New American Scholarship Amplifies Diverse Immigrant Voices
Key Takeaways
- Santa Clara County’s New American Scholarship (NAF) offers a 10-week, full-time summer fellowship with up to $10,000 stipends; application deadline is April 17.
- Eligible applicants must be 18+, enrolled in or graduated from higher education within the last five years, reside/work/study in Santa Clara County, and have legal authorization to work in the U.S.
- Applicants must document at least three years of work or volunteer experience with the communities they will serve (e.g., immigrant, LGBTQ+, seniors, women/girls, low-income workers, people with disabilities).
- The program runs June 8–August 14, requires 40 hours/week of community-focused work with local nonprofits and leaders, and asks for a resume plus 1–2 recommendation letters.
- It has been reported that the program began about ten years ago and organizers say it has produced many successful alumni.
Program overview
Santa Clara County is recruiting for the New American Scholarship (NAF), a 10-week, full-time summer program that pairs students and recent graduates with community organizations. Participants reportedly receive up to $10,000 each to help cover living expenses while working 40 hours per week from June 8 through August 14. Work placements focus on improving life for immigrant and other historically marginalized communities through direct service, advocacy and leadership development.
Who can apply — and what “work authorization” means
Eligible applicants must be adult higher-education students or alumni within five years of graduation, be 18 or older, and live, work, or attend school in Santa Clara County. Importantly, applicants must have legal authorization to work in the United States. That generally means U.S. citizenship, lawful permanent resident status (a green card), or an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or visa that expressly permits employment — an EAD is issued by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). Applicants also must document at least three years of relevant paid or volunteer experience serving the communities they propose to work with. Application materials include a resume and one to two recommendation letters that speak to public service and leadership potential; the online form is at https://forms.office.com/g/EpHwbnSbRd. The deadline is April 17.
Why this matters for immigrants and applicants now
For immigrant students and recent grads who already have work authorization, the NAF stipend can make a summer of public-service work financially feasible and build civic leadership credentials — useful for community organizing, nonprofit careers, or public-sector jobs. The three-year experience requirement, however, may exclude newer arrivals or those who lacked access to volunteer opportunities, so prospective applicants should assess eligibility early. County-run fellowships like this also fill a gap when federal programs are limited, offering local pathways to paid civic engagement.
Source: Original Article