Awards & Scholarships

CHICANO/LATINO STUDIES GRADUATE STUDIES SCHOLARSHIP

UCI's Department of Chicano-Latino Studies awards up to $500 to defray the costs associated with applying to graduate school. Costs may include graduate school application fees, the cost of required admissions tests (e.g. GRE, LSAT, CSET), test preparation materials or courses, etc.

To be eligible, the applicant must be a Chicano/Latino Studies major. Current students are eligible to apply.

PRIORITY DEADLINE: January 31, 2025.

Subsequent applications will be considered on a rolling basis as funds allow.

Submit your application at the following link: https://forms.gle/dzbby3T5D8tGf7BV9

Current and Previous Scholarship Awardees: Click Here

EXCELLENCE IN CHICANO/LATINO STUDIES AWARDS

UCI's Department of Chicano-Latino Studies offers three awards that recognize graduating undergraduate students for their excellence advancing the mission of Chicano/Latino Studies:

Students are invited to self-nominate for two awards:

1. Outstanding Undergraduate Student Researcher Award: Recognizes a graduating student who has successfully completed a distinguished and sustained trajectory of original primary research experience that advances our investigation and understanding of the Chicano-Latino experience.

2. Outstanding Chicano/Latino Community Engagement Award: Recognizes a graduating student who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to service that promotes diversity and civic engagement within the UCI student community and/or the broader public. Evidence of exceptional commitment may include (but is not limited to) participation in campus and/or community organizations, developing on-campus programming, engaging in off-campus programming, and volunteer activities that nurture awareness, knowledge, and sustained engagement with Chicano/Latinos at or beyond UCI.

To be eligible, the student must be completing a major, minor, or certificate offered by the Dept. of Chicano/Latino Studies; intending to graduate in the Spring or Summer of the year they are applying; and have earned at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Applications are due Friday, April 25, 2025

Submit your application at the following link: https://forms.gle/gVt5c3uKkXfeFzXp7

Faculty nominate students for the third award:

3. Vicki L. Ruiz Award: Recognizes a graduating undergraduate student who has demonstrated scholarly excellence, service, and resilience. The vision and dedication driving this student's accomplishments and resilience are meant to honor and continue the extraordinary legacy and strides of Dr. Vicki L. Ruiz, UCI professor and trailblazing Chicana historian.

CHICANO/LATINO STUDIES UNDERGRADUATE WRITING AWARDS

UCI's Department of Chicano-Latino Studies offers two awards that recognize UCI undergraduate students for their excellence in writing:

1. Jeff Garcilazo Paper Prize: Recognizes a student for their excellence in preparing a research paper in Chicano/Latino studies. This award was established in honor of the memory of Jeff Garcilazo, UCI professor and pioneer in the fields of Chicano/Latino Studies and History.

2. Alejandro and Rohde Morales Literary Award: Recognizes a student for their literary excellence. Four genres are rotated annually.

The 2025 genre is Autobiography.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY - Write a single authored doubled spaced, 1500 word maximum autobiographical essay written in English, Spanish or a combination of both languages. Topic must focus on the Chicano/Latinx experience.
NON-FICTION ESSAY - A work of nonfiction that makes use of factual reporting, or memoir with narrative techniques related to those of fiction. Write a double spaced single authored 1500 word maximum piece written in English, Spanish or a combination of both languages. Cite your sources at the end of essay if you have any. Topic must focus on the Chicano/ Latinx experience.
POETRY - Write a single authored collection of 4 to 6 poems, not to exceed 1500 words, composed either in English or Spanish. Poems may be a combination of both languages. Topics of poems must focus on the Chicano/Latinx experience.
SHORT STORY - Write a single authored double spaced 1500 word maximum story written in English or Spanish. Story may combine both languages. Topic must focus on the Chicano/Latinx experience.

This award was named and established in honor of Alejandro Morales, UCI professor and acclaimed author of Chicano/Latinx literature who has written novels, short stories and poetry in Spanish and English.

To be eligible, the student must have completed at least one course offered by the Dept. of Chicano/Latino Studies and earned at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Applications are due Friday April 25, 2024.

Submit your application at the following link: https://forms.gle/mtbQmgca3cta1tLi9

Current and Previous Award Winners
Click Here

JEFF GARCILAZO FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Established in honor and memory of the late Chicano/Latino Studies and History professor Jeff Garcilazo, the Jeff Garcilazo Fellowship/Scholarship Fund provides opportunities for students to be recognized for their work examining the historical and contemporary experiences of Chicano/Latino communities. The Jeff Garcilazo Prize, made possible through support from the family of Professor Garcilazo and other donors to the Jeff Garcilazo Scholarship Fund, is awarded annually to the undergraduate student author(s) of the best research paper(s) in Chicano/Latino studies. Donations can be made to the Jeff Garcilazo Fellowship/Scholarship Fund 3490 at the UCI Brilliant Future donation page or by submitting a check payable to UCI Foundation, mailed to Social Sciences for processing to fund 3490 at:
     UCI School of Social Sciences
     Attention Melissa Churlonis
     3151 Social Sciences Plaza
     Building 214
     Irvine, CA 92697-5100