Student Life and Leadership

Students of Distinction Scholarship

Each year twenty (20) students are honored and publicly recognized for their outstanding achievement at the Students of Distinction Scholarship Banquet, sponsored by Student Life and Leadership.

Overview

The 68th Annual Students of Distinction Scholarship honors twenty (20) students from Fullerton College who represent the “best of the best” and are recognized for their outstanding achievements on Friday, April 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM in the Dining Hall in Cruz Reynoso Hall, Building 200.

Each student who is selected to receive this prestigious award will receive a scholarship sponsored by Associated Students, Dr. Janet and Henry Emoto, Schlinger Students of Distinction, District Management Association, various donors from Fullerton College, and the Friends of Fullerton College Foundation.

Scholarship Categories

Students at Fullerton College who display qualities of leadership, individuality, distinctiveness, integrity, honor, and excellence may apply for the prestigious Students of Distinction scholarship award in any of the following categories:

  1. Academic Achievement
  2. Competitive Achievement
  3. Personal Achievement
  4. Service Achievement

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

The student who competes in this category must have demonstrated outstanding academic performance and meet the following criteria:

  • Minimum 3.75 Cumulative GPA (High Honors in accordance to FC Graduation Requirements)
  • 27 units completed at Fullerton College at the time of nomination and shall be graduating and/or transferring by the end of Spring Session 2024 or completed a Certificate Program by the end of Spring Session 2024
  • Currently enrolled in credit classes at Fullerton College during Fall 2023 and/or Spring 2024
  • Not a previous Student of Distinction recipient

COMPETITIVE ACHIEVEMENT

The student who competes in this category must have shown and performed outstanding individual performance through competitions representing a team and/or group at Fullerton College and on behalf of the College, and meet the following criteria:

  • Minimum 2.75 Cumulative GPA
  • 27 units completed at Fullerton College at the time of nomination and shall be graduating and/or transferring by the end of Summer Session 2024 or completed a Certificate Program by the end of Spring Session 2024
  • Currently enrolled in credit classes at Fullerton College during Fall 2023 and/or Spring 2024
  • Not a previous Student of Distinction recipient

PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT

The student who competes in this category must have persevered and successfully overcome severe hardships and challenges as a student at Fullerton College, and meet the following criteria:

  • Minimum 2.75 Cumulative GPA
  • 27 units completed at Fullerton College at the time of nomination and shall be graduating and/or transferring by the end of Summer Session 2024 or completed a Certificate Program by the end of Spring Session 2024
  • Currently enrolled in credit classes at Fullerton College during Fall 2023 and/or Spring 2024
  • Not a previous Student of Distinction recipient

SERVICE ACHIEVEMENT

The student who competes in this category must have performed significant service to the College and/or community through leadership activities and/or service work related to a recognized Fullerton College club and/or organization and meet the following criteria:

  • Minimum 2.75 Cumulative GPA
  • 27 units completed at Fullerton College at the time of nomination and shall be graduating and/or transferring by the end of Summer Session 2024 or completed a Certificate Program by the end of Spring Session 2024
  • Currently enrolled in credit classes at Fullerton College during Fall 2023 and/or Spring 2024
  • Not a previous Student of Distinction recipient
How to Apply

Student scholarship applicants must submit at least one (1) letter of recommendation or up to three (3) letters of recommendation from Fullerton College faculty, staff, and/or managers to be forwarded to the Selection Committee.

The student may compete in only one category and the student shall choose which category to compete in.

Fullerton College faculty, staff, and/or managers who are serving on any of the Selection Committees are not allowed to write letters of recommendations.

Letters of Recommendation

Faculty, staff, and managers who are not serving on any of the Selection Committees may write letters of recommendation for scholarship applicants.

Students may submit up to three (3) letters of recommendation.

Letters can be uploaded to the application portal or emailed to StudentLife@fullcoll.edu 

Selection Committee

Each Student of Distinction scholarship category will have a Selection Committee comprised of members from Faculty Senate, District Management Association, Classified Senate, and the Associated Students.

The Selection Committee will choose five (5) deserving students who will each be designated as a Student of Distinction in each of following categories:

  1. Academic Achievement
  2. Competitive Achievement
  3. Personal Achievement
  4. Service Achievement

Students with the highest scores overall from each category will be forwarded to a Final Selection Committee, which will choose the top two students who will each be awarded “Distinguished Student of the Year” and receive an additional scholarship.

All Top 20 students who receive the Students of Distinction Scholarship will be given the opportunity to audition to be a student speaker for the Fullerton College Commencement Ceremony on May 31, 2025.

Deadline: Friday, March 21 @ 12:00 pm

Application opens: December 16, 2024

Deadline: March 21, 2025

Previous Scholarship Recipients