Pars Youth Grant

Goodarzi Scholarship Grant (A)

Audience listening to two men speaking at a Pars Equality Center event in a conference room.
Qualifications

Goodarzi Scholarship (A) for Iranian Female Students –
PARS Equality Center

Funded by Sasan and Shirin Goodarzi, the Goodarzi Scholarship Grant for female students of Iranian descent or those actively engaged in supporting the Iranian American community transforms educational opportunities through access to higher education.

This grant is awarded to those who have migrated to the United States within the last seven years.

The maximum award granted to each student within a year is $10,000. Students who continue their education up to a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree while also maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or higher may be eligible to receive financial assistance for the duration of their studies. Sasan and Shirin Goodarzi will decide whether a recipient of the Goodarzi Scholarship Grant would be eligible to receive continuous financial support until graduation.

Sasan and Shirin both immigrated to the United States and understand that one of the greatest opportunities students face that shapes their future is their education. With this grant, they hope to give back by supporting the Iranian technology community and helping female students of Iranian descent—or those committed to advancing the Iranian American community—thrive through higher education.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

  • Be a female immigrant who identifies as being of Iranian descent, or has demonstrated a strong commitment to serving and uplifting the Iranian American community, with legal proof of immigration, and have lived in the State of California for no more than seven years.
  • Be enrolled at or accepted into an accredited institution of higher education in California, including community colleges
  • Pursue a major in a degree program at the undergraduate or graduate level in computer science or a computer engineering field
  • Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Demonstrate financial need

How To Apply

Applicants must apply between July 1 and July 20 to be considered for the following school year calendar. To apply, please click HERE. The awardees will be announced by August 15.

The application package must include the following:

  • A completed application form, which will be linked here starting July 1. To access the application, log in with your Google username and password, then fill out the intake form and upload all the requested documents. The sign-in requirement is implemented to increase data security. Please take the time to read over the entire application, complete all pages, and submit all the required documents. Incomplete applications will not be considered

Documents:

  • School transcripts and testing records
  • A Letter of Acceptance from an accredited college or university in California
  • Income tax forms from you and your parents for the past two years (An applicant may bring this document to the interview session.)
  • A personal essay in which you:
    • Write about yourself and your goals
    • Write about the reasons you chose your field of study
    • Write about your future plans after graduation
    • Maintain your personal voice in your writing; being creative yet thoughtful
    • Write coherently and in a polished style, within 750–900 words, and doubled-spaced
    • One letter of recommendation from a current or former professor, on formal letterhead, that can speak to your academic achievements, career aspirations, character, and circumstances. You can send this with your application. We may connect directly with the recommender with additional questions.

Applicants must agree to appear in promotional and advertising materials.

Application Process

  1. Applicant submits application by July 20th
  2. Committee reads and reviews all applications
  3. Committee recommends ten applicants for final review
  4. Sasan and Shirin Goodarzi meet the runners-up
  5. Sasan and Shirin announce the two finalists to receive financial assistance
  6. Pars Equality Center announces the recipients’ names to the public
  7. Scholarship checks are payable to schools who will ensure they are spent on tuition reimbursement

The Pars Grant welcomes all eligible applicants and does not discriminate based on any protected status. Preference may be given to students of Iranian descent or those who have shown a strong commitment to supporting the Iranian American community, in alignment with our mission to uplift underrepresented populations.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email us at info@parsequalitycenter.org.