Scholarships

Dean's Office
Kinesiology
Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging
Occupational Therapy
Public Health and Recreation
The Valley Foundation School of Nursing
School of Social Work

The Spartan Scholarship website is generally open early February through May 1st.

Dean's Office

• CHHS Faculty-Led Program (FLP) Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be SJSU students in the College of Health and Human Sciences at the time of application.
    2. Applicants must be accepted to an official SJSU Study Abroad Program administered by the Study Abroad and Away Office from the College of Professional and Global Education.
    3. Applicants must complete the application electronically on the Spartan Scholarship website by the deadline listed on the online application website for the scholarship.
    4. Students already receiving a scholarship specifically for attending a Faculty-Led Program are NOT eligible to apply for this scholarship.
    5. Scholarship may be awarded up to $500 each.
• Helen Stevens CASA International Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be SJSU students in the College of Health and Human Sciences at the time of application.
    2. Applicants must be accepted to an official SJSU Study Abroad Program administered by the Study Abroad and Away Office from the College of Professional and Global Education.
    3. Applicants must complete the application electronically on the Spartan Scholarship website by the deadline listed on the online application website for the scholarship.
    4. Students already receiving a scholarship specifically for attending a Faculty-Led Program are NOT eligible to apply for this scholarship.
    5. Scholarship may be awarded up to $500 each.
• Charlie Whitcomb Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be SJSU students in the College of Health and Human Sciences at the time of application.
    2. Applicants must have at least a cumulative GPA of 2.5 at the time of application to be eligible for this award.
    3. Applicants must be accepted to an official SJSU Study Abroad Program administered by the Study Abroad and Away Office from the College of Professional and Global Education.
    4. Applicants must complete the application electronically on the Spartan Scholarship website by the deadline listed on the online application website for the scholarship.
    5. Students already receiving a study abroad scholarship specifically are NOT eligible to apply for this scholarship.
    6. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• Dean's Fund for Excellence
  • 1. Applicants must be SJSU students in the College of Health and Human Sciences at the time of application.
    2. Applicants must be a full time matriculated student with demonstrated financial need at the time of application to be eligible for this award.
    3. Applicants must be accepted to an official SJSU Study Abroad Program administered by the Study Abroad and Away Office from the College of Professional and Global Education.
    4. Applicants must complete the application electronically on the Spartan Scholarship website by the deadline listed on the online application website for the scholarship.
    5. Students already receiving a study abroad scholarship specifically are NOT eligible to apply for this scholarship.
    6. Scholarship may be awarded up to $500 each.
• Alumni Association Dean's Scholarships

  • Since 1975, the San Jose State University Alumni Association has awarded scholarships to students who excel in their academic studies and actively participate in the betterment of their communities through volunteer work. These awards are funded through the generous contributions of alumni and friends of SJSU and represent one of the strongest individual scholarship programs offered by any alumni association in the California State University system. Two outstanding undergraduate or graduate students from each of SJSU's seven colleges are chosen by their deans to receive up to $4,000 annual scholarship.

    Apply Now!

• Santa Clara Family Health Plan 25th Anniversary Health Career Scholarship Program

  • Scholarships for students intending careers in the healthcare field (nursing, nutrition, food science, public health, recreation, occupational therapy, audiology, social work, kinesiology).

    1. Minimum of 3.0 GPA
    2. Must attest to being a Santa Clara Family Health Plan Medi-Cal member
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $5,000

    Apply Now!

Kinesiology

Applicants must complete the application electronically on the Spartan Scholarship website by the deadline listed on the online application website for the scholarship.

• Mary O. Bowman Endowed Fellowship
  • 1. Applicants must be upper division undergraduate or graduate students in Kinesiology.
    2. Minimum GPA of 3.5.
    3. Applicants may be current students or new applicants matriculating in the semester in which they are receiving the fellowship. 
    4. One student per year will be selected and the previous year’s recipient is eligible to re-apply. 
    5. Preference will be given to to students who have activity/service involvement and willingness to contribute time and effort to a worthwhile event or situation; demonstrated physical activity involvement and experience -- includes commitment to fitness, sport participation, or other physical activity related areas; and evidence of character, professional/ athletic experience, and academic potential as related to: leadership, discipline to follow through on responsibilities, dependability, and professional commitment. 
    6. Scholarship may be awarded up to $2,000 each.
• Clyde A. Burch Memorial Scholarship Endowment

  • This scholarship was given by Mr. Donn A. Burch, in memory of his brother, Clyde A. Burch, who was studying to be a Doctor of Physical Therapy but whose life was cut short at 18 years old when he was killed in a car accident. 

