The scholarship is open to all Latino and Hispanic high school seniors and undergraduate students in Utah. Applicants should:

• Demonstrate financial need

• Be a student living and studying in Utah

• Be a high school senior or current college student*

• Show community involvement and leadership potential

*We do not fund Graduate students at this time.

Students must complete and submit the SOMOS Scholarship Application, which includes three short essays, a copy of their unofficial high school or college transcript, and one letter of recommendation.

Applications will be re-open this fall!

Funds can be applied toward two- or four-year colleges and universities, certificate programs, or trade and technical schools in Utah. Students must be enrolled at least part-time.

Yes! Students can renew their scholarship once, for up to two years of support. To renew, you’ll need to meet the general eligibility requirements and fill out a separate renewal application.

Scholarship funds can be applied toward the summer, fall, or spring semester of the next academic year. For example, students selected this year may choose to apply their funds to summer 2026, fall 2026, or spring 2027.

Unfortunately, deferrals are not allowed. Scholarship funds must be used during the academic year in which the award is granted.

A letter of recommendation is a personal letter from a teacher, coach, employer, or mentor who can talk about your strengths and why you should be considered for scholarship, career, or school opportunities. We have provided an optional letter of recommendation template for you to use with suggestions on what your recommender can share.

Check out these resources for more tips and reach out to us at admin@somosfoundation.org if you need additional help.

• How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation, Coursera

• Asking a Teacher for a Letter of Recommendation, National Society of High School Scholars

Although it seems like a lot, submitting three essays is a common requirement in many college and program applications. The SOMOS Scholarship application has three essays (200-500 words each) as a way to help you prepare for future applications. And yes, you can use information from other applications to help you start your drafts.

Helpful Tips

• We want to know you beyond your academic achievements and test scores. Let your personality, values, experiences, and goals shine through.

• Each essay has a limit between 200-500 words which is roughly 3-6 paragraphs. Make sure your writing is straightforward and brief. Using fewer words can often be more effective than using too many.