CSF is a nonprofit organization that recognizes and encourages academic achievement as well as community service among middle and high school students in California. To achieve this, the scholarship organization has approximately 1500 chapters in middle school and high schools throughout the state. The chapters help administer the scholarships. Thus, each chapter comprises student members who meet eligibility requirements and is led by a staff adviser. Meanwhile, eligible students become members of the scholarship organization by submitting applications based on their report card grades. However, membership is for one semester only. Also, membership drives hold each semester within established periods dictated by the State Bylaws. Furthermore, CSF holds conferences annually whereby students receive awards that recognize their scholastic achievement and community service.
About California Scholarship Federation
CSF was founded in 1921 and it is the oldest scholastic scholarship institution in California state. The scholarship body emphasizes high standards of scholarship and community service for California high school students. It also encourages service to the school and the community while fostering pride in academic achievement. However, Mr. Charles F. Seymour at a convention of high school principals in Oakland in 1916 proposed the idea for the scholarship before its origination in 1921. Mr. Seymour as at that time was the vice-principal of National City High School in San Diego County. The idea didn’t come into action until 1921, after Mr. Seymour’s campaign for support of the idea. After recording progress in the scholarship organization, in 1925, the Board of Directors initiated a program with several colleges and universities to set aside tuition scholarships for CSF Life Members. This reservation still stands to date. Today there are a few colleges and universities in California and the U.S that participate in the program. Therefore, CSF Life Members only need to check with their preferred college or university upon admission. To cap the progress, in 1967, CSF founded the California Junior Scholarship Federation (CJSF) to foster high standards of scholarship, service, and citizenship in the middle school/junior high grades. Now, the rapid growth of the California Junior Scholarship Federation (CJSF) is greatly strengthening CSF.
CSF Membership
Membership of CSF is based on scholarship and it is gained after earning qualifying grades each semester. Therefore, in order to become a CSF member, you’ll have to submit an application with a transcript each semester. To be eligible for CSF membership, you’ll have to earn sufficient points from pre-approved course lists specified by the organization. In addition, the majority of the required membership points must come from the University of California accepted course work. Meanwhile, the Life Membership or Sealbearer is achieved by qualifying for CSF scholarships four or more semesters in the last three years of high school. This period will not include your Freshman year. Your qualification for Sealbearer earns you the CSF Gold Seal on diplomas and transcripts. You should be aware, however, that one of the semesters that earns you the life membership must be from grades earned during the senior year. Also, note that Citizenship Counts in CSF. If you receive an “N” or a “U” in citizenship, you are not qualified for CSF scholarships for that semester.
CSF Junior Information
If you’re a current 11th grade CSF member, be careful when choosing your classes for the next year. This is because your first-semester senior grades, added to three previous semester memberships, determines whether you’ll be a Sealbearer at graduation. Meanwhile, to be a Sealbearer, you need to make 10 points! You’ll have to take enough classes from List I and List II and keep striving to make “A”s to have enough CSF points. You should know that “B”s are only worth one point where “A”s are worth three points. Therefore, your total points from LIST I must be at least 4, and your total points from LISTS I & II must be at least 7. Your GRAND TOTAL from all lists must be at least 10. View the List to see which subjects you must concentrate on. Also, note that a “D” or an “F” in any course will disqualify you.
CSF Senior Information
You can get a Lifetime Membership if you’ve been a CSF member for at least four semesters during your last three years of high school, including one semester of SENIOR GRADES! Don’t fail to apply for CSF in the next semester if you’re eligible. However, if you don’t meet the eligibility requirements in the 1st semester, you still have a chance to become a Life Member by doing well in your second semester. All you need do is see your CSF Adviser. The person will give you an application for the 2nd semester of your senior year. However, you’ll need your teacher’s signature stating your current grades.
CSF & CJSF Regions
The rapid growth of the California Scholarship Federation led to the division of the state into regions for student conferences. These regions help the organization effectively achieve their aim. Currently, CSF has five regions. They are as follows:
North:
This includes Sonoma, Napa, Solano, Sacramento, Amador, Calaveras, Alpine, and Mono counties, as well as all counties north of these.
Central:
This includes all counties between the Coast Range ridgeline on the west and the Sierra Nevada ridgeline on the east. It also spans from San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne counties at the north end to Kern County at the south. You should note that the portion of Kern County east of the Sierra Nevada ridgeline is excluded from the Central region.
Central Coast:
This includes all counties west of the Coast Range ridgeline, from Marin and Contra Costa counties in the north to San Luis Obispo County in the south.
