Howard T. Collins Memorial Scholarship Program

Program Type: Scholarship for educational advancement

Geographic Scope: California (serves Eden Housing residents throughout California, from Petaluma to San Ysidro)

Focus Areas:

• Support for residents pursuing higher education
• Academic and/or career advancement goals
• Vocational education

Eligibility:

• Must be a current resident of a property managed by Eden Housing Management, Inc.
• Must be enrolled in a course of study
• Pursuing educational/academic and/or career advancement/vocational goals
• No specific age restrictions mentioned; recipients range from community college to university level
• Many recipients are first-generation college students

Award Details:

• Individual award amounts vary
• Total awards distributed annually (e.g., $96,000 in 2020 for 35 recipients)
• Since inception in 1993, has awarded nearly 500 scholarships totaling over $650,000

Program History:

• Collins, a former Eden Housing Board member dedicated to education and opportunity
• Celebrates recipients' achievements through annual ceremonies
• 28th annual celebration held in 2020

Supported Institutions: Recipients attend various universities including UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Merced, USC, Cal State East Bay, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Monterey Bay, San Francisco State, San Diego State, and community colleges

Application Process

Submission Method: Online application (as of 2021, applications are accepted online for the first time in program history)

Eligibility Requirements:

• Current resident of an Eden Housing managed property
• Enrolled in a course of study or pursuing educational/academic goals
• Pursuing career advancement or vocational goals

Application Materials:

• Personal narrative/essay (based on recipient stories, likely includes goals, background, and community impact)
• Application submitted through online portal

Application Timeline:

• Applications open in spring (April 2021 noted as application opening date)
• Award ceremony typically held in August

Selection Criteria:

• Academic achievement and career goals
• Community service and desire to give back
• Financial need and impact of scholarship
• Personal story demonstrating resilience and commitment to education

Award Announcement:

• Recipients celebrated at annual ceremony (typically in August)
• Recipients recognized publicly with their stories and achievements shared