Scholarship Guide

2024-2025 Scholarship Guide

Please note: The requirements to apply for San Diego County Salute to Education scholarships remain broad to encourage all high school seniors interested in continuing their educations upon graduation to complete a scholarship application form.

The Salute to Education scholarship program was piloted in San Antonio, Texas in 1993. The Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealers contributed a portion of every new vehicle sold or leased to the Salute to Education program. Their interest in supporting educational initiatives in the community encouraged other dealers in parts of Texas, South Florida and San Diego County in California to launch the program in their respective communities.

The San Diego County Ford dealers formed the San Diego County Salute to Education scholarship program in 1997 to encourage local high school students to continue their educations after graduation.

Under the leadership of San Diego County Salute to Education Chairman Paul Dyke, President of El Cajon Ford, the San Diego County Ford dealers will combine their resources to provide funding for scholarships to students who attend accredited public and private schools in the area and have a desire to continue their educations. Additional funds are generously contributed by Ford Motor Company, Global Team Blue and Zubi Advertising.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the San Diego County Salute to Education scholarship program is to encourage students to seek a higher education at a vocational/technical school, junior college, college or university after graduating from high school. The program aims at recruiting students who deserve recognition for their personal accomplishments and contributions to their schools and communities. Academic achievement is considered, but is not the determining factor in receiving a Salute to Education scholarship.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility requirements to apply for and receive a Salute to Education scholarship are as follows:

  • The applicant must be a resident of San Diego County
  • The applicant must be a senior high school student attending an accredited public or private school in San Diego County
  • The applicant must be scheduled to graduate in the spring semester and have a desire to continue his or her education at a vocational/technical school, junior college, college or university
  • High school seniors may apply regardless of their grade point average
  • Students who receive a full four year scholarship are not eligible to apply or receive a San Diego County Salute to Education scholarship

APPLICATION PROCESS
The help of superintendents, principals and counselors is needed to encourage high school seniors meeting the eligibility requirements to complete and submit a Salute to Education scholarship application form. The application form asks students to answer basic personal and academic questions, write four short essays based on their personal accomplishments, community contributions, personal goals and an autobiography.

SELECTION PROCESS/JUDGES
The scholarship recipients will be selected by local community leaders, educators and the San Diego County Salute to Education Advisory Council. Judges will select the scholarship recipients based on their personal achievements, financial need, personal challenges, academic accomplishments, contributions to their communities and schools, and overall character.

THE APPLICATION
All information and responses must be typed. Handwritten forms will not be accepted.

Modifications to the application form and the font size will not be accepted.

Each field or space on the application must be completed. Should a field not pertain to the student, a very brief explanation and/or notation such as “Not Applicable” must be provided. Incomplete forms will not be accepted.

The three signatures required on the application must be original ink signatures, not stamped, copied or computer generated.

The faculty recommendation must be from a faculty member of the high school applicant is currently attending. If the faculty recommendation is attached as a separate letter, an original ink signature on the letter can substitute for the faculty recommendation signature on the application. If the faculty recommendation letter is a copy, then the faculty member will need to sign the application.

A student transcript must accompany the application form. The transcript does not have to be an official transcript. Computer printouts listing grades and transcripts from programs such as Grade Link, Infinite Campus, Naviance and others will not be accepted as transcripts.

CATEGORIES AND CATEGORY DEFINITION
Students can apply for a scholarship in any one of the following categories:

  • Arts
  • Athletics
  • Automotive
  • Building Design / Construction
  • Business Management / Administration
  • Computer Science / Technology
  • Education
  • Foreign Language
  • General
  • Language Arts
  • Mathematics
  • Medical
  • Performing Arts
  • Science
  • Social Science
  • Vocational / Technical

Students should select the category that best applies to them. The following category definitions are provided to help students select and counselors to guide students in selecting a specific category.

ARTS
Students applying in the arts category have one or more of the following characteristics:

* Knowledge of different techniques and style periods of art
* Ability to express individual ideas, feelings and observations upon evaluating contrasting pieces of art
* Understand and appreciate art history by identifying artists and their works
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to the arts

ATHLETICS
Students applying in the athletics category have one or more of the following characteristics:

* Two-year varsity athlete
* All-district team, regional or individual qualifier
* Recognition or awards received related to athletics
* Strong leadership qualities among other athletes
* Good sportsmanship and positive attitude
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to athletics

AUTOMOTIVE
Students applying in the automotive category have one or more of the following characteristics:

* Desire to pursue a career in automotive related fields
* Knowledge of electrical and/or mechanical operation of automotive vehicles
* Experience in aesthetic or mechanical design through various media
* Acceptance into vocational school, junior college, college or university automotive program
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to automotive design and/or operation

BUILDING DESIGN / CONSTRUCTION
Students applying in the building design/construction category have one or more of the following characteristics:

