June 2022 — Upward Scholars Graduation Celebration, Fall 2022 Application, Child Tax Credit, & more
Dear Upward Scholars students,
Summer is here! If you're taking classes this summer, we hope they are off to a great start, and if you're taking a break, we hope you are reenergized to come back strong in the fall.
Please read through this month's newsletter as it includes the Upward Scholars Graduation Celebration, our Fall Semester Application, community resources, job openings, upcoming scholarships, and more.
Upward Scholars Announcements
Upward Scholars Graduation Celebration
Join us to get inspired and celebrate your peers' remarkable academic accomplishments at the Upward Scholars Graduation Celebration! This year, we have a record-breaking 29 graduates, 9 of whom earned associate degrees!
No matter where you are in your journey, if you continue to work hard, you too can celebrate your graduation in the future!
Join us!
Sunday, June 19
3:00 pm to 4:00 pm via Zoom
Fall Applications
The Upward Scholars Fall 2022 Application is open! Apply now for the Fall 2022 Semester. If you have any questions, contact Student Fellow Adriana Luna at adriana@upwardscholars.org or (650) 200-3444.
Virtual Conversation Club
The Upward Scholars Conversation Club is an opportunity for you as students to build confidence in your English conversation skills via a safe, friendly, and welcoming environment.
Our next virtual Conversation Club:
Friday, July 29, 2022
6:30 – 7:45 pm
RSVP forms to come.
Spiritual Counseling with Reverend Gerardo García Palacios
Upward Scholars offers all students and their families free spiritual and emotional counseling with Rev. Gerardo García Palacios. The pandemic has affected all of us and we want you to express your struggles and be heard in a safe, confidential, and virtual environment. People of all beliefs are welcome and Rev. Gerardo is English-Spanish bilingual.
Schedule a session with Rev. Gerardo by emailing him at pastorgarcia1679@outlook.com or calling/texting him at (650) 387-9174. Tell him your full name and if a family member schedules a session, they should also give the name of the Upward Scholars student they were referred by.
External Announcements/COVID-19 Resources
Siena Youth Center
The Siena Youth Center is accepting registrations for their SYC Summer Camp, which will take place from June 16th through July 29th. To register your 7- to 13-year-olds, stop by the youth center between noon and 7 pm at
Siena Youth Center
2625 Marlborough Ave
Redwood City, CA 94063
For more information, contact Mr. Torres at (708) 408-8690 or mrtorres@stfrancisrwc.org.
Sonrisas Dental Health
Not sure if you can afford dental care or qualify for financial assistance? Our partners at Sonrisas Dental Health are dedicated to providing quality dental care to those who otherwise could not afford dental care. They provide these services with dignity, respect, and compassion and offer preventative and restorative services. They also take Medi-Cal Dental and offer an Affordable Scale plan which would be up to a 45% discount depending on the person's income. Click here to learn more and get your smile back!
Child Tax Credit
Last year, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), expanding the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and providing historic tax relief to the vast majority of families. Thanks to ARPA, the vast majority of families will receive $3,000 per child ages 6-17 years old and $3,600 per child under 6.
If you already filed a 2021 tax return, you should have automatically started receiving the Child Tax Credit. However, if you are a non-filer, you can file a simple tax return to claim your Child Tax Credit and stimulus money in as little as 15 minutes. You can file with an SSN or ITIN number but your child must have an SSN that is “valid for employment” in order to qualify. Receiving the Child Tax Credit will not affect your immigration status, ability to get a green card or your future eligibility for immigration benefits.
To find out if you are eligible, click here. To file a simple tax return to claim your CTC in English, click here. For Spanish, click here.
Tax-Aid
Tax-Aid offers free tax help for households that earn less than $58,000. Their expert Bay Area tax volunteers give you the confidence of properly prepared taxes and can offer tax support and advice year-round in your preferred language. They can even help you claim your Child Tax Credit if you haven't already done so. Click here to learn more. Their website is available in multiple languages.
External Employment Opportunities
Warehouse Associate
Jameco Electronics is looking for full-time and part-time warehouse associates available for order fillers/pickers, restockers, and receivers. They are flexible in setting a workday that benefits everyone, so students are encouraged to apply. Click here to learn more and apply.
Sequoia District Adult School (SAS) Job Board
SAS has its very own job board to help students like you find jobs. There are a variety of positions in various industries. Visit their website to learn more.
If you hear of any employment opportunities, please contact Jessica at jessica@upwardscholars.org, and she will share them with all Upward Scholars students.
Upcoming Scholarships
The following is a list of external scholarships with upcoming deadlines. Click on the links to learn more about each scholarship.
NOTE: If you need help applying to any of these, contact me at jessica@upwardscholars.org to be paired with a volunteer who can work with you one-on-one.
2022 Sparks Law Dream Chasers Scholarship
Application Deadline: June 30, 2022
Some qualifications: 3.0 GPA or higher; U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
Application Deadline: June 30, 2022
Some qualifications: full-time student; 3.5 GPA or higher
EducationDynamics $10,000 Minority First Generation Scholarship Contest
Application Deadline: July 30, 2022
Some qualifications: first in family to attend college; 17 years old or older; U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
Immigrants Rising List of Scholarships and Fellowships
Immigrants Rising has curated this list of scholarships and fellowships that don’t require proof of U.S. citizenship. The list has general application eligibility requirements, including education level, region/state, and immigration status (e.g. DACA, TPS, in-state tuition eligibility). Only opportunities with due dates within the next 180 days are shown in the list. Use the filters to find scholarships that could be right for you and click on the scholarship to learn more and apply!
Click here to find an array of scholarships specific to your major or area of study.
If you know of any other scholarship opportunities with deadlines in the next few weeks or months, please email me at jessica@upwardscholars.org, and I will share them with all Upward Scholars students.
Thank you for reading through this newsletter. I hope you found it helpful. If you have any further questions or want help with anything you read here, please reach out.
Onward and upward,
Jessica & Elías