South Central:
This includes Inyo, Kern (east of Sierra Nevada crest only), Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, and all of Los Angeles County except for the small, south-easterly portion designated as part of the South Region.
South:
This includes San Bernardino and Orange Counties, as well as all counties south of these. It also includes a small portion of Los Angeles County bordered as follows: on the west, by the San Gabriel River, running north from the I-405 freeway bridge until it reaches Azusa city limit at Huntington Dr/Foothill Blvd., on the west by Azusa city limit running north to its intersection with the Angeles National Forest boundary, and then on the north by the Angeles National Forest boundary, running east to the San Bernardino County line.
California Scholarship Federation Benefits
Members of the California Scholarship Federation benefit from awards that subsidize tuition fees. These awards are available to both Junior and Senior high school students.
CJSF Awards
Awards in this category provide benefits for California Scholarship Federation middle school or junior high school members. Furthermore, CJSF provides two awards under this category annually.
#1. The Marian Huhn memorial Award
This award recognizes outstanding 7th & 8th-grade student members of the California Junior Scholarship Federation for their academic excellence and service to the school and community. However, to be eligible for this award, you’ll have to be nominated by your CJSF Adviser. The award is open annually on November 15, 2018, and closes on February 18th. Also, the total value of the award is $6,250 of which five students from each region receives $250. Meanwhile, you’ll have participated in the Huhn Workshop at your region’s spring conference to be considered for this financial award. In addition, your Chapter has to be in good standing by paying their dues for the current school year. Scholarship Link
#2. 50th Anniversary Digiovanna Memorial Award
This award is in honor of CJSF’s 50th Anniversary and the recent passing of long-time CJSF adviser / CSF-CJSF Board Member, Joanna DiGiovanna. The award runs for the second time this year, after last year, and may possibly be available next year. To be eligible for this award, you’ll have to write an essay. The essay submission will be closed in January 2022. However, watch out for November 1, 2022. The award may be open for application. You can also check out How to write a Scholarship Thank you Letter (Best Samples). Each winning recipient from the five regions will receive a $100 award. Additional winners may be selected, however, depending on the availability of funds. Scholarship Link
CSF Awards
Awards in this category provide benefits for California Scholarship Federation senior high school members. Furthermore, CSF provides three awards under this category annually.
#1. Seymour Memorial Awards
The award is in memory of Charles F. Seymour and his devoted wife, Marian H. Seymour, who together supplied the inspiration and leadership that fostered the California Scholarship Federation. To be eligible for this award, you’ll have to be nominated by your CSF Adviser. Meanwhile, you must have earned Sealbearer status by the end of the first semester of your Senior year. The application starts on January 1 every year and closes February 18th. The total value of the award is $100,000 and 50 graduating Sealbearers receive $2,000 each. However, five of these 50, one per region, receive an additional $3,000 as the regional award recipient. Thus, the award is regarded as one of the highest scholastic honors given to secondary school graduates in the state of California. Scholarship Link
#2. Michelson Memorial Award
This CSF award is in memory of the late Glenn Michelson, past 20-year CSF adviser of Sequoia High School in Redwood City and past Board of Directors member. Glenn bequeathed funds to CSF upon his passing, and the Board of Directors voted to have an annual essay contest in Glenn’s honor open to high school CSF seniors who have a passion for service. Therefore, the due date for this award is December 22nd, Glenn’s birthday. All Senior California Scholarship Federation members are eligible to apply. Application for this CSF award begins November 1, and closes December 22nd every year. The total value of this CSF award is $1,000, and it is available to all seniors who are members of a CSF chapter in good standing. Scholarship Link
#3. Outstanding Sealbearer Award
This award recognizes graduating Life Members who demonstrate great effort and motivation, have great potential but are overlooked in other awards. However, to be qualified for this award you’ll need to demonstrate financial need. In addition, the award selects five students, one in each CSF region. Advisers of CSF chapters in good standing may nominate one candidate, and a committee of Board members selects one recipient for each region. Nominations open January 1 and end March 1 every year. The total value of this CSF award is $1,000. Scholarship Link
Conclusion
The California Scholarship Federation (CSF), Inc. provides scholarships to qualified California High School Students towards a Life Membership or Sealbearer. This scholarship, founded in 1921, is one of the highest scholastic honors given to secondary school graduates in the state of California. Not only do the scholarships benefit the high school student while in high school, but they also provide funding for their college or university education. However, you’ll have to be a citizen of California to be a CSF member, and you’ll also have to maintain excellent academic grades.
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