Goodarzi Scholarship Grant (B)
Funded by Sasan and Shirin Goodarzi, the Goodarzi Scholarship Grant supports LGBTQ+ students of Iranian descent pursuing higher education in California.
Apply now!
About the Goodarzi Scholarship Grant (B)
Funded by Sasan and Shirin Goodarzi, the Goodarzi Scholarship Grant for LGBTQ+ students from Iranian families aims to open up opportunities for those seeking education in California.
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
- Immigrant of Iranian descent
- 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
- Demonstrates financial need
- Demonstrates membership of the LGBTQ+ community during their application and interview
- Maintains a GPA of 3.0 or higher
How To Apply
Applicants must apply between July 1st and July 20th to be considered for the following school year calendar. The application form will be available during this timeframe. 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.
- 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
- Applicant submits application by July 20
- Committee reads and reviews all applications
- Committee recommends ten applicants for final review
- Sasan and Shirin Goodarzi meet with the runners-up
- Sasan and Shirin announce the two finalists to receive financial assistance
- Pars Equality Center announces the recipients’ names to the public
- The scholarship checks are made payable to the University who will ensure they are spent on tuition reimbursement
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email us at [email protected].