El Genio de los Latinos
Scholarship
Application Guidelines
Three awards. Three kinds of students. One belief — that the genius has always been there, waiting for the right door to open.
Before You Apply
General Information
- Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Check the website for current cycle deadlines.
- Students may apply for more than one scholarship if they meet the eligibility criteria for each.
- All essays must be written by the applicant. Submissions that show evidence of ghostwriting will be disqualified.
- Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Please ensure that all application materials are submitted together.
- Award amounts and the number of recipients per cycle are determined annually. Recipients will be notified by email.
- El Genio de los Latinos founders, staff, board members, and their family members are not eligible recipients.
- Questions may be directed to [email protected].
For Native-Spanish Speakers Pursuing an English Major
The Lengua y Letras Scholarship
"Your first language is not a detour. It is the road."
This scholarship honors students who grew up speaking Spanish at home and have chosen to pursue English — its literature, its writing, its power — as their field of academic study. We believe that native-Spanish speakers bring a rare and irreplaceable perspective to the English language. You have lived inside translation. You know what it means to reach for a word in one language and find it only in another. That is a gift.
Eligibility Requirements
- Identifies as a native Spanish speaker (Spanish was the primary language spoken at home)
- Currently enrolled in or applying to a U.S. college or university
- Intends to declare or has declared a major in English, English Literature, Creative Writing, Comparative Literature, or a closely related field
- Minimum 3.5 GPA (high school or college)
- Submits a personal essay in English (see below)
Application Materials
- Completed application form
- Official or unofficial transcript
- One letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, or mentor
- A personal essay of 500–750 words responding to the following prompt: "Describe a moment when language — English, Spanish, or the space between them — changed how you understood yourself or the world."
- A brief statement (150–200 words) explaining your decision to major in English
Selection Criteria
- Clarity, voice, and authenticity in the personal essay
- Evidence of a genuine relationship with the English language
- Academic preparation and commitment to the field
- Potential to contribute a bilingual or bicultural perspective to literary study
For Students Who Have Demonstrated Exemplary Community Service
The Raíces en Acción Scholarship
"The student who serves their community has already begun their education."
This scholarship is awarded to a Latino student — in high school or college — who has shown an exceptional commitment to serving others. We are not looking for a résumé of activities. We are looking for evidence of genuine investment: a student who identified a need in their community and did something about it. The work does not have to be formal or institutional. It can be a tutoring program that you started. It can be organizing. What matters is that it was built to last — designed so that it can continue to be run by someone else in the community after you leave for college.
Eligibility Requirements
- Identifies as Latino or of Latin American heritage
- Currently enrolled in high school, a GED program, or a U.S. college or university
- Has demonstrated sustained community service or civic engagement (minimum two years of documented involvement)
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
Application Materials
- Completed application form
- Official or unofficial transcript
- One letter of recommendation from a community leader, teacher, or supervisor who can speak to your service work
- A personal essay of 500–750 words responding to the following prompt: "Describe a program or initiative you created to serve your community. How did you design it to continue benefitting others after you are no longer there to run it?"
- A brief description (200–300 words) of your service activities, including dates, organization or context, and your specific role
Selection Criteria
- Depth and authenticity of community involvement
- Evidence of leadership, initiative, and sustained commitment over at least two years
- Demonstrated intentionality in designing service work for longevity
- Quality and honesty of the personal essay
- Potential to continue contributing to their community through higher education
For Students with Financial Need and Exceptional Promise in Business
The Primer Paso Scholarship
"The business mind that gets to college will change everything."
This scholarship is for the student who has a vision — for a business, a career, a future — and the financial circumstances that could stand between them and the education to make it real. We are not looking for a polished pitch deck. We are looking for evidence of a mind that sees opportunity, solves problems, and builds things. Whether you have already started something or simply carry the drive to do so, this award is for the student who is ready to take the first step.
Eligibility Requirements
- Identifies as Latino or of Latin American heritage
- Currently enrolled in or accepted to a U.S. college or university
- Demonstrates financial need (household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or Pell Grant eligible)
- Has shown demonstrated interest or promise in business, entrepreneurship, finance, or a related professional field
- Minimum 3.0 GPA or equivalent demonstration of academic progress
Application Materials
- Completed application form
- Official or unofficial transcript or equivalent academic record
- One letter of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, employer, or mentor who can speak to your professional potential
- A personal essay of 500–750 words responding to the following prompt: "Describe a business idea, project, or professional goal you have pursued or plan to pursue. What drives you, and what would this scholarship make possible?"
- Optional: a brief financial hardship statement (no more than 200 words)
Selection Criteria
- Evidence of entrepreneurial thinking, professional ambition, or business promise
- Clarity, honesty, and specificity in the personal essay
- Demonstrated financial need
- Potential to complete a college degree and build something meaningful
- Quality of the recommendation letter as it speaks to professional character
Need help with your application?
I offer one-on-one scholarship guidance. We can work on your personal essay, review your application materials, and make sure your story comes through clearly and powerfully.
Payment is required at the time of booking. Session fees are nonrefundable upon client cancellation.