Youth Scholarship Program Helps Teens Pay for College

Across the country, city-sponsored youth scholarship programs are few and far between, which makes the one in West Hollywood all the more valuable.

Yet many of Weho's scholarships—each worth $1,500 and funded entirely through community donations—are never awarded because local high school seniors are unaware of the program or apply too late.

Although final applications for the West Hollywood Youth Scholarship Program are not due until the end of April, most pre-applications were turned in last month so the city could gauge how many scholarships will need funding this year. West Hollywood residents who will graduate in June and hope to qualify should apply soon. 

“As long as an applicant submits their application and completes all of the community service requirements within six months of graduating from high school or obtaining their GED, we will work with them to receive the scholarship,” said Craig Rhea, the city’s social services program administrator.

Since the program’s inception in 2007, there have been 12 scholarships awarded. To be eligible, a student must be a West Hollywood resident when he or she applies for and receives a scholarship; a high school senior ready to graduate or receiving his or her GED, who plans to pursue postsecondary education; and willing to perform at least 150 hours of community service before receiving scholarship funds, which may be used for any expenses incurred as they continue their studies at a college or accredited trade or vocational school.

Rhea said that West Hollywood’s program might be the only one of its kind in the nation, because of its unique community service component.

"This is a great opportunity to encourage our young people to participate in public service while at the same time pursue their goals of higher education,” said Mayor .

The required 150 hours of community service may include involvement in the city’s Youth Leadership Program at , volunteer service at , and/or volunteer service at a school, church, temple or other nonprofit organization.

In the past, scholarship applicants have chosen to perform volunteer service at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s Teen Line, a teen-staffed help hotline for adolescents in conflict; classical radio station KUSC, the Los Angeles County Fire Department's Youth Explorer Program, and the California African-American Museum in Los Angeles, among other programs and institutions.

This year’s scholarship recipients will be honored in June at the third annual “Volunteen” Awards event, along with all of the young people who volunteer with the city’s Youth Leadership Program. The date and location are yet to be announced.

Organizations and businesses that have provided major support for the Youth Scholarship Program include the city's Women’s Advisory Board, the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and Union Bank of West Hollywood.

Additionally, the Ramada Plaza West Hollywood has pledged $20,000 to the Ramada Award, an annual scholarship of $1,500 for a West Hollywood resident graduating high school and going on to pursue a career in the arts —visual, performing or writing. It will be presented beginning in 2013, after the new West Hollywood Library has been open for a year, allowing the recipient to complete his or her community service hours at the library. The Ramada fund will generate 13 scholarships over 13 years.

“We’ve had wonderful support from the community,” Rhea said. “Several individuals, representing a cross-section of the community, have [also] funded full scholarships, but prefer to remain anonymous.”

Although the current economic climate has put a crimp on many budgets, Rhea said it wouldn’t affect the Youth Scholarship Program.

“We intend to award a $1,500 scholarship to every West Hollywood student who applies for one and is qualified.”