OCA Scholarships

OCA offers several scholarships to support students in their post-secondary education, including high school students, students pursuing vocational schools, current undergraduate students, and recent graduates.

Scholarship Status: Open

The deadline to apply to the 2027 OCA scholarships is January 31, 2027 at 11:59 PM PT.

APPLY

Key Scholarship Dates

November 3, 2026:
OCA scholarship applications open

January 31, 2027 at 11:59 PM PT:
OCA scholarship applications close

May 2027:
Applicants are notified of their status

Summer 2027:
Scholarship awards are dispersed

2027 Scholarships

Joe and Loanne Chiu Scholastic Scholarship
One incoming first-gen college student starting their first year of undergrad in Fall 2027 will be awarded $5,000.

Joe and Loanne Chiu Vocational Scholarship
This brand new scholarship will award $2,500 each to two incoming first-gen vocational school students (or equivalent).

OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarship for Graduating High School Seniors
12 current first-gen high school seniors who will be attending college in Fall 2027 will be awarded $2,000 each.

OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarship for Rising College Seniors
Four current first-gen college students starting their final year of undergrad in Fall 2027 will be awarded $2,500 each.

Pei-Tei and Chih-Wu Chang I.D.E.A. (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) Scholarship
This brand new scholarship will award $2,000 to one incoming or current first-year undergraduate student.

S.Y. and S.F. Fung Public Service Scholarship
One college student or recent grad with a paid or unpaid internship at an AAPI elected official's office in Virginia or at a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan nonprofit in Virginia will be awarded $2,000.

If you have any questions about the OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarships, please contact cassie.micah@ocanational.org. For questions about all other scholarships, please contact kent.tong@ocanational.org.

Application Guide

Review the application form

  • Make sure to look over the application form before you start applying so that you can prepare all of the application materials and answers to each prompt ahead of time. Take note of the application deadline.

  • Each scholarship has its own eligibility rules. Make sure you are actually eligible for the scholarship by reviewing the eligibility and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section of the scholarship website.

Personal Information

  • Make sure the email address you provide on the application form is one you check regularly and have access to through at least the fall of 2026.

  • Be prepared to describe your racial and ethnic identities.

  • Write your short bio in the third person. Look at previous scholarship recipients’ short bios for inspiration.

  • Find out if your family is affiliated with, or is a member of, OCA or an OCA chapter.

Experiences

  • Be prepared to provide details of your volunteer/community service, leadership, and/or work/employment experiences (including family responsibilities, if applicable). It’s okay if you don’t have all three types of experiences because everyone has different life circumstances.

Essays and Short Answers

  • You are required to submit essays and short answer responses. This is a chance for us to learn about you and truly get to know you. Make sure you thoroughly answer the prompts.

References

  • You will be asked to provide the names and contact information of two references. These references should not be family members. They should be someone who can speak about you personally and professionally. Not every scholarship is requiring a letter of recommendation.

  • Be sure to ask your references for permission before including them as a reference on the application form.

Financial Information

  • Be prepared to provide your or your family’s total gross income from the most recent tax filing season.

Certification

  • Before submitting your application, be sure to take one last look at your application answers. Check for errors. Make sure everything is accurate.

External Opportunities

Resources