2026 OCEA Board of Directors Scholarship
Open until 5PM Friday, June 5, 2026.
2026 Scholarships Applications are closed—check back next year for future scholarship opportunities!
About the OCEA Board of Directors Scholarship
Recognizing the value and importance of higher education, OCEA’s Board of Directors is offering four $2,500 scholarships this year to the children or stepchildren of OCEA members (or whose legal guardian or financially responsible grandparent is an OCEA member). Eligibility is contingent on enrollment or acceptance with intent to enroll in an accredited college, university, community college, or trade/vocational/ technical school. Further eligibility requirements, selection criteria and applications are available at OCEA or on the OCEA website at ocea.org. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2026. Scholarship recipients will be announced at the July meeting of the OCEA Board of Directors.
Criteria
- OCEA will award four (4) scholarships of $2,500 each.
- Scholarship recipients shall be selected based upon the following factors:
- Scholarship application.
- An essay not to exceed 750 words describing how the applicant would use his or her educational experience to further the interests of working men and women in the union/labor movement. (Note: This essay is the most significant factor during our selection process, and it will carry more weight than any other factor). Care should be given to dealing with the topic stated. You should explain how you would use your education to help working men, women, and their families, by furthering labor unions/organized labor/the labor movement. All submissions will be reviewed using AI-assisted tools for grammar, plagiarism and originality. Essays found to contain plagiarism or determined to be primarily AI-generated will result in disqualification.
- If you are currently in high school, please provide your high school transcripts (unofficial copies accepted). If you are currently attending college, please provide your college transcripts (unofficial copies accepted). Please note: Materials will not be returned.
- Current GPA
- Photograph suitable for publication. (By submitting this application, you consent to the publication of your photo in OCEA communications in the event that you are selected to receive a scholarship.)
- Two personal letters of recommendation (Teachers, friends, co-worker, supervisor, etc.)
- Personal interview (if requested by the Selection Committee).
- An applicant must be enrolled (or must intend to enroll and subsequently enroll) in an accredited college, university, community college, or trade/vocational/technical school for the Fall 2026 quarter or semester.
- An applicant must be the child or stepchild of an OCEA member (or be an individual whose legal guardian or financially responsible grandparent is an OCEA member). The parent, guardian, or financially responsible grandparent must have been a dues-paying OCEA member continuously for at least two years at the time the scholarship application is submitted and must be a dues-paying OCEA member at the time the scholarship is awarded.
- All applications must be USPS postmarked or delivered to OCEA personally no later than 5 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2026. Alternatively, you can scan and email the completed application and supporting materials to info@ocea.org. Applications and accompanying materials will not be returned.
- The selection of scholarship recipients shall be made by a Selection Committee appointed by the OCEA President.
- The selection of recipients shall be in the sole discretion of the Selection Committee. Recipients will be selected based on their overall qualifications. Superior grade point averages or test scores may not be determinative in the selection process.
- A final selection will be made in early July. Each applicant will be contacted concerning the outcome of their application.
- Awards will be presented at the July 21, 2026 Board of Director’s meeting.
Submitting Your Application
Download the application and email the completed application and supporting materials to info@ocea.org. Alternatively, mail or drop off your application to OCEA at 830 N. Ross St., Santa Ana, CA 92701. All applications must be USPS postmarked or delivered to OCEA personally no later than 5 p.m. Friday, June 5, 2026.