    1. Applicants must be CHHS students studying any level of physical therapy (including being accepted into a PT school)
    2. GPA of 2.5-4.0
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $5,000 each.
• Wade C. Wilson Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be full-time students for an academic year majoring in Kinesiology.
    2. Minimum GPA of 2.75
    3. Applicants must have community involvement and professional commitment, participated in extracurricular activities.
    4. Award is split between the two semesters.
    5. Scholarship may be awarded up to $300 each.
• Walter Family Scholarship Endowment

  • Created by emeritus Kinesiology faculty member Leta Walter.

    1. Applicants must be undergraduate Kinesiology majors.
    2. Applicants must have completed 60 units.
    3. Minimum 3.0 GPA.
    4. The previous year’s recipient is eligible to re-apply for second year.
    5. Preference will be given to those specializing in Preparation for Teaching.
    6. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,500 each.
• Walt McPherson/Coaches Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be an upper division student majoring in kinesiology/physical education K-12 teaching.
    2. Cumulative GPA of 2.8.
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• Dr. Cathy Buell Scholarship for PE Credential Candidates

  • Created by emeritus Kinesiology faculty member Dr. Cathy Buell

    1. Current candidate in the Single Subject Credential Program for Physical Education.
    2. Be in good standing and entering final semester of student teaching in Physical Education.
    3. Priority consideration given to candidates who completed subject matter preparation (Department of Kinesiology) at SJSU.
    4. Membership in the California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (CAHPERD).
    5. Scholarship may be awarded up to $2,500 each.
• Dr. David Furst Scholarship in Sports Psychology

  • Created by emeritus Kinesiology faculty member Dr. David Furst

    1. San José State University graduate student in good standing
    2. GPA of 3.5 in major coursework
    3. Psychosocial Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity Graduate Program
    4. Plan A research thesis
    5. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• The Kinesiology Lecturer's Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be Kinesiology students.
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $500 each.
• Joyce Malone Memorial Scholarship

  • Given in memory of Joyce Malone, for many years Director of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women and member of the faculty of the Department of (then) Physical Education/Human Performance.  Joyce was a very strong advocate for women’s athletics and devoted teacher/coach, especially of swimming and synchronized swimming. 

    
    Undergraduate Kinesiology major students in good standing

    1. Minimum of 15 units completed at SJSU
    2. Cumulative GPA 2.50
    3. Past or present (a) athlete or (b) support staff member (e.g., athletic trainer, manager, sports information position; all of which are coed positions) for a women’s sport sponsored by Division of Intercollegiate Athletics.
    4. Evidence of character and academic potential  a) dependability  b) high ethical standards  c) professional commitment.

    Graduate Kinesiology major students in good standing

    1. Cumulative GPA 3.2
    2. Planning a career in Athletic Administration or Sport Management
    3. Evidence of character and academic potential  a) dependability  b) high ethical standards  c) professional commitment 

    Scholarship may be awarded up to $2,000 each.

• Steven H. & Bobby J. Jensen Living Trust Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA 3.5 (last 60 units).
    2. Have a commitment to contribute time and effort to the proposed research under the supervision of a faculty member.
    3. Involvement in research of physiological, clinical, and/or medical fields.
    4. Engagement of research and professional development in the area of students' career in advanced degree (i.e., PT, OT, MS or PhD). 
    5. Scholarship may be awarded up to $500 each (one for undergraduate and one for graduate).
• Mike Swain Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be student members of the San Jose State University Judo Team.
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $500 each.
• Dr. Dennis McGuire Scholarship 
  • 1. Applicants must be student members of the San Jose State University Judo Team.
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• Susan Tinkley Kinesiology Scholarship

  • Scholarship for Kinesiology major planning to teach physical education.

    1. Overall GPA of 2.25 to 2.5
    2. Scholarship to be awarded in spring semester
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000

Nutrition, Food Science and Packaging

Applicants must complete the application available from the Department Office/Website.

