Environmentalists of Color Scholarship

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About The Scholarship

In May 2021, SERC secured funding from The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) to establish a $10,000 recurring scholarship for three years to help bridge institutional gaps in support of Environmentalists of Color. This scholarship fund was renewed in May 2023 through 2026.

$2,000 scholarships will be awarded to 5 students selected by the Environmentalist of Color Scholarship Review Committee.

Scholarship Goals

  • Bridge institutional gaps in resources and funding for students of color to increase retention, and build radically inclusive social and environmental justice spaces on campus

  • Financially support passionate students of color working in the environmental field at UC Berkeley

  • Re-envision what a community scholarship can look like by eliminating barriers to entry and focusing on healing, joy, and growth rather than trauma.
    We recognize that BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Persons-of-Color) are frequently asked to exclusively call upon their experiences with racial trauma and violence in applications. We aim to resist that tokenization by making space for applicants to consider their identities from the lens of radical healing, joy, and growth.

Applying to the Scholarship

This scholarship has a one-round application and deliberation process. Please use the timeline below to stay up-to-date with your application! 

  • Applications Open:  Monday, September 30, 2024

  • Applications Close:  Friday,  November 1, 2024

  • Winners Finalized by:  Late November

  • Scholarships Processed by:  Late December

Prompts

The EOC Scholarship Review Committee would like to reiterate that we HIGHLY ENCOURAGE the applicant to only share what they are comfortable with for the application review. In the spirit of this scholarship, we ask that applicants utilize the questions as an opportunity to express their own experiences with joy and hope. 

Please feel free to copy/paste previous works into the essay questions (if material is relevant to question).

Please limit your responses to 2,500 characters (~500 words) per question. 

Question 1

Describe your community/support systems (socially, emotionally, financially, etc.). How do you give back to/nourish your communities and loved ones?

Question 2

What does environmentalism mean in your culture(s) and how does this apply to your view of environmental justice? How do your cultural values show up in your work/life?

Question 3

Thinking back on your inherited values and your current experience with environmental justice, what would you like to pass down to future generations? What is your hope for the world they will live in?

We will accept multimedia answers for this question. It is not required, but you may answer this question with a photo, collage, poem, video, or essay. Written responses must be under 2,500 characters and digital media may not be longer than 2 minutes. You can include a link or email it to serc@berkeley.edu.

***Please note: For our anonymous review process, names and identifying information are kept separate from your essay responses. If you craft a multimedia submission, please be sure not to include your name within the submission. Thank you! Questions? Email serc@berkeley.edu.

Eligibility

  • Registered UC Berkeley student (both undergraduate and graduate)

  • Identify as a POC

  • Passionate about Environmentalism (this does not have to be your field of study)

Scholarship Application - Google Form

FAQ

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What does ‘of color’ mean?

While navigating the complexities and nuances of this question, SERC recognizes that being a “person of color” goes beyond just skin color, and can include an intersectional expanse of racial, ethnic, and cultural experiences and identities. If you identify as a “person of color,” we encourage you to apply.

Do I have to be a US Citizen?

No, applicants need not be a US Citizen or have a social security number to apply or to receive the scholarship award.

Can we use old pieces of work to answer prompts, such as an essay I wrote for another scholarship or class?

Yes! Previous work used for other scholarships, other classes, or anywhere else will be accepted.

Can I still apply if I am not majoring in an environmental field?

Yes! We encourage anyone who is passionate about environmentalism to apply. We recommend checking out SERC if you’re interested in the eco-community at UC Berkeley!

Who sits on the Scholarship Review Committee?

The 2023-2024 EOC Scholarship Review Committee will be comprised of representatives from SERC’s student staff, the Students of Color Environmental Collective, the UCB Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), and the Latinxs & the Environment Initiative, as well as past scholarship...

How will the scholarship be administered?

The SERC Team will administer the scholarship through CalLink. You will receive the scholarship as a check. Expect payment delays up to 1-2 months after scholarship award confirmation. Please contact us if you have any questions!

Who can I contact if I have any questions?

You can email serc@berkeley.edu with any and all questions! Please include [Sister Scholarships] in the subject line.

What is the timeline of the Scholarship?

Applications Open: Monday, September 30, 2024

Applications Close: Friday, November 1, 2024

Winners Finalized by: Late November

Scholarships Processed by: Late December

Can I apply to both the TGIF Brian Gialketsis SERQueer Scholarship and the SERC Environmentalists of Color Scholarship?

Yes! You can apply to both and be awarded both. You are also welcome to use the same essays or answers in both applications as seems fit.