Arnulfo & Jovita Rocha Scholar Award

 The Rocha Dream Foundation was founded so that every low-income, first generation college student from a farm working background will be able to make their dreams of obtaining a college education a reality. To honor and continue Arnulfo and Jovita Rocha’s legacy of helping others, a scholarship has been created in their name to provide students with a $1,000 scholarship and peer mentoring during their four-years of college to support their completion and success. Arnulfo and Jovita Rocha both immigrated to the United States from Michoacan, Mexico in search of a better life for themselves and their children. They lived most of their lives in Castroville, CA and worked arduously in the artichoke and strawberry fields. As a result of their hard work and sacrifice, all three of their children obtained a college education. Achieving a college education changed the lives and future trajectory of their children, grandchildren, and future generations to come, and we hope to be able to help others do the same.  

• Submit application and required documentation electronically to the rochadreamfoundation@gmail.com
• In order to be considered for the scholarship award, your application must contain ALL of the information listed below. If anything is missing, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be eligible for further review.

• $1,000 will be awarded 
• Awards will be disbursed directly to the recipient’s campus Financial Aid Office

• Minimum cumulative academic high school GPA of 2.5 or greater at the time of application
• North Monterey County High School Class of 2024 Graduate
• First generation college student with neither parent or guardian having graduated from a four-year college or university
• Low-income and from a farm working background with demonstrated financial need
• Plans to enroll full-time (no less than 12 units per term) in a public or private degree granting accredited four-year institution in the United States for Fall of 2024

• Completed application including parent/guardian's electronic signature in Section V
• Personal essay or short video (refer to Section IV for details)
• Unofficial high school transcript, including grades from fall semester of this year (senior year)
• Proof of enrollment in full-time (no less than 12 units per term) in a public or private degree granting accredited four-year institution in the United States for fall of 2024 (will be requested prior to the issuance of the award)
• One letter of recommendation
• A 500 word minimum response to the following essay questions:
  • Recount a time in your life that has shaped who you are as a person.
  • Describe an academic, social, and/or emotional obstacle you have had to overcome?
  • What are your personal, educational, and career goals?

 Please feel free to contact us by email at rochadreamfoundation@gmail.com 

Click on the link below to access the scholarship application.