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 working at the intersection of communities of color and the environmental field. Through the 2025 TGIF Referendum, the Sister Scholarships will continue to be offered through 2035.
$2,000 scholarships will be awarded to 5 students selected by the Scholarship Review Committee.
Scholarship Goals
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Bridge institutional gaps in resources and funding for students to increase retention, and build radically inclusive social and environmental justice spaces on campus
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Financially support passionate students working in the intersection of communities of color and the environmental field at UC Berkeley
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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 students are frequently asked to exclusively call upon their experiences with 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!
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Applications Open: September 18th, 2026
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Applications Close: Friday October 16th, 2026
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Awardees Finalized by: Late November 2026
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Scholarships Processed by: Late December 2026
Eligibility
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Registered UC Berkeley student (both undergraduate and graduate)
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Passionate about Environmentalism (this does not have to be your field of study)
- Any student who meets the above criteria is welcome to apply. This includes undocumented, formerly incarcerated, and reentry students, among others.
