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Orfalea Scholarship Fund

Ventura County Community Foundation

This scholarship was established to benefit graduates or graduating seniors from a Ventura County high school who are planning to enroll full-time at an accredited vocational school, community college, or four-year college or university. Applicants must be pursuing studies in the field of Early Childhood Education, Teaching, Sustainable Agriculture (including organic gardening, permaculture, biodiversity, water food and nutrition, or interdisciplinary studies combining these areas), Nursing, Certified Nursing Assistant, Dental Hygiene, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Public Health, Social Work, Psychology/ Counseling, or any major provided student meets at least one of the criteria listed in the Other Special Requirements section and is a prior year recipient of an Orfalea Scholarship Award.

Key Information

Eligibility Requirements

  • Age/Grade Level:
    Graduating from a Ventura County high school or who have graduated from a Ventura County high school.
  • Financial Need:
    Required
  • Residence:
    Ventura County residents
  • School:
    Graduating from a Ventura County high school or who have graduated from a Ventura County high school.
  • College:
    Who will enroll/are enrolled full-time at an accredited vocational school, community college, or four-year college or university
  • Major/Career:
    College MajorEarly Childhood Education, Teaching, Sustainable Agriculture (including organic gardening, permaculture, biodiversity, water food and nutrition, or interdisciplinary studies combining these areas), Nursing, Certified Nursing Assistant, Dental Hygiene, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Public Health, Social Work, Psychology/ Counseling, or any major provided student meets at least one of the criteria listed in the Other Special Requirements section.
  • Extracurricular:
    Student participated in the Montana Yellowstone Expeditions/R.E.A.C.H. Program
  • Disability:
    Student has a documented learning difference or is a non-traditional learner (documentation letter must be included with application)
  • Employer:
    Student is the minor child of a migrant or seasonal farm worker; Student is a dependent under age 24 and has a parent employed at a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency; Student is a dependent under age 24 and has a parent employed as a nurse; Student is a dependent under age 24 and has a parent employed as a teacher (pre-K to grade 12); Student is a dependent under age 24 and has a parent employed as a Ventura City or County firefighter; Student is a dependent under age 24 and has a parent employed as a Ventura City Police or Ventura County Sheriff officer;
  • Miscellaneous:
    Student is a single parent of a minor child/children;Student has been a ward of the court or in foster care in Ventura County;Student is a dependent under age 24 and the child of a single parent home;Student is a prior year recipient of an Orfalea Scholarship Award.

Application Details

  • Transcript:
    Required
  • Resume/Activity List:
    Not required
  • Essay:
    Required essay prompt for sustainable agriculture majors: explain what sustainable agriculture means to you and discuss your career plans after graduation. Health-related majors must include in essay a statement of intent to practice in Ventura County upon completion of studies.
  • Recommendation Letters:
    Two letters of recommendation. Neither person is a relative. Both recommenders gave me a working email address to use in my application. AT LEAST ONE of the recommenders is a current faculty member a teacher/professor teaching at the school I currently attend.
  • Other Materials:
    A completed online application;VCCF Financial Aid Worksheet;Non-traditional learners or those with a documented learning difference must include a signed and dated letter (within 6 months of the application deadline) documenting student diagnosis on provider letterhead;

Contact Information

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