a student change course of study, category of school or not be considered a full-time student.  All students will be required to abide by the TOSCA Scholarship Payment Guidelines. 

For further information concerning the application process, please call Susan Mattos at (209) 243-8118, email info@toscascholarships.org, or visit our website at www.toscascholarships.org.