2026 Celebration of Excellence Scholarship Application

2026 Celebration of Excellence Scholarship Application

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: All scholarship application materials must be received by Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. We encourage you to apply early. Applications from relatives of members of The Links, Incorporated will not be considered. The Celebration of Excellence Scholarship Committee will not consider any additional materials other than those requested. Scholarship applications are considered complete when each of the following items has been submitted: 1) ONLINE APPLICATION: The scholarship application (including applicant’s signature and parent’s signature) must be completed and submitted online to the Celebration of Excellence website (https://oaklandbayarealinks.org/the-celebration-of-excellence/). Mailed or emailed applications will not be considered. 2) TWO LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION (SUBMIT ONLINE ONLY): Two (2) letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, school administrators, community leaders, and/or clergy must be uploaded online to the Celebration of Excellence website (https://oaklandbayarealinks.org/the-celebration-of-excellence/) by 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. All letters of recommendation must include the student’s first and last name and must be printed on high school/district letterhead. 3) OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT (SUBMIT ONLINE ONLY): Your most recent official high school transcript is required to be uploaded online to the Celebration of Excellence website (https://oaklandbayarealinks.org/the-celebration-of-excellence/) by 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. A minimum cumulative (not weighted) GPA of 3.4 is required for consideration. 4) EMAIL THE OAKLAND BAY AREA CHAPTER OF THE LINKS, INCORPORATED: Once you have submitted the completed application online, please send an email to coescholarships@oaklandbayarealinks.org with your first name, last name, and school in the subject field from the student applicant’s email address. This email will be used to communicate any missing materials or problems with the application.
Disclaimer

Members of the Links, Incorporated and their family members are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Name*

First NameLast NameSuffix
Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Student's Email Address*
example@example.com
Student's Daytime Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Student's Date of Birth*

MonthDayYear
Date
What is your ethnic background?*
High School presently attending (including city) *
Cumulative (not weighted) Grade Point Average on a 4.0 scale. (NOTE: A minimum cumulative, not weighted, GPA of 3.4 is required for consideration. The most recent official school transcript must be submitted online.)*
Anticipated graduation Date*

MonthDayYear
Date
Your 2025-2026 Student Aid Index (SAI) from FAFSA*
You can find your SAI on the first page of your Student Aid Report (SAR) from FASFA. Note: Your SAI is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college, nor is it the amount of federal student aid you will receive. It is an index number that schools use to calculate the amount of federal student aid you are eligible to receive.
First generation college student? (Please check one)*

YesNo
Did your mother or father graduate from an HBCU? (Check the boxes that apply.)*

Yes, my father graduated from an HBCU.Yes, my father graduated from an HBCU.No, neither of my parents graduated from an HBCU
Do you plan to attend an HBCU in the fall of 2026? (Please check one.)*

YesNoMaybe
Please list the Name and City/State of the four-year college/university you will attend in the fall of 2026. If you are not sure, please list your top three choices.*
What major do you plan to pursue?*
Parent or Guardian's name*

First NameLast NameSuffix
Parent or Guardian's Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip CodeCountry
Parent of Guardian's contact phone number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Parent or Guardian's Email Address
example@example.com
Describe any family or other caregiving responsibilities you have had during high school. (200 words maximum)*

0/200
Describe any work or employment you have had during high school. (200 words maximum)*

0/200
List and describe your TOP educational and professional goals and objectives. (200 words maximum).*

0/200
Please list your TOP academic honors and awards. Please include the year/years of the honor/award. (250 words maximum)*

0/250
Please list your TOP activities and leadership roles (school and non-school), including memberships in groups/organizations, athletic involvement, and other activities. Please include the year/years of participation. (250 maximum number of words)*

0/250
List and describe your community service activities. Please include the year/years of participation. (250 maximum number of words)*

0/250
ESSAY QUESTION #1 (500 maximum number of words). Write a personal statement which conveys to the reader a sense of who you are. Possible topics may include why attending college is important to you, how your life experiences have shaped you thus far, and/or how you envision using your college education in your future endeavors.*

