User:Panthkijeet/Saanjh Sikh Scholarship

Saanjh Sikh Scholarship is a student-run scholarship initiative that works with parents, students, and community members to provide need-based and merit-based funding to Sikh Californian high school students entering undergraduate studies of higher learning, in the form of yearly scholarships.

Background
Established in August 2009 by 10 current and alumni students of the University of California system, the impetuous behind this initiative is to start supporting higher education in an effort to create social and human capital to address the various issues impacting the Sikh community, rather than only lamenting the lack thereof.

Types of Scholarships
There are 4 types of scholarships that may be awarded. Each scholarship has been named after important male and female figures in 20th century Sikh history. The structure is as follows and may be annually tailored to meet applicant demand : (1) Sardarni Balbir Kaur - Awarded to a female high school senior entering a 4-year university in Fall semester/quarter. (2) Sardar Kartar Singh Sarabha - Awarded to a male high school senior entering a 4-year university in Fall semester/quarter. (3) Sardarni Kishan Kaur - Awarded to a high school senior entering a community college in Fall semester/quarter (with intention of transferring to an institution of higher education in 2 years). (4) Sardar Ditt Singh - Awarded to a community college student transferring to a 4-year university in Fall semester/quarter.

Requirement
Applicants must be aspiring Sikh students who are entering their first year of college/university education or transferring from a community college into a 4-year school in the Fall semester/quarter. Applicants must be California residents with a minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA. The scholarship application asks for the student's GPA, Parent Occupation and Income, High School Counselor's contact information, and 2 essay questions.

Essay Questions
(1) How do I a Gursikh way of life through college/undergrad? (2) Why am I a unique candidate for this scholarship. Please discuss two or more of the following issues in your essay. (a) Dedication to seva (ie. Self-less services) in the Sikh or non-Sikh community (b) Ambitions in Higher Education/Career Goals (c) Personal accomplishments and background (d) Commitment to the Sikh community

Recipients
2009-2010: Kamalpreet Sahota, Harmanpreet Panesar, Harsimratpal Kaur, Amandeep Kaur. 2010-2011: Navjot Sandhu, Amandeep Singh Dhaliwal, Mankushpreet Kaur, Ramnik Gill, Harjeet Kaur