Upakar Foundation’s scholarship to aid needy Indian American students

$5,000 four-year grants’ deadline is April 30.

Bureau Report

WASHINGTON, DC: The Upakar Foundation has unveiled new community college scholarships for the 2013-14 academic year. These grants will be open to high-achieving, financially-needy Indian American students pursuing undergraduate degrees.

“The community college scholarships bring the financial clout and mentoring services of Upakar to a new group of students,” President Jyotsna Gupta Jalil said in a statement. “We look forward to helping these students get the most ‘bang for their buck’ – by obtaining an excellent education and successfully transitioning to a four-year institution.”

The community college scholarships will be awarded based on the same criteria as Upakar’s existing grants. The scholar must have been: (1) born in India or have at least one Indian-born parent; and (2) be a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder. In high school, scholars must have attained a raw grade point average (GPA) above 3.6. Finally, financial need is determined by family adjusted gross income.

As part of Upakar’s commitment to its scholars, as long as their undergraduate GPA remains above 3.3, Upakar will renew the scholarship for all four years of school. For a community college scholar, that is a $5,000 promise, including two years at a four-year college or university.

“Upakar looks forward to another chapter in its over fifteen-year history,” Executive Vice President Nirupma Rohatgi said. “The community college scholarships are an excellent way to supplement the four-year grants, which have supported over one hundred Indian American students. Upakar is pleased to be at the forefront in helping students offset the ever-rising cost of higher education.”

Applications for the 2013-14 academic year are due April 30, 2013. For more information on the Upakar community college scholarships, four-year grants, and Geeta Rastogi Memorial Scholarship for the Performing Arts, visit: www.upakarfoundation.org