PLEASE RETURN MATERIALS TO:
GRADUATE STUDIES OFFICE – RIGO HERNANDEZ
[email protected]
McCarthy Hall 112  (657) 278-4077
ELEVAR SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The Elevar Scholarship Program is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, under Title V,
Part B, PPOHA. In order to be eligible for the Elevar Scholars Program, applicants must be enrolled in a
graduate program during the Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 semesters, and demonstrate a $1,000 minimum need
as determined by their financial aid application. If selected, Elevar Scholars are required to: attend three (3)
professional development workshops, complete an entering/exit interview, and fill out required program
survey.
The Elevar Program provides a $2,000 scholarship which is disbursed between the fall and spring semesters
($1,000 fall and $1,000 spring). It awards between 40-50 students each year and its mission is to provide
academic support and leadership development to first generation graduate students (the first generation in
their family to attend college). The program prepares these graduate students for success through
professional development workshops and networking opportunities with peers, faculty, and staff at CSUF.
According to a recent article from the Washington Post:
“First-generation college students face unique psychological challenges. In families, role assignments about
work, family, religion and community passed down through the generations. When a family member disrupts
the system by choosing to attend college, he or she experiences a shift in identity, leading to a sense of loss.
Not prepared for this loss, many first-generation students may come to develop two different identities—one
for home and another for college.” (Linda Banks-Santilli June 3, 2015- Washington Post).
Consequently, the Elevar Program aims at supporting first-generation students who are navigating these
conflict of identities, the one from home and the one in the classroom. It brings workshops with topics related
to: “what does it mean to be a first-generation graduate student?” and “how to navigate higher education as a
first-generation student” and “discovering the hidden curriculum in graduate school.” Most importantly, the
program’s mission is to develop leadership and professional development among Scholars so that they are
ready to compete in the workforce and/or academia. This is done through mentorship and workshops
facilitated by faculty and on topics such as, The Path to a PhD; How to Negotiate Salary, Getting the Most Out
of Your Mentor etc. The Scholars have the opportunity to hear from faculty and staff about their own
professional and academic journeys and how they navigate conflict of identities in their personal and
professional careers.
The program is coordinated by Project Manager, Rigo Hernandez and Faculty Coordinator, Dr. Julian Jefferies.
If you need further information feel free to email at: [email protected]
ALL MATERIALS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE STUDIES OFFICE, MH-112, BY 5PM ON Tuesday – MAY 23, 2017.
Any questions about the Elevar Scholars Program, send an email to Rigo Hernandez at [email protected]
A. APPLICANT INFORMATION
Name:
CWID:
Address:
Phone:
City, State:
Zip Code:
Major:
Ethnicity:
Email:
Did your parent(s) attend college? ☐ Yes ☐ No
Are you an International student? ☐ Yes ☐ No
Are you currently working? ☐ Yes ☐ No
Where do you work? ☐ Off campus ☐ On campus
Is the work related to your degree? ☐ Yes ☐ No
Will you be enrolled in a graduate program at CSUF for Fall 2016 and Spring 2017?
☐ Yes
☐ No
Semester and year you anticipate receiving your master’s degree:
B. REQUIRED MATERIALS
1. Personal Statement (No more than 2 pages, typed and double-spaced):
Describe your commitment to completing a master’s degree, your educational and career goals, and your
research interests.
The research on under-represented minority (URM’s) in graduate school formulates that they face many
challenges to complete their degrees: among them, financial hardship, family responsibilities, commuting
times and a sometimes unwelcoming university climate.
What kinds of challenges, if any, have you experienced through higher education? Please speak about your
undergraduate and/or graduate experiences. How can the university better serve your needs as a graduate
student? How would this scholarship help towards covering some of those needs?
2. Confidential Letter of Recommendation from one (1) faculty or staff member**:
Having a faculty or staff member who can mentor you is an important part of the graduate experience. This
application requires one letter of recommendation from such a mentor, and will encourage you to find such a
person.
The recommender should indicate how long they have known the applicant, in what capacity they have
interacted with him/her and how a scholarship would enhance their chances to succeed in graduate school.
(Please share these guidelines with your recommender).
By signing and dating below, I affirm that the information given above is correct. I also certify that I have
filed an application for financial aid for the 2016-17 school year.
ALL MATERIALS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE STUDIES OFFICE, MH-112, BY 5PM ON Tuesday MAY 23, 2017.
Any questions about the Elevar Scholars Program, send an email to Rigo Hernandez at [email protected]
PLEASE RETURN MATERIALS TO:
GRADUATE STUDIES OFFICE – RIGO HERNANDEZ
[email protected]
McCarthy Hall 112  (657) 278-4077
___________________________________________________
________________________
Applicant Signature
Date
** Letter of Recommendation can be sent using one of the following:
(1) on official letterhead submitted with your application or sent to Rigo Hernandez in Graduate Studies Office
MH-112, or
(2) as an email sent electronically to Rigo Hernandez at [email protected] directly from the
faculty/staff email account.
Please make sure the faculty/staff member sends the letter of recommendation by the deadline.
NOTE:
We are accepting applications electronically. Please send it to Rigo Hernandez at [email protected]
by Wednesday, May 23, 2017, and make sure your signature is on the application.
ALL MATERIALS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE STUDIES OFFICE, MH-112, BY 5PM ON Tuesday – MAY 23, 2017.
Any questions about the Elevar Scholars Program, send an email to Rigo Hernandez at [email protected]