0/500
ESSAY QUESTION #2 (500 maximum number of words). Share a specific experience where you worked to promote or support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, particularly for Black students. What actions did you take, and what impact did your efforts have?*

0/500
Recent Color Portrait*

Please upload a recent color portrait of yourself. A formal or professional graduation photo is preferred. Accepted files types; pdf, doc, docx, rtf, jpg, jpeg, png, gif,
Cancelof
Letters of Recommendation

Two Letters of Recommendation must be submitted using our online submission form.
Two Letters of Recommendation from teachers, counselors, school administrators, community leaders and or/clergy are required to be submitted/uploaded online by 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. All letters of Recommendation must include the student's first and last name and must be printed on high school/district/ or organization's letterhead. Please acknowledge this requirement by reading and checking all of the boxes in this section.*

I understand that my application must be supported by two letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, school administrators, community leaders, and/or clergy.I understand that all letters of recommendation must include my first and last name and must be printed on official letterhead.I understand that my teacher, counselor, school administrator, community leader, and/or clergy must submit/upload the letters of recommendation to the Celebration of Excellence website by 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 for my application to be considered and reviewed by the scholarship committee.I have read the Letters of Recommendation requirements and understand that my application is not complete until two have been submitted/uploaded. Incomplete applications will not qualify to be reviewed by the scholarship committee.
Official Transcript

Your official transcript must be submitted using our online submission form.
Your most recent official high school transcript is required to be submitted/uploaded to the Celebration of Excellence website by 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Please acknowledge this requirement by reading and checking all of the boxes in this section.*

I understand that my application must be supported by my most recent official high school transcript. A minimum cumulative (not weighted) GPA of 3.4 is required for consideration.I understand that my most recent official high school transcript must be submitted/uploaded to the Celebration of Excellence website by a school official.I understand that my most recent official high school transcript must be submitted/uploaded to the Celebration of Excellence website by 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 for my application to be considered and reviewed by the scholarship committee.I have read the Official Transcript requirements and understand that my application is not complete until it has been submitted. Incomplete applications will not qualify to be reviewed by the scholarship committee.
Applicants must send a Confirmation Email to the Oakland Bay Area (CA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated

Our email address is oaklandbayarealinkscoe@gmail.com
Once you have completed and submitted the online application, please send an email to oaklandbayarealinkscoe@gmail.com with your first name, last name, and high school in the subject field from the student applicant’s email address. This email will be used to communicate any missing materials or problems with the application. Please acknowledge this requirement by reading and checking all of the boxes in this section.*

Once I have completed and submitted this online application, I will send an email to oaklandbayarealinkscoe@gmail.com with my first name, last name, and high school in the subject field.I understand that the email must be sent from my (student applicant's) email address because it will be used to communicate any missing materials or problems with my application.I have read the Confirmation Email requirement and understand that my application is not complete until it has been sent. Incomplete applications will not qualify to be reviewed by the scholarship committee.
Statement of Accuracy - Scholarship Applicant

Statement of accuracy: I hereby affirm that all the above stated information provided by me is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I also consent that my picture may be taken and used for any purpose deemed necessary to promote the scholarship program.
Signature of Scholarship Applicant*

Clear
Date*

MonthDayYear
Date
Statement of Accuracy (Parent/Guardian)

Statement of accuracy: I hereby affirm that all the above stated information provided by me and/or my student is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I also consent that my student's picture may be taken and used for any purpose deemed necessary to promote the scholarship program.
Signature of Parent or Guardian*

Clear
Date*

MonthDayYear
Date
Note regarding Save and Continue

Once you click the save and continue button you will be asked to sign up to save your submission as a draft. Scroll down to "skip create an account". Enter your email address and click send. You will receive an email with a link to your application. Once you complete the application and press "submit" you will get a confirmation email that we have received your completed application.
Should be Empty:

2026 Celebration of Excellence Scholarship Application

Disclaimer

Letters of Recommendation

Official Transcript

Applicants must send a Confirmation Email to the Oakland Bay Area (CA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated

Statement of Accuracy - Scholarship Applicant

Statement of Accuracy (Parent/Guardian)

Note regarding Save and Continue