WG High School Scholarships
The Willow Glen Education Foundation manages several scholarships for graduating WGHS seniors annually, including need-based and merit-based opportunities.
Each year, graduating seniors can apply for scholarships made possible by the generosity of several foundations. This year, we had an outstanding group of applicants, and seven generous sponsors selected 24 students.
We are proud of all our seniors who applied, and especially those selected. Your hard work and dedication are truly inspiring. To our scholarship sponsors, thank you for your continued belief in our students and the Willow Glen High School community. We are deeply grateful.
Questions? Contact us at . Please allow 72 hours for a response.
If you’d like to contribute to scholarship funding:
2025 Scholarships
Scholarship applications closed on Friday, March 21, 2025. We are no longer accepting applications. Thank you for applying!
Scholarship Celebrating Black and Latina/e/o/x Excellence
AMOUNT: Multiple awards of at least $1,000
DESCRIPTION: This scholarship was established in 2021 by alumni of the WGHS classes of 1994 – 2001 and will be awarded to well-rounded students with Black, African American, Afro-Latino, and/or Latina/e/o/x heritage who have demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership, athletics and/or community service to others.
REQUIREMENTS: Applicants with any of these characteristics must note them in their Common Application and Essay to be given special consideration during the review process.:
- First in their immediate family to attend an apprenticeship program, trade school, community college, or university
- Pursuing a degree or technical training in automotive technology and mechanics; the beauty industry, including skincare; computer science, coding, or programming; education; elder home healthcare, including physical therapy; law; and/or math
- Current or former English Language Learner (ELL) students
- LGBTQIA+ and non-binary individuals
- Undocumented, unaccompanied children, eligible for AB-540 or recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA), and/or DREAMers
- In foster care, unsheltered, or teenage parents
- In the free or reduced lunch program, WG Plus, and/or Silicon Valley Career Technical Education
FOUNDERS (listed in alphabetical order by last name and graduation year):
Linda Abdelbaki, M.Psy. ’96, Surinder Kaur Dhaliwal and Jaspreet Kaur Sangha (friends of WGHS), Anna M. Flores-Martinez ’97, Jesús Flores ’99, Teresa Flores ’99, Felipe E. Ortiz ’94, M. Lucero Ortiz, Esq. ’97, Mirna Pacheco-Walker, M.Psy. ’97, Yeny M. Rosales, M.Ed. ’97, Robin Rosales ’00, Manolo Rosales ’01, Yanin (Sifuentes) Del Valle ’97, Vanessa Sifuentes-Dimaano, M.Ed. ’98, Kathryn Ann “Kathy” Snyder, Esq. ’97
Please consider a donation to the scholarships fund. To support this scholarship, simply select “Scholarship Celebrating Black and Latina/e/o/x Excellence” during the donation process.
Class of ‘53 Scholarships
AMOUNT: Multiple scholarships of varying amounts, usually $500-$2000
DESCRIPTION: This scholarship has been established by the WGHS Class of 1953, for students who have financial need.
To qualify for these scholarships, you must be continuing your education after high school by:
- Entering a 4-year domestic college or university with a GPA of 3.2 or higher OR show significant improvement in GPA grade 9-12
- Entering a domestic community college with a GPA of 2.8 or higher OR show significant improvement in GPA grades 9-12
- Entering a career technical training program. No minimum GPA requirement.
- Special consideration given to those students who are planning to study nursing or another medical/health care field.
REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the Common Application Essay, applicants must also include a statement describing themselves, and be prepared to provide a copy of their 12th-grade spring semester schedule.
To prove financial need, applicants must do so in one of the following ways:
- Submit their parent or guardian’s 2022 or 2023 tax return that shows the number of members of your household AND household income with SS# blacked out. This can be uploaded to the application or a paper copy can be turned in to Ms. Schwartz by Wednesday, 3/5/25 at 3:30.
- OR submit verification by Ms. Amador of participation in Willow Glen Cares.
- OR students who are not able to prove need through tax forms or participation in WG Cares can meet with one of these counselors to verify eligibility: Ms. Amador, Ms. Schwartz, Ms. Casillas, Mr. Sarabia, Mr. Reyes, or Ms. Ramos. Please note the counselor’s name that you met with on the application.
Please consider a donation to the scholarships fund. To support this scholarship, simply select “Class of 1953” during the donation process.
Steven English Memorial Scholarship
AMOUNT: $2000
DESCRIPTION: This scholarship has been established by the family and friends of former WGHS student Steven English, to recognize high-performing seniors who have shown a commitment to community service.
REQUIREMENTS: Students who play or have played organized field or ice hockey during their high school years will be given special consideration during the review process.
Minimum 3.0 GPA excluding the freshman year
This is not a need-based scholarship.
