APIA Scholarships for College Freshmen?

I've heard about APIA scholarships that are meant for freshmen in college. Can someone explain what they entail and how I might go about applying for these as a high school junior?

APIA Scholarship Program, or Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund, provides various scholarships to underserved APIA students with a significant commitment to community service, leadership, and solid academic achievement.

There are two types of APIA Scholarships:

1. APIA Scholars General Scholarship: Open to APIA high school seniors, first-year college students, and college juniors. The awards range from one-time $2,500 awards to multi-year $20,000 awards.

2. AANAPISI Scholarship: Open to APIA college students at designated Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). The award amount typically ranges from $2,500 to $5,000.

As a high school junior, you would be eligible to apply for the APIA Scholars General Scholarship during your senior year, given that the scholarship is open to high school seniors. To be eligible, applicants must be of Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale or have earned a GED.

The application is typically due early in January, so it's recommended to begin preparing well in advance, as you'll need to submit a personal essay and information about your academic achievements, leadership activities, and community service. Past recipients say that the essay is a key part of the application, and a well-crafted personal narrative showcasing your commitment to serving your community and any leadership roles you've held would be beneficial. The process also involves a letter of recommendation, so start thinking about who might be a good person to ask to write this.

All the best with your application preparations!