Cal Aggie Alumni Association Leadership Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Cal Aggie Alumni Association

Description

The Cal Aggie Alumni Association (CAAA) Achievement Scholarship program provides merit-based awards to students entering UC Davis as freshmen or transfers. Awards support incoming students who demonstrate academic achievement and leadership potential. The program also identifies top candidates for a separate leadership scholarship sponsored through the Blue and Gold fund.

- **Purpose:** Merit and leadership-based financial support for incoming UC Davis students.
- **Recipients:** Freshmen and transfer students entering UC Davis.
- **Connection:** Top candidates may be considered for an additional leadership scholarship.

Eligibility

This section lists the specific qualifications required to apply. Applicants must meet GPA thresholds, show documented leadership, be U.S. citizens/permanent residents or AB 540-eligible, and be admitted to UC Davis. Transfers from UC or CSU campuses are not eligible; applicants should be coming from high school or community college with transferable coursework.

- **Freshman GPA:** Minimum UC GPA of 3.5.
- **Transfer GPA:** Minimum 3.25 in transferable coursework.
- **Residency/Citizenship:** U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or AB 540-eligible.
- **Institutional restriction:** Transfers from UC or CSU campuses are ineligible.
- **Admission requirement:** Must be admitted to UC Davis (and meet the SIR requirement detailed under Technical Requirements).

Award Value

Award amounts vary to recognize a range of academic and leadership achievements. Standard CAAA awards range from $1,000 to $4,000. A small number of top-choice candidates may be considered for the Blue and Gold Leadership Scholarship, which is a $10,000 award disbursed as $5,000 over two years.

- **Range:** $1,000–$4,000 for standard CAAA scholarships.
- **Leadership scholarship:** Eligible top candidates may be considered for a $10,000 Blue and Gold award ($5,000 per year over two years).
- **Distribution details:** Blue and Gold disbursement specified; standard award disbursement follows university policy.

Application Timeline

Know the opening date and the submission cutoff to avoid missing the opportunity. For the 2025–2026 cycle, applications open April 1, 2025. Final applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. PST on the stated June deadline for that cycle.

- **Opening date:** Applications open April 1, 2025 (2025–2026 cycle).
- **Deadline:** Submit by 11:59 p.m. PST on the June deadline for the cycle.
- **Recommendation:** Prepare materials early to meet the June cutoff.

Application Process

The application proceeds in two stages inside the UC Davis scholarship portal: a General Application and the Cal Aggie Alumni Award application. After completing the General Application, applicants gain access to the CAAA award form where they provide personal details and their essay response. Follow the portal prompts carefully and submit all required parts before the deadline.

- **Stage 1:** Complete the General Application in the UC Davis scholarship portal.
- **Stage 2:** Access and complete the Cal Aggie Alumni Award application.
- **Final step:** Submit the completed award application before the posted deadline.

Essay Prompt

Applicants must complete a leadership essay as part of the award application. The prompt asks for a 600-word (one-page) response describing the three most important leadership characteristics you possess and providing concrete examples of how you demonstrated each. The essay is a primary factor in award consideration, so give specific, outcome-focused examples.

- **Length limit:** 600 words (one page) inside the application.
- **Focus:** Describe your top three leadership characteristics and how you demonstrated them.
- **Evaluation:** Use specific examples and evidence of impact.

Technical Requirements

You must sign in to the UC Davis portal with an authorized campus login and complete multi-factor authentication to submit the application. Applicants need a UC Davis login ID and their UC Davis student ID number to create or recover credentials. The application is protected by DUO MFA, which you can enroll in after returning your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR).

- **Login:** Create or use your UC Davis login ID and password.
- **Student ID:** Have your UC Davis Student ID number available (provided in admissions correspondence).
- **MFA:** Enroll in DUO multi-factor authentication to access and submit the award application.
- **Support:** If you cannot recover login credentials, contact IET Express.

Selection & Review

Scholarship essays and applications are reviewed by UC Davis alumni and staff who select finalists and award recipients. Reviewers evaluate academic qualifications, leadership examples in the essay, and overall fit with the scholarship’s goals. Finalists may be considered for different award levels, including leadership-specific funding.

- **Reviewers:** UC Davis alumni and staff evaluate submissions.
- **Criteria:** Academic standing and demonstrated leadership in the essay are central.
- **Outcome:** Finalists are selected for award consideration and ranking.

History of the Award

The Cal Aggie Alumni Association has supported UC Davis students with scholarships since 1934. Over the decades, the program has grown; each year CAAA awards more than $100,000 to students through its scholarship process. Alumni involvement in selection reflects the organization’s long-standing engagement with student success.

- **Founded:** Scholarship awarding by CAAA began in 1934.
- **Annual funding:** CAAA awards exceed $100,000 annually through its scholarship programs.
- **Alumni role:** UC Davis alumni play a central role in reviewing and selecting recipients.