OCA-UPS Gold Mountain Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Organization of Chinese Americans

Introduction
Since 1999, the OCA‑UPS® Gold Mountain Scholarship has aided first‑generation high school students pursuing higher education. The program’s name evokes a period when many immigrants viewed the United States as a “mountain of golden opportunities.” Recipients pursue college dreams that represent not only their own aspirations but those of their families as well.

Current Award Cycle
- Scholarship amount: $2,000 (one‑time, non‑renewable) per recipient.
- Payment: Awards are disbursed directly to recipients via ACH or PayPal (paper checks available by request). The scholarship is taxable income; recipients will be required to complete a W‑9 and must report the award on their next tax filing.
- Notification: All applicants will be informed of their application status by May 2026.
- Applications are OPEN. Deadline: Friday, March 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST.

Eligibility
To qualify, applicants must meet all of the following:
- Be a current high school senior planning to enroll in a college or university for Fall 2026.
- Be a first‑generation student (neither parent has completed a college or university degree).
- Citizenship is not required. DACA recipients or undocumented students are eligible only if they can provide a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).
- If selected, you may be asked to submit a 2025 or 2026 tax return.
- Scholars must provide proof of acceptance to one or more accredited colleges or universities before the scholarship funds are released.
- Applicants must NOT be the child or dependent of any of the following: an OCA National staff member, an OCA Executive Council member, or an OCA Business Advisory Council member.

Required Application Materials (all uploads in PDF unless noted)
1. Short Bio — 300 words maximum
- Describe your background, identity, school, intended major/minor, work/experience, interests, etc. This bio may be published on the OCA website if you are selected. Refer to prior scholars’ bios for examples.

2. Academic Transcript — PDF (unofficial transcripts accepted)
- Provide grades from the first quarter/semester of your freshman year through at least the first quarter/semester of your senior year that corresponds with your application.

3. Essay — 500 words maximum (PDF)
- Prompt: Describe a challenge you’ve had to overcome. What impact did it have on you and your character?

4. Two Short Answers — 300 words maximum each (PDF)
- Short Answer 1: Describe your experience as a first‑generation Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) student.
- Short Answer 2: What do you plan to major/minor in college and why?

5. Experiences Document — PDF
- The application will request details for up to three entries in each of the following categories: leadership, community service/volunteer, and employment/work. You may list up to three relevant experiences per category. If you have no experience in a category, upload a brief PDF explaining why. Examples of the expected format are available online.

6. Two References — contact information only (no letters requested)
- Provide two people who can speak to your personal and/or professional qualities. For each reference include: name, job title/position, email, phone number, and relationship to you. OCA may contact one or both references if further information is needed.

Additional Notes
- The scholarship award is non‑renewable.
- Selected scholars must complete a W‑9 and may need to submit tax documentation (2025 or 2026 tax return) as requested.
- Proof of college acceptance is required prior to fund disbursement.

For examples of required documents and past scholar bios, please visit the OCA scholarship web pages.