A record-breaking $5.54 million in scholarships were given out by the San Diego Foundation on Saturday to increase 1,371 students’ access to higher education.
The organization gathered 500 scholarship recipients—many of whom are low-income—as well as their loved ones and donors during its annual Community Scholarship Celebration, which was hosted at the San Diego Zoo.
State Assemblymember Chris Ward and U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs, D-San Diego, were among the special guests.
“The San Diego Foundation is making sure that local students’ college preparation is matched with the financial support needed to succeed and grow our region’s future workforce through the Community Scholarship Program,” said Mark Stuart, president and CEO of the organization, in a news release.
The program awarded 1,678 scholarships from 160 scholarship funds totaling about $5.54 million for the 2025–2026 season, more than $500,000 more than the previous year.
789 first-time awards were among the beneficiaries, and they included:
- 74% who are first-generation college students or the first in their immediate families to pursue higher education.
- 92% who are considered low-middle income.
- 42% who identify as Latino/a.
- 14% who identify as U.S.-born Black and/or African American.
- 62% who are affiliated with a college access and readiness program, such as AVID, Reality Changers and TRIO/Upward Bound.
According to authorities, the numbers, which come from the foundation’s Student Aid Index (previously known as Earned Family Contribution), highlight the significance of funding minority students.
According to the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp., expanding Black and Latino/a students’ access to high-demand innovative professions is essential to addressing the region’s anticipated yearly need for 20,000 additional skilled workers and promoting inclusive economic growth.
The keynote speaker at SDF’s Scholarship Celebration, Becky Petitt, a vice chancellor at UC San Diego, said it was a pleasure to address future scholars and see directly the amazing impact the San Diego Foundation is having on the lives of so many students. In addition to changing people’s futures, San Diego Foundation is fortifying the bonds of our entire community by funding their education and aspirations.
The National Rainbow College Fund is a new foundation effort that supports LGBTQ+ and other students throughout California, and Pettit is a member of its advisory committee. Support for the fund contributed to the threefold increase in student scholarships this year.
More than 4,000 area high school seniors, community college students, graduate students, and adult re-entry students applied. These students were planning to pursue a range of fields, such as health sciences, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), and more.
There were times in high school when I really doubted my ability to succeed, said Sajanah King, a Young & Prosperous Foundation participant and scholarship recipient who graduated in May. Despite obstacles, self-doubt, and difficult lessons, I persisted.
This September, the Lincoln High School graduate plans to major in psychology at Morgan State University.
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According to King, this fellowship offers more than simply financial support. It serves as a reminder that my tale is far from over and that people have faith in its future.
The San Diego Foundation, the biggest non-university scholarship provider in the area, has 154 charitable funds that donors have contributed to make the Community Scholarship Program feasible.
The program has given more than $54 million to 15,400 students since it began in 1997.