• Schueneman and Tollette Packaging Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students majoring in packaging.
    2. Minimum 3.0 GPA or approval of the Packaging Program Director.
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $300 each.
• Flexible Packaging Association
  • 1. Applicants must be a student in the packaging program.
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $500 each.
• Dr. Elveda Smith Scholarship Endowment
  • 1. Applicants must be a graduate student in Nutrition or Food Science.
    2. Completed requirements for a Masters with a minimum 3.5 GPA and have at least one semester to complete the degree.
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $2,000 each.
• Dietetic Internship Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students.
    2. Applicants must be accepted into the SJSU dietetic internship program.
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $2,000 each.
• Rose Tseng Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students.
    2. Applicants must be seeking a degree in community dietetics.
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $2,000 each.
• Jean Downes Memorial Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be majoring in nutrition, with special interest in nutrition education.
    2. Applicants must complete Nutrition Education course NuFS-190 or NuFS-290 (or equivalent).
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $2,000 each.
• Lucy McProud Professional Development Scholarship
  • 1. Provides funding for registration costs, travel and lodging expenses for nutrition or food science students in good academic standing to attend professional meetings or conferences.
    2. Requires to write a short application addressing 1) why you would like to attend a particular professional meeting or conference and, 2) if selected, how you will share your experience with other students and faculty upon return via oral presentation, alumni newsletter article, student newsletter article, blog, poster or other means of communication deemed appropriate by the department chairperson and/or designated faculty. 
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $2,000 each.
• Circle of Friends Service Award
  • 1. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students majoring in Nutrition or Food Science.
    2. Minimum of 3.0 GPA.
    3. Must provide service to the department (for example student club officer).
    4. Scholarship may be awarded up to $2,000 each.
• Molly and Gene Rauen Endowed Research Assistance Awards
  • 1. Awards may be given for meritorious nutrition or food science research proposals.  Awards are based on the merit of the application, including the expenses listed on the line budget.
    2. Undergraduate students can apply for a maximum of $1000. Spartan Accelerated Graduate Education (SAGE) and graduate students can apply for a maximum of $2500. 
    3. If a previous award has not been given, then a maximum of $1500 is available for a presentation at a sponsoring professional organization. Documentation of acceptance is required.

Occupational Therapy

Applicants must complete the application available from the Department Office/Website. Scholarship applications open March 11, 2024 and close April 8, 2024

• Mary D. Booth Occupational Therapy Endowment

  • Mary D. Booth, M.A., OTR, served as Professor and Director of the Department of Occupational Therapy at San José State University from 1945 to 1965. She was actively involved in planning this program from 1944 to 1945. 

    1. Applicants must be students in the Occupational Therapy program. Masters students are eligible to apply in their 2nd and 4th semesters in the O.T. curriculum.
    2. Applicants must have financial need.
    3. Overall GPA of 3.0 or better.
    4. Past work or volunteer experience that indicates credibility regarding occupational therapy as a career choice.
    5. State that thought has been given to future professional plans.
    6. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• Bonita Kraft Occupational Therapy Scholarship Endowment

  • Bonita Kraft graduated from the San Jose State University Department of Occupational Therapy in 1972 and has distinguished herself as an occupational therapy mental health practitioner and administrator.  She was the OT Department’s Distinguished Alumna in 1999.  

    1. Applicants must be a graduate student in Occupational Therapy. Masters students are eligible to apply in their 2nd and 4th semesters in the O.T. curriculum.
    2. Minimum 3.0 GPA or better.
    3. Preference will be given to students studying mental illness.
    4. One page personal statement that clearly and compellingly describes the applicant’s future professional plans toward clinical practice in Occupational Therapy mental health.
    5. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• Wynn Schultz-Krohn Occupational Therapy Endowed Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be accepted and enrolled in Occupational Therapy.
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $2,000 each.
• OT General Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be Occupational Therapy majors.
    2. Scholarship amount varies each year.
• Jacinto Yamzon Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be Occupational Therapy majors.
    2. Scholarship amount varies each year.

The Valley Foundation School of Nursing

Applicants must complete the application electronically on the Spartan Scholarship website by the deadline listed on the online application website for the scholarship.

• Sophie Belknap Memorial Nursing Scholarship

  • This fund was created to celebrate the life and honor the memory of Sophie Belknap (1989-2008) of San Jose, CA, who was a student at Foothill College.  Before her tragic accident, Sophie had decided to pursue nursing school and was starting to work on pre-requisites and applications. 

