Goodarzi Scholarship Grant (B)

Funded by Sasan and Shirin Goodarzi, the Goodarzi Scholarship Grant for LGBTQ+ students who identify as being of Iranian descent or are dedicated to serving the Iranian American community aims to empower underrepresented youth through education.
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Audience listening to two men speaking at a Pars Equality Center event in a conference room.
Qualifications

Goodarzi Scholarship (B)  for Iranian LGBTQ+ Students –
PARS Equality Center

Goodarzi Scholarship (B) for Iranian LGBTQ+ Students –
PARS Equality Center

Funded by Sasan and Shirin Goodarzi, the Goodarzi Scholarship Grant for LGBTQ+ students who identify as being of Iranian descent or are dedicated to serving the Iranian American community aims to empower underrepresented youth through education.

This grant is awarded to LGBTQ+ community members of Iranian descent who are enrolled at an accredited institution of higher education in California.

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 interview selected candidates and make the final decision on scholarship recipients.

Sasan and Shirin care deeply about supporting the Iranian community, and with this grant they hope to help its LGBTQ+ students thrive.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Identify as being of Iranian descent, or demonstrate a strong commitment to serving and uplifting the Iranian American community through volunteer work, leadership, advocacy, or cultural engagement
  • Member of the LGBTQ+ community, demonstrated in the application and interview
  • Immigrated to the United States within the last 7 years, with legal proof of immigration
  • Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited institution in California, including community colleges
  • Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Demonstrate financial need

How To Apply

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

The application package must include the following

  • A completed application form, that will be linked to here from 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 the applicant and applicant’s parents for the past two years (An applicant may bring this document to the interview session.)
  • A personal essay in which you:
    • Write about your goals
    • Write about the reasons you chose your field of study
    • Write about your future plans after graduation
    • Maintain personal voice in 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 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.