Are you a graduating high school senior with an interest in translation, editing, and/or graphic design? Are you interested in learning more about Buddhism? Are you bilingual in Mandarin & English?
We are excited to offer multiple scholarships, in partnership with the AJ Wang Foundation: $2,000/year awards are available for up to four years for qualifying students planning to attend college in Southern California.
Our goal is to support bilingual students in the community so they can achieve academic success and personal growth.
Students will gain hands-on experience working directly with the International Translation Center on a variety of self-enrichment projects and attend special events and workshops at Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights, CA. Any level of interest is welcome!
Fo Guang Shan International Translation Center
Buddhism Friendship Scholarship
Eligibility and Application
About Us
Fo Guang Shan International Translation Center (FGSITC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit religious organization, established by Venerable Master Hsing Yun, dedicated to translating and distributing quality translations of classical Buddhist texts as well as works by contemporary Buddhist teachers and scholars. We embrace Humanistic Buddhism and promote Buddhist writing that is accessible, community oriented, and relevant to daily life. We are excited to offer this scholarship, in partnership with the AJ Wang Foundation, to support bilingual students in the community, so they can achieve academic success and personal growth.
The AJ Wang Foundation Scholarship Fund, a component of the AJ Wang Foundation, was established in 2013. Since 2008, the AJ Wang Foundation (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization) has donated several millions of dollars to various institutions in Taiwan and the United States to support students. The foundation is led by a couple who immigrated to the United States to pursue the “American Dream.” It is through hard work and their will to overcome financial obstacles that they have become successful entrepreneurs. To fulfill their life-long goal of “giving back” to the communities that supported them in realizing their dreams, they established the foundation to support those with the greatest need.
Eligibility Requirements
· Be a graduating high school senior from an accredited high school or a college student currently enrolled full-time (registered in a minimum of 12 units) in an accredited two- or four-year institution of higher education in Southern California.
· Have a semester/quarter GPA and cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).
· Commit to enrolling as a full-time student in an accredited college or university in Southern California for the entire academic year.
· Be a permanent resident or citizen of the United States.
· Have basic reading and/or speaking proficiency in Mandarin Chinese.
· Participate in the activities included in the curriculum prescribed by the FGSITC during each semester or two out of three quarters.
Scholarship Disbursement
Recipients will be awarded two thousand dollars ($2,000) a year for up to four years as long as they are enrolled in an accredited college or university in Southern California, awarded in two disbursements (fall and spring semesters/quarters).
To Apply
2024-2025 Application Period:
September 1, 2024 to December 15, 2024
**The application form and all required documents must be received by the deadline**
Application Process
· Download and complete the Scholarship Application Form (PDF).
· Write an essay (minimum of 500 words) indicating the college you plan to attend or are attending, your background, academic achievements, intended educational and career goal(s), and financial need; please include a cover page with a current photo, legal name, phone number, and email address.
· For graduating high school seniors: Submit your final high school transcript, along with college registration as a full-time student (registered in a minimum of 12 units) for the next semester/quarter.
· For current college students: Submit verification of full-time student status, the transcript of all previous semesters/quarters, and registration for the following semester/quarter as a full-time student.
· Please email your application, along with all other required documents, to scholarship@fgsitc.org before the deadline. Use “Buddhism Friendship Scholarship” as the subject heading. Contact us if you have any questions.
· Paper applications and required documents can be mailed to our office. Note that they need to be received by the application deadline, no matter what the postmark date is. Late submissions will not be considered.
· An email confirmation will be sent when the application has been received but only completed applications will be processed.
Mail: Fo Guang Shan International Translation Center
3456 Glenmark Drive
Hacienda Heights, CA 91745
Email: scholarship@fgsitc.org
Interview
After all documents have been received and reviewed by the FGSITC Scholarship Committee, qualified applicants will be contacted by email to set up an in-person interview. (An interview does not guarantee selection.)
The in-person interview questions will relate to following:
Interest in learning more about Buddhism
Willingness to explore more about translation, rewriting, and editing
Creativity in the domain of graphic design
Scholarship Curriculum Requirements
Please refer to the FGSITC Buddhism Friendship Scholarship Eligibility Requirements.
Each fall and spring semester/quarter, scholarship recipients are required to fulfill service hours and follow a curriculum that includes self-enrichment, talent contribution, and attendance of in-person workshops at Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights as set and accepted by FGSITC.
Students must receive a certification letter from the FGSITC Scholarship Committee verifying their satisfactory participation in the FGSITC curriculