Columbia Gorge Community College Scholarships

Please contact Emilie Sanchez Lopez if you have any questions at 541-506-6249 esanchezlopez@cgcc.edu.

Students should also consider applying for federal or state aid through the FAFSA for 2023-24 or 2024-25 or ORSAA

The scholarship application process for the academic year of 2024-25 will be open April 5th - May 20th 2024. You can start your application through AwardSpring here: CGCC Foundation Scholarship Application 2024-2025.

Full-year scholarship awards are $2,500 (disbursed over fall, winter, and spring terms). 

The Foundation is pleased to offer CGCC student scholarships that cover tuition, books, and/or fees. CGCC Foundation's mission is to support students by ensuring the college is a vital, accessible, premier educational resource in the Columbia Gorge. The CGCC Foundation board thanks its generous donors who make these scholarship awards possible.

This information is regarding the Columbia Gorge Community College Foundation scholarships. Scholarship preference will be given to local residents of Oregon and Washington. Scholarship applicants must submit information using this form to be considered. The application becomes the property of CGCC Foundation after submission and is treated as confidential information. Scholarship recipients will be asked to provide two hours of volunteer service per academic year to benefit CGCC Foundation and/or the college. Scholarship recipients are required to submit an acceptance form and thank-you note to CGCC Foundation. 

The following criteria will be used to determine eligibility: academic skills that show strong aptitude in the student's field of study; financial need and resources; general motivation and desire; community involvement, including past/present employment, volunteer services, and extracurricular activities; timeliness and completeness of the application, including submission of academic transcripts. 

All students awarded a foundation scholarship must enroll in a minimum of six credits per term and maintain satisfactory academic progress according to CGCC's Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy. See https://www.cgcc.edu/financial-aid/receiving-financial-aid. Late and incomplete applications will not be considered. Online applications and academic transcripts must be submitted by 5 p.m. on the due date. Applicants must submit their academic transcripts through the application software AwardSpring.

The CGCC Foundation recommends that applicants type responses to the essay questions in a Word or Google document and copy/paste them in the online application to ensure that work is saved.

Please contact foundation@cgcc.edu, if you have any questions or assistance filling out the CGCC Foundation scholarship applications. Thank you!

CGCC Foundation Scholarship Application Resources

Tips for Writing an Essay PDF

Interview Tips PDF

Tips for Writing a Thank You Letter PDF

Gorge Scholars is a tuition waiver program designed to support eligible high school graduates, home school completers, and military veterans. Preference will be given to applicants who completed their high school-level education within CGCC's service area, which Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wheeler, and Wasco counties, Oregon, and Klickitat and Skamania counties, Washington.

For more information and to apply, see the Gorge Scholars page.

The Grow Your Own (GYO) scholarship is intended for students pursuing a career in education. Funds can cover tuition, fees, and up to an additional $1,000 per term. This application covers all terms through spring 2025. If awarded, students do not need to re-apply during that period. Award amount is subject to available funding each term.

La beca para Educadores de Primaria (Grow Your Own (GYO)) está destinada para estudiantes que siguen una carrera en educación. Los fondos pueden cubrir matrículas, honorarios y hasta $1,000 adicionales por término. Esta solicitud cubre todos los períodos hasta la primavera de 2025. Si se les otorga, los estudiantes no necesitan aplicar de nuevo durante ese período. El monto del premio está sujeto a los fondos disponibles en cada período.

To apply, please see the GYO webpage/Para aplicar, vaya a la página web de GYO por favor.

Scholarships Specific to College Majors

Health Related Majors
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) NURSE Corps
Columbia Basin Care Foundation
Public Health Scholarships
Mid-Columbia Health Foundation
Daughters of the American Revolution Nursing Scholarships
Health Occupations
Skyline Foundation Scholarships
STEM Related Majors
Renewable Energy Scholarship Foundation
DEED Educational Scholarships
Gorge Tech Alliance STEM Scholarships
American Welding Society Scholarship
KURZ Wind Scholarship
Other Program Specific Majors
Local 14 Educational Foundation Art Scholarship
American Library Association (ALA) Scholarship Program
Social Sciences Scholarships
Ninja Transfers Entrepreneurship Scholarship

Regional/State Scholarships

Oregon Student Access Commission (OSAC) Scholarship
Oregon Community Foundation (OCF) Grants and Scholarships
Soroptimist Education and Training Awards for Women
PEO Oregon State Chapter Scholarships
The Pacific Northwest Association for College Admission Counseling (PNACAC) Student Scholarship
Ford Family Foundation Scholarships
Hood River County Education Foundation
CASA of Oregon - Sister Adele Memorial Scholarship
Oregon Latino Scholarship Program

Scholarships Encouraging Access and Diversity

American Indian Services - Scholarships for Native Americans
Scholarship Guide for Students with Disabilities
Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (HACU) Scholarships
Scholarships for LGBTQIA+ students
LGBTQ Point Foundation Scholarships for Community College Students
Soroptimist Education and Training Awards for Women
Pride Foundation Scholarship Funds
United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
NAACP Scholarships
Jackie Robinson Foundation
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Scholarships
Chicana / Latina Foundation Scholarship Program
Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF)
Mental Health Scholarship for Women
Family Fellowship Scholarship Program for Foster Youth
Cover 2 Cover Textbook Program for Foster Youth
Live Your Dream: Education & Training Awards for Women

Resources for Undocumented Students

ORSAA
FinAid (Spanish)
HACU Resources for DACA/Dreamers

Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (HACU) Scholarships
The Dream.us
My Undocumented Life (With Scholarship resources)
Salvadoran American Leadership and Educational Fund
Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
UniDos US
College Board - Undocumented Facts

Military Scholarships and Resources

Amvets American Veterans Scholarships
Military Officers Association of America Education Assistance
Marine Corps Scholarship Fund
Scholarships for Military Children

Other Scholarships

CKitchen Educational Fund
Career Zen Scholarship