Staff Scholarship Program

Staff and Dependent Scholarships

The UC Davis Staff Scholarship Program was created to provide career staff employees and their dependents with funding to pursue professional certificates and personal/professional development as well as continue their education in Associate, Bachelor, or graduate degree programs at community colleges, state colleges, universities (public or private); professional schools, while concurrently employed at the University of California, Davis.

For those represented by a union, at this time only K3, SV, and RP are eligible to accept awards.

Staff Scholarships

• KATHLEEN MOORE ENDOWMENT SCHOLARSHIP -
• For career advancement and educational enrichment of career staff working under the Vice Chancellor for Finance, Operations and Administration; and earning $80,000 or less annually.
• LARRY N. VANDERHOEF STAFF SCHOLARSHIP -
• All career staff completing a degree program or coursework at a professional school are eligible.
• MARGENE E. ORZALLI ENDOWMENT SCHOLARSHIP -
• All career staff who have financial need, show academic potential and have demonstrated involvement in campus or community service, are eligible.
• UC DAVIS RETIREES' ASSOCIATION CAREER ENHANCEMENT AWARD -
• This award is intended for career staff wishing to enhance their career at UC Davis by earning an associate, bachelor, or graduate degree at any California community college, state college, university (public or private), or professional school to pursue professional certificates for professional development, while concurrently employed at the University of California Davis.
• UC DAVIS STUDENT AFFAIRS STAFF SCHOLARSHIP -
• For career advancement and educational enrichment opportunities for career staff working in the Division of Student Affairs.
• UC DAVIS & UC DAVIS HEALTH STAFF ASSEMBLY SCHOLARSHIPS -
• All career staff employed at the UC Davis and UC Davis Health locations are eligible.
• UC DAVIS LATINX STAFF AND FACULTY ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIPS (LSFA) -
• All career staff completing a degree program, coursework at a professional school, or a certificate program; and who uphold the goals of the LSFA and/or are active members are eligible.
• UC DAVIS HEALTH EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUP SCHOLARSHIP -
• All career staff employed through UC Davis Health who share the mission or are active members of the Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are eligible.
• UC DAVIS WOMXN IN TECH SCHOLARSHIP -
• For professional or personal educational enrichment of career staff who meet at least one of the following criteria: 1) Participate in Womxn in Tech Employee Resource Group meetings and events, 2) Advocate for providing a supportive and safe place for womxn in technology to gather, learn, share, and strive for equity. Individuals who apply must demonstrate how they hold true and apply the Womxn in Tech mission to support the empowerment of womxn pursuing or expanding their careers in IT at UCD/UCDH into their work or personal life.

Apply for a Staff Scholarship here!

Staff Dependent Scholarships

• UC DAVIS STAFF ASSEMBLY DEPENDENT SCHOLARSHIP -
• Dependents of current UC Davis Staff, completing a degree program, coursework at a professional school, or a certificate program, are eligible to apply.
• UC DAVIS LATINX STAFF AND FACULTY ASSOCIATION DEPENDENT SCHOLARSHIP (LSFA) -
• Dependents of UC Davis career staff who uphold the goals of the LSFA and/or are active members; who are completing a degree program, coursework at a professional school, or a certificate program, are eligible to apply.

The number of awards to be presented this year is based upon funds available, number of eligible applicants, and is at the discretion of the Staff Assembly Scholarship Committee.

Apply for Staff Dependent Scholarship here!

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to receive a staff scholarship:

• Be a UC Davis/UCDHS career staff member (past probationary period of employment status) and in good standing (not in process of corrective action).
• Staff member must continue their education/development while concurrently employed at the University of California, Davis.
• Not have received a scholarship in the previous award cycle. This applies to all scholarships with the exception of the Student Affairs Scholarship. Preference will still be given to applicants who have not been awarded a scholarship in the previous award cycle.
• Not be a member of the Scholarship Committee.

NOTE: Certain bargaining units do not allow for financial awards and/or scholarships. Staff who are a part of these units will not be eligible to receive scholarships. For those represented by a union, at this time only K3, SV, and RP are eligible to accept awards.

Deadline and Submission Instructions

• Applications close on April 1, 2026 at 8 a.m.

Elements of the Application

• Biographical information (name, employee ID, Kerberos, contact information, job title, department, etc.)
• Statement of purpose (3000 characters maximum)
• Campus and community contributions essay (3000 characters maximum)
• Copies of transcripts (official or unofficial) for all post-high school coursework, or high school transcripts if you have not taken any courses after high school if you are applying for funding for a degree program. Please submit these within the scholarship application. You may contact the Staff Assembly coordinator ([email protected]) to discuss a different submission method.

Awards

• Scholarship recipients will be notified of their awards by summer of the awarding year.
• Recipients will be invited to an awards ceremony to be held on the Davis campus in September where they will receive an award certificate (monetary award will be mailed following notification of the award).
• Scholarship award amounts vary year to year but typically fall in the range of $750 to $2,000.
• Please note that staff scholarships will be processed as stipends and are therefore considered taxable income by the IRS. Please consult with a tax professional to understand your unique tax situation.