Requires a minimum 3.0 GPA excluding freshman year.
To apply for this scholarship, applicants should include a statement describing themself, their education and career plans, and what they have learned from their community service experiences if that information is not addressed in their essay. To be considered as a field or ice hockey player, applicants must provide proof that they have been involved in an organized hockey program during their high school
Please consider a donation to the scholarships fund. To support this scholarship, simply select “Steven English Scholarship” during the donation process.
Guptill Family Community Service Scholarship
AMOUNT: $1500
DESCRIPTION: This scholarship was originally established by the Willow Glen Education Foundation and the Willow Glen High School Parent Club to recognize a senior who has contributed to the community, both at Willow Glen High School and in the wider community. The Guptill family now maintains the scholarship and has asked that special consideration be given to students who have shown a commitment to social or racial justice. All students are welcome to apply.
REQUIREMENTS: To apply for this scholarship, include a statement describing your community service and social or racial justice efforts, if that is not addressed in your essay.
Please consider a donation to the scholarships fund. To support this scholarship, simply select “Guptill Family Community Service Scholarship” during the donation process.
Willow Glen Education Foundation Scholarship
AMOUNT: Multiple scholarships of $1250
DESCRIPTION: These scholarships are provided through a grant from the Willow Glen Education Foundation and recognize outstanding Willow Glen High Seniors who have made a significant contribution to the school and their community.
Applicants are well-rounded students who have demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership, athletics, employment and/or service to others. Not a need-based scholarship.
REQUIREMENTS: Applicants are well-rounded students who have demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership, athletics, employment, and/or service to others.
This is not a need-based scholarship.
Requires a 3.2 GPA.
To apply for this scholarship, you must include a written paragraph (200-300 words) describing how being a student at WGHS has contributed to your personal development. This may be a lesson, experience, set of circumstances, or something similar, unique to WGHS, which you feel has impacted you in a significant way. This is
in addition to the main essay
Please consider a donation to the scholarships fund. To support this scholarship, select “Willow Glen Education Foundation” during the donation process.
Art Meade Memorial Scholarship
AMOUNT: Multiple scholarships of varying amounts, usually $1000-$5000
DESCRIPTION: These scholarships have been established by the friends and family of Art Meade, a former Willow Glen High School educator. Applicants are well-rounded students who have demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership, athletics and/or service to others.
REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must be entering San Jose State University, Cal-Poly-San Luis Obispo or Santa Clara University.
Not a need-based scholarship.
Minimum 3.2 GPA
To apply for this scholarship, include a statement describing yourself, your education, career plans, and what unique experience while at WGHS has inspired you, if not addressed in your essay. In addition, you are asked to submit a letter of recommendation from a teacher, coach, or mentor.
Please consider a donation to the scholarships fund. To support this scholarship, select “Art Meade Memorial Scholarship” during the donation process.
“Just Drew” Memorial Scholarship: For the Love of Creating
AMOUNT: $10,000
DESCRIPTION: Drew Nixon was a force to be reckoned with and he deeply, passionately loved three things: music, tinkering, and his dog, Tyus. In his room, across from his guitar and record player, Drew had a desk/workbench. He had an endless number of projects in various stages, all sitting in front of the computer he had built from scratch. Projects ran the gamut from custom keyboards to weird switch systems and occasional carpentry. The 3D printer in his home’s hallway ran at all hours and his mom would always worry that he had forgotten to unplug his soldering iron. He even had a car project in the making that would have taken over the garage.
In Drew’s memory and the spirit of tinkering, creating, and imagining the possibilities, this $10,000 scholarship is offered to support a future mechanic, electrician, architect, carpenter, engineer, contractor, or creator of any sort.
REQUIREMENTS: In addition to the general essay, applicants are required to include a 500-2,000 word description of their favorite “passion project.” Please include photos if available. This project does not have to be related to a particular school class or have a real-world application; it can even be playful! This project should be primarily about bringing to life something you dreamed up and doesn’t need to be completed. (What great project is ever truly completed?) This project can be physical or digital. Within the project description, please be sure to share 1) what you have learned or are learning from your project, 2) where you have struggled, and 3) how you could approach it differently if you started it again. Project success is not a criteria to receive this scholarship because the joy is in the process.
Other Requirements
- Does not require a certain GPA or particular major.
- Finalists will be required to give a presentation about their passion project as detailed in their essay OR about another completely different project of their choosing.
- This presentation will be given in person to a panel of judges in April.
- Presentation time will be a minimum of 20 minutes, including Q&A from judges. Please do not be nervous: Your presentation should be viewed as a conversation with fellow tinkerers about your project rather than a super formal presentation.
- This scholarship is for anyone continuing their education after high school graduation (e.g., trade school, performing arts academy/school, community college, four-year college/university, etc.).