* Desire to pursue a career in building design and/or construction fields
* Knowledge of building design or construction
* Experience in the design or construction of structures
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to building design and/or construction

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT / ADMINISTRATION
Students applying in the business management/administration category have one or more of the following characteristics:

* Desire to pursue a career in business management and/or administration
* Enrollment in business classes
* Experience in business administration, operations or management
* Acceptance into business school, junior college, college or university business program
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to business management/administration

COMPUTER SCIENCE / TECHNOLOGY
Students applying in the computer science/technology category have one or more of the following characteristics:

* Proficiency in computer science/computer technology
* Enrollment in classes where computer science and computer technology is applied such as drafting (CAD), graphics or animation
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to computer science/computer technology

EDUCATION
Students applying in the education category have one or more of the following characteristics:

* Desire to pursue a career in education
* Demonstrated leadership abilities
* Strong peer tutoring skills
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to education

FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Students applying in the foreign language category have one or more of the following characteristics:

* Proficiency in his/her second language using listening, conversational, reading, and writing skills
* Knowledge of his/her second language in terms of culture, the arts, geography, history and literature
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to foreign languages

GENERAL
Please note: Students should apply in other categories listed. The general category is the most competitive and should be used for students that do not fit any other category. Students applying in the general category have one or more of the following characteristics:

* 90 percent attendance or better
* Strong leadership roles and documented participation in school and/or community organizations

LANGUAGE ARTS
Students applying in the language arts category have one or more of the following characteristics:

* Outstanding achievement or potential in the communication areas through the exhibition of published written work, literary awards, oral/audio/video presentations and/or debates
* Maintain portfolios containing personal samples of writing and/or video materials incorporating the use of current technological and/or communications tools and techniques
* Knowledge of major literary works and the ability to analyze and interpret text
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to language arts

MATHEMATICS
Students applying in the mathematics category have one or more of the following characteristics:

* Outstanding achievement in mathematics through traditional or innovative problem solving, utilization of technological tools, and application of creative, logical, and evaluative thinking
* Enrollment in classes where advanced mathematics is applied such as trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus, computerized business courses, drafting (CAD) or marketing
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to mathematics

MEDICAL
Students applying in the medical category have one or more of the following characteristics:

* Desire to pursue a career in the medical field
* Experience in the medical field
* Volunteer at a hospital, medical office or clinic
* Acceptance into medical or dental vocational school, junior college, college or university program
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to the medical field

PERFORMING ARTS
Students applying in the performing arts category have one or more of the following characteristics in the area of theater, instrumental/vocal or dance:

Theater
* Demonstrate acting skills and techniques through improvisation and characterization
* Understand and demonstrate the different roles used in the theater such as production, lighting and sound techniques, etc.
* Knowledge of the history of theater and major style periods
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to the theater

Instrumental/vocal

* Ability to perform with excellent intonation and technique
* Ability to analyze, conduct and compose intermediate to advanced musical compositions
* Knowledge of the different style periods in music history, music literature and key musicians throughout the history of music
* Participation in school and/or the community by performing music as a soloist, accompanist or in an ensemble setting

Dance
* Ability to perform different dance styles
* Ability to create original dance pieces for instruction and performance
* Knowledge of dance history and of different dance styles
* Knowledge and application of intermediate to advance dance techniques from different styles
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to dance

SCIENCE
Students applying in the science category have one or more of the following characteristics:

* Knowledge and interest for the natural sciences through competent problem solving, peer tutoring and/or through science projects
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to science

SOCIAL SCIENCE
Students applying in the social science category have one or more of the following characteristics:

* Knowledge of and above average participation in history, economics, sociology, psychology, political science, social studies and/or related subjects
* Strong leadership skills and peer tutoring
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to the social sciences

VOCATIONAL / TECHNICAL
Students applying in the vocational/technical category have one or more of the following characteristics:

* Interest and knowledge in vocational/technical classes and programs
* Maintain portfolios and/or an accurate record on projects related to the vocational/technical field
* Employment with a vocational/technical organization through the school work-study program
* Participation in school and/or community activities relating to vocational/technical programs

WHERE TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS

Students may mail application forms to San Diego County Salute to Education at the address below.

Senior high school counselors may collect completed San Diego County Salute to Education application forms and mail them to:

San Diego County Salute to Education
P. O. Box 19366
San Diego, CA 92159-0366

Please do not send certified mail to this address.

Applications may be delivered to the San Diego County Salute to Education office. Please contact the office for information.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please call LeAnn Eldridge with any questions or comments:

Phone: (619) 521-2404
Website: www.salutetoeducation.com
E-mail: info@salutetoeducation.com

Scholarship distribution is conducted at the sole discretion of the San Diego County Ford dealers, Ford Motor Company, its subsidiaries and the Salute to Education Advisory Council. Parties retain the right to make program changes at any time. All judging decisions are final.