By the California State Scholarships and Grants Committee
Do you know a student who might be interested in applying for one of California State PTA’s Graduating High School Senior Scholarships? Now is the time to apply; the application deadline is February 1!
Students submit one application for the $1,000 Volunteer Service Scholarship; from that applicant pool, two students planning to enter a medical field will also receive the additional $500 Dr. Ralph E. White Scholarship.
- $1,000 Volunteer Service Scholarship – This scholarship recognizes graduating seniors for their volunteer service in schools and communities and provides funds to enroll in courses at accredited colleges, universities, trade or technical schools. Applicants must be PTA members graduating from a California high school between now and June 30, 2026. Seniors who are graduating from a non-PTA high school may still apply if they are serving on the board of a council or district PTA.
- $500 Dr. Ralph E. White Graduating Senior Scholarship – Honoring the volunteer and public-service legacy of Dr. Ralph E. White and his wife, Eleanor, this additional scholarship provides $500 each to two successful applicants of the Volunteer Service Scholarship who intend to pursue a career in a medical field.
Be sure to include the following items in the application:
- Proof of PTA membership
- Descriptive essay fully answering the questions asked regarding PTA volunteering and experience, service to other organizations or individuals, career plans, job experience, and any other information the student feels would be valuable to the scholarship selection committee.
- Two completed reference forms and letters are required, written specifically for this application. The first reference is to be written by a community volunteer leader unrelated to the student and who has supervised the student’s volunteer service. The second reference is to be written by a member of the high school faculty.
Applications, reference forms/letters, and all supporting documents must be submitted online at capta.org/graduating-high-school-seniors by 11:59 pm February 1, 2026. All applicants are notified of their application results in March. Scholarship winners will receive a letter of congratulations from California State PTA along with a check.
For additional information, please visit the Graduating Seniors Scholarship web page or email the CA State PTA Scholarships & Grants Committee at scholarships@capta.org.
All applications must be submitted online. Find all information at capta.org/scholarships/graduating-high-school-seniors.
Application window closes Feb 1, 2026 at 11:59 pm.