    1. Applicants must be undergraduate nursing majors enrolled full time.
    2. Preference given to students with financial need, incoming freshmen or transfer students from California public high school or Community College, or students who are the first in their family to attend a four-year university.
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• Florence L. and J.D. Bishop Memorial Nursing Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be School of Nursing students transferring from a community college.
    2. Preference given to Evergreen Valley College students who have a GPA of at least 3.0.
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $3,000 each.
• Gino and Joan Blefari Nursing Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be full-time students majoring in the Valley Foundation School of Nursing.
    2. Minimum 3.0 GPA.
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• Charlene J. Castelli Memorial Scholarship
  • 1. Applicant must be pursuing a nursing degree.
    2. Applicant must be returning to college or starting a career late in life.
    3. Applicant must have financial need, but doesn’t qualify for federal financial aid.
    4. Minimum GPA of 3.0
    5. One award.
• Haughton Family Nursing Scholarship Endowment
  • 1. Applicants must be enrolled in the undergraduate program in the School of Nursing.
    2. Minimum of 3.0 GPA.
    3. Eligible for renewal by recipients in subsequent years.
    4. Scholarship may be awarded up to $2,500 each.
• Judy Howland and Sue Howland Nursing Tuition/Books Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate nursing students.
    2. Preference given to worthy single mothers/fathers first, then to other nursing students.
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $11,500 each.
• Ruth E. Johnson Memorial Nursing Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be undergraduate student in the nursing program
    2. Demonstrated financial need.
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $500 each.
• Karen and Michael Lesyna Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be a student majoring in nursing.
    2. Preference will be given to a) Historically underserved students, b) Students who are participants of the African-American/Black Student Success Center and/or one of their organizations, Chicanx/Latinx Student Success Center and/or one of their organizations, or one of the Recognized Student Associations (current associations: Chinese, Burmese Myanmar, Armenian, Hmong, Hong Kong, Indian, Korean, Pakistani, South Asian, Taiwanese, Native American, Malaysian, and Vietnamese).
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,300 each.
• Emma E. Legg Memorial Scholarship Endowment for Nursing
  • 1. Applicants must be undergraduate students pursuing a degree in nursing.
    2. Applicants must be full-time students with a minimum of 12 units.
    3. Applicants must have financial need.
    4. Scholarship may be awarded up to $5,000 each.
• Marlowe J. Lenz Memorial Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be students majoring in nursing.
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,200 each.
• Mary E. McFadden Nursing Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be enrolled in the nursing program.
    2. Demonstrated financial need.
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $4,000 each.
• Nursing Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be nursing students.
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $5,000 each.
• Joan E. Post RN Nursing Endowment
  • 1. Applicants must be nursing majors enrolled in the School of Nursing
    2. Preference will be given to students with financial need.
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $500 each.
• Stephanie Roisman Memorial Nursing Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be nursing majors enrolled in the School of Nursing.
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• Violet Rossi Nursing Scholarship Endowment
  • 1. Applicants must be undergraduate nursing student who are enrolled full-time
    2. Minimum 3.0 GPA
    3. Have an interest in pursuing a career in community health nursing.
    4. Scholarship may be awarded up to $3,000 each.
• San Tomas Voiture Nursing Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be nursing majors in the last two years of the program.
    2. Minimum 3.0 GPA
    3. Demonstrated financial need.
    4. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• Diann L. Sant Nursing Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be nursing students enrolled in the School of Nursing.
    2. Minimum 3.0 GPA
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $2,500 each.
• School of Nursing Director Student Success
  • 1. Applicants must be nursing students.
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• Conrad V. & Judy Schmitt Nursing Endowment

  • This scholarship was created to honor the careers and commitment to education of Conrad Schmitt, ’74 BA, ’76 MA, Psychology, and his late wife, Judy, ’77 BS Nursing, Their story.

    1. Applicants must be enrolled full-time in the nursing program.
    2. Demonstrated financial need.
    3. Preference will be given to single parents.
    4. Scholarship may be awarded up to $15,000 each.
• Margaret Tverberg Hinman Endowment
  • 1. Applicants must be undergraduate nursing majors.
    2. Minimum 3.0 GPA or higher.
    3. Demonstrated interest in fields of  gerontology or oncology.
    4. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,300 each.
• Yvonne & Jon Valencia Memorial Nursing Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be an outstanding undergraduate nursing student.
    2. Demonstrated financial need. 
    3. Award is for one student and scholarship may be awarded up $1,500.
• The Valley Foundation Nursing Scholarship Endowment
  • 1. Applicants must be full-time students majoring in nursing. 
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• Woelffel Foundation Nursing Endowment
  • 1. Applicants must be nursing majors
    2. Demonstrated financial need.
    3. Preference given to those working their way through college.
    4. Scholarship may be awarded up $5,000 each.
• Donna J. Junghaene Memorial Nursing Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be nursing majors.
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• Ruth and Barnett Rosenblum Endowed Pediatric Nursing Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be students majoring in nursing who are in the final two years of the program.
    2. Minimum GPA of 3.3 or higher.
    3. Demonstrated financial need.
    4. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate leadership potential, and an interest in health equity and social determinants of health and disparities in care that affect children and their families.

Public Health and Recreation

• Paul D. Brown Memorial Scholarship Endowment
  • 1. Applicants must be undergraduate students enrolled full-time majoring in recreation.
    2. Must have GPA of 3.0 or higher.
    3. Preference given to students who have participated in extracurricular volunteer activities and/or have voluntarily tutored peer students and/or is a veteran of the US military.
    4. Scholarship may be awarded up to $500 each.
• Matthew Staley & Wendy Hussey Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be enrolled in the Masters in Public Health Program.
    2. Preference given to students who work to promote LGBT equality and/or HIV prevention efforts.
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• Recreation Therapy Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be students in the recreation therapy program.
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• Arlene Bernstein Health Science
  • 1. Applicants must be students majoring in health science/public health.
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $200 each.

School of Social Work

Applicants must complete the application electronically on the Spartan Scholarship website by the deadline listed on the online application website for the scholarship.

• Dorothy A. Miller Memorial Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be graduate students in the Social Work program.
    2. Must be at least half-time, fully matriculated.
    3. Based on academic performance and contribution to social work knowledge.
    4. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,400 each.
• Helen Walsh Soderstrom Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be full or part-time master’s candidates in social work.
    2. Applicants will be evaluated based upon classroom and field work
    3. Applicants should intend to work in a public institution and/or intend to work with families and children.
    4. Scholarship may be awarded up to $400 each.
• Helen S. Hansen Scholarship Fund
  • 1. Applicants must be enrolled in the master of social work program.
    2. Preference will be given to students with financial need.
    3. Scholarship may be awarded up to $500 each.
• Alicia Nájera Memorial Scholarship Endowment

  • Created by the family in memory of Alicia Nájera, an alumna of our MSW Program at SJSU and a long-time social worker and community leader. 

    1. Applicants must be graduate students in the social work program.
    2. Applicants must be fully matriculated students with a minimum of 12 units.
    3. Applicants must have financial need.
    4. Cumulative 3.0 GPA or above.
    5. Interest in working with public or public or voluntary nonprofit agencies or with local grassroots groups in the United State that impact the Latinx community; preference to first-generation students from under-represented populations and applicants who work and reside in Santa Cruz County.
    6. Scholarship may be awarded up to $1,000 each.
• Deborah Ann Gregg Memorial Scholarship

  • Debbie was a social worker whose contribution included working as a psychotherapist with economically marginalized populations of color, developing political consciousness and helping her colleagues meet the requirements for obtaining their License in Clinical Social Work. She was also very active with the women's community, gay and lesbian community and the Native American community of the Bay Area. Debbie's spiritual practices, which were based on indigenous traditions, led her to live a life based on the principle of compassion for all living beings and respect for Nature.

    1. Applicants must be graduate students in the Social Work program.
    2. Applicants must be fully matriculated with a minimum of 12 units.
    3. Cumulative 3.0 GPA or above.
    4. Scholarship may be awarded up to $2,000 each.
• Stanley Lee Endowed Social Work Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be graduate students in the Social Work program.
    2. Minimum 3.0 GPA.
    3. Preference will be given to students desiring to work in child welfare who are currently working or interning at county social service agency in family and children’s services.
    4. Scholarship may be awarded up to $2,000 each.
• Jose D. Villa Scholarship
  • 1. Applicants must be Social Work students.
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $5,000 each.
• Simon Dominguez Scholarship Fund
  • 1. Applicants must be Social Work students.
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $4,800 each.
• Social Work Undergraduate Program Award
  • 1. Applicants must be undergraduate Social Work students.
    2. Scholarship may be awarded up to $300 each.