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SDSU Guardian Scholars Program

The SDSU Guardian Scholars Program is committed to helping students exiting the foster care system by providing a comprehensive, holistic support program to help them achieve the goal of a college degree. SDSU helps Guardian Scholars navigate the unknown waters of a college education through access to key campus resources when they are most needed. For a portion of these students, this support will include a significant scholarship to supplement their financial aid package and reduce reliance on student loans. In addition, arrangements have been made to provide Guardian Scholars living in the residence halls with on-campus housing between semesters and during the summer. SDSU’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) serves as the main resource for Guardian Scholars, offering ongoing services such as academic advising, tutoring, skills assessment, and math and writing labs. In addition, EOP counselors will link the students to other critical services available from departments and programs throughout the university that are prepared to serve the unique needs of former foster youth.

Foster Care Youth

There are approximately 6,500 youth in the foster care system in San Diego County. Each year 300 of these students leave the system when they turn 18 and their future prospects are grim. Fifty percent will end up unemployed, one-third will require public assistance, and one out of four will become incarcerated. The SDSU Guardian Scholars Program is a university-wide effort to turn these statistics around for former foster youth who have already overcome significant obstacles in order to pursue their dreams of a college education.

Giving Students a Home

SDSU’s EOP provides a home base for the Guardian Scholars and serves to identify individual needs and get students the resources they need – whether health services, career planning, disability services or financial aid.

AVAILABLE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES INCLUDE:

Scholarships

A portion of the SDSU Guardian Scholars will receive scholarships to supplement their financial aid and reduce the need for student loans. The Alex Smith Foundation stepped forward as the initial donor and created the Alex Smith Foundation Scholarship for SDSU Guardian Scholars. Alex Smith, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, created this Foundation to support foster youth throughout California. Other donations have been made but additional benefactors are needed in order to expand the scholarship opportunities for former foster youth attending SDSU. Unlike most college students, Guardian Scholars do not have families on whom they can rely for simple things that we all take for granted, like a basic wardrobe and a place to live during the summer. Without scholarship support, these students are faced with the choice of working too many hours or relying too heavily on student loans and credit cards.

Who is Eligible for the SDSU Guardian Scholars Program?

SDSU is actively involved in outreach to seek applicants for the Guardian Scholars Program. If you think you might be eligible, or know someone who is, please see the contact information below.

Eligibility Requirements Include:

• Highly motivated foster-care or former foster-care youth (up to age 23)
• Incoming freshmen or transfer students who meet SDSU’s eligibility criteria for admission (www.sdsu.edu/admissions)
• Admitted to the SDSU Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
• Complete the SDSU EOP Guardian Scholars Supplemental Application
• Considered “independent” under federal financial aid guidelines
• California resident
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• FAFSA financial aid application completed by the required filing date (www.fafsa.gov)

Contact Us

For more information on eligibility, scholarship opportunities, how to apply to be an SDSU Guardian Scholar and any other issues related to the program, contact Josephine Mojica at (619) 594-0140, or e-mail: mojica@mail.sdsu.edu

“It is not enough to teach our young people to be successful...so they can realize their ambitions, so they can earn good livings, so they can accumulate the material things that this society bestows. Those are worthwhile goals. But it is not enough to progress as individuals while our friends and neighbors are left behind.” —Cesar Chavez—