Deadline Monday, July 2, for the Koshland Opportunity Scholarship Application

HAYWARD, Calif., June 28, 2018 (Newswire.com) - The Koshland Opportunity Scholarship is a brand new scholarship created especially for South Hayward residents and is awarding up to 20 scholarships of $3,000 each for residents of the Jackson Triangle and Harder Tennyson (JTHT) Hayward neighborhoods to pursue a certificate program in technology, green energy, skilled trades or health care.

Created by the JTHT Koshland Fellows - a group of parents, educators and community advocates in South Hayward - with a grant from the San Francisco Foundation, the scholarship aims to uplift the community by giving residents access to fast-tracked job training and certification programs that result in livable wages and fulfilling careers. The scholarship responds to the widening gap in educational and workforce development opportunities for Latino, Pacific Islander and black students, the rising cost of living in the Bay Area and the labor shortage of electricians and other skilled trades.

So many people are excited about this scholarship. I review a lot of scholarships and it is very evident that this scholarship program was created here in Hayward, with our community's needs in mind.

Molly Garahan, Hayward High School Guidance Counselor

“We had a lot of conversations with individuals on the ground and see employment not only as a way to a sustainable career but as a way to be a contributing member of the community. We want to help people get that through job training and certification programs,” said Sonnye Brotherton, a Koshland Fellow, parent and resident of South Hayward.

The Fellows hope to connect this gap by sponsoring the certification program fee, which can cost $2,000-$3,000, to remove a financial barrier for young adults and low-income residents in South Hayward. Scholarship recipients can receive up to $3,000 for tuition and fees for a technical certification program and a small stipend to cover uniforms, books and transportation.

To be eligible, applicants must be a resident of Jackson Triangle or Harder Tennyson neighborhoods, enroll in a technical certification program such as Technology, Green Energy, Skilled Trades or Health Care and demonstrate financial need. Priority will be given to applicants enrolling in Chabot College, Eden Area ROP, CSU East Bay Continuing Education or Hayward Adult School.

The application deadline is Monday, July 2, 2018. Potential applicants can find scholarship information and download the application at www.jthtkoshland.org. For more information, please visit www.jthtkoshland.org or send an email to [email protected] or leave a message at (415) 733-8564.

Source: The Jackson Triangle Harder Tennyson Koshland Fellows