CSU Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement

Please note that CSU Foundation Scholarships offered by the Chancellor’s Office are awarded based on applicants meeting the eligibility criteria and the quality of their submission for these scholarships.

The Financial Aid and Scholarship Office Committee will review all applications and select the top one to two qualified candidates by mid-April. These applicants will be nominated and forwarded to the Chancellors Scholarship Committee and applicants from the other CSU campuses to be reviewed in the summer for the upcoming academic year.

If selected as a nominee, additional documentation or information may be required. Nominees will receive a unique link from the Chancellor’s Office. Therefore, nominees should keep a copy of their original application in the event they are asked to resubmit their application or provide additional documents, as requested by the Chancellor’s Office.

The CSU Trustees Awards recognize students who have overcome adversity, demonstrated financial need, and have meritorious attributes, including superior academic performance, significant personal achievements, and exemplary community service.

The William Randolph Hearst Foundation established an endowed scholarship fund in 1984 to honor William Randolph Hearst, founder of the Hearst newspaper chain. In 1999, the William Randolph Hearst Foundation partnered with the CSU Board of Trustees to create the CSU Trustees Award for Outstanding Achievement. Contributions from CSU Trustees and private donors increase the value and number of available awards. The selection committee awards special-name scholarships based on criteria such as studying in the STEM or education fields, being a veteran, and having exemplary community service.

Scholarship recipients must meet each of the following requirements:

  • Open to all majors.
  • Open to Undergraduate and Graduate student
  • Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and be in good academic standing.
  • Full-time at the time of award.
  • Demonstrate financial need as determined by the campus Financial Aid Office.

Personal statement (300-word count for each):

  1. What experience has impacted your personal growth?
  2. Tell us about a time you failed. What did you learn from that experience?
  3. Why are you pursuing your major? How does it relate to your career aspirations?
  4. Provide an example of service beyond the classroom (i.e., have you taken on significant family obligations, helped others in a specific way, been involved in political action, worked/volunteered/interned at a particular organization, etc.). Why is this example significant to you?
  5. Two letters of reference from individuals, such as teachers/professors, counselors, or community leaders, who can attest to the candidate’s meritorious performance and personal strengths and assess the nominee’s potential for success. One of the letters of reference must be from a Sac State faculty.

Award
7000 or more
Scopes
Financial Aid & Scholarship Office
Deadline
03/02/2025
Supplemental Questions
  1. CSU Chancellor's Office Scholarship Personal Statement:
    • 1. What experience has impacted your personal growth?
    • 2. Tell us about a time you failed. What did you learn from that experience?
    • 3. Why are you pursing your major? How does it relate to your career aspirations?
    • 4. Provide an example of service beyond the classroom (i.e., have you taken on significant family obligations, helped others in a specific way, been involved in political action, worked/volunteered/interned at a particular organization, etc.). Why is this example significant to you?
  2. CSU Trustees' Award for Outstanding Achievement: Reference Letter Request(s)
    • 1. Sac State Faculty Letter of Reference Request
    • 2. Sac State Faculty/Staff or External Letter of Reference Request