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Crankstart Scholarship


Application opens: November 15, 2024!

Apply Here

Welcome to our Crankstart Scholarship hub! We want to invest in YOU and your goals! The Crankstart Scholarship is designed to support students from San Francisco by providing them with the resources they need to earn their Bachelor’s Degree and setting them up for success with their career goals in the future. 

Our objectives are to…

  • Decrease the financial barriers to attending a bachelor’s degree granting college or university
  • Minimize the need for loans to cover the cost of attending a college or university
  • Provide guidance for professional opportunities and career preparation

→ To receive more information about the Crankstart Scholarship, click here to sign up.

→ Access the Crankstart Scholarship one-pager here, available in Spanish, Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese.

→ For office hours and support with application questions, schedule a session with the Scholarship Manager. Available times: Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-6 PM.

Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible for the Crankstart Scholarship if you…

  • Are graduating senior from Balboa, Galileo, Mission, or Burton High School in the Class of 2025 
  • Intend to enroll in a postsecondary program at a bachelor’s degree granting public or non-profit college in Fall 2025
  • Have an unweighted  GPA of 2.5 or higher
  • Completed a FAFSA or CADAA application
  • Have an SAI below 10000
  • Are enrolled full-time
  • Meet the A-G requirement

*U.S. citizenship is not a requirement.

Scholarship Information

How much scholarship can I receive?

  • Students will receive a scholarship between $1,500 - $15,000 per year for up to 6 years until they receive a Bachelor’s degree. 
  • The amount of the scholarship will be determined by the financial aid you receive, your student aid index, and the cost of your college. 

What other support will be provided?

  • An emergency fund offering up to $1,000 for unexpected expenses that students can apply to 
  • Workshops on financial literacy, career preparation, and professional networking
  • Continued support and advising that are available through partnerships with community-based organizations
  • An opportunity fund for monetary support to help with unpaid summer internships, study abroad, and other opportunities

FAQs

  • You will need your unofficial high school transcript and a FAFSA Submission Summary (FSS) or California Student Aid Report (CalSAR) to apply. Use these links to find out how to access your FSS or CalSAR.

  • The scholarship application deadline is February 15, 2025.


  • No, US citizenship is not a requirement for the scholarship.


  • Yes, the scholarship is renewable for up to 6 years until you earn a Bachelor’s Degree.


  • The application will be split into 4 parts: Eligibility, Application, Short Answer Questions, and Document Uploads.


  • Question 1: Why do you want to go to college? Your response must be between 50-100 words.

  • Question 2: Please select one of the following questions to answer:

    • How has living in San Francisco contributed to who you are today and shaped your goals for the future?

    • What have been the positives and challenges of living in San Francisco?

    • What have you done to make your school or your community within San Francisco a better place?

    • How do you envision giving back to the San Francisco community after graduating college?

    • For Question 2, you may choose to provide a written, audio, or video response to this question. Written responses must be between 250-500 words. Audio or video responses must be between 2-4 minutes in length.


  • Please follow these instructions to learn how to edit your application to upload your required documents.


  • $1,500 of the Crankstart Scholarship award will be awarded directly to the student for educational expenses (like books, supplies, transportation, etc.) and the rest will be sent directly to their college to be used for the cost of attendance (like tuition, housing, meal plans, etc.).


Additional Information for Students

Questions? We’re here to help! Reach out to us if you have any questions or need assistance.

Contact: Jeneva Diaz | Scholarship Manager - crankstartscholarship@uaspire.org