Photo credit to the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative
The Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative (NSRC) Fund is giving away $55,000 in scholarships to Southeast Asian and Somali students in Minnesota.
The scholarship fund allocates $50,000 to Southeast Asian students and $5,000 to Somali students. Each scholarship ranges from $1,000 to $2,000.
Applicants will be judged upon their academic achievement; extracurricular activities in school or the community; work experience; educational, career and personal goals; financial need and potential to succeed in higher education.
Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be any graduating high school senior who was born in or who has a parent who was born in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar or Vietnam OR be any graduating high school senior who was born in or who has a Somali-born parent
- Currently live and attend high school in Minnesota
- Graduate from high school in the 2018-2019 academic year and start college or any other higher education program within two years
- Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
The NSRC Fund is a national scholarship program for students from underserved Southeast Asian communities pursuing a higher education. Each year, the scholarship fund travels to a different city.
The fund was founded by Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) who were confined in U.S. internment camps during World War II. With the help of some individuals and organizations, many of the young adults were allowed to leave the camps to begin or continue their college education. Former students established the NSRC Fund in 1980 to honor those who helped them.
Applications are open until March 1, 2019. Scholarship winners will be announced mid-April and a ceremony will be held in May. More information can be found here and the application here.
Further questions can be directed to the local awards committee at nsrcfund2019mn@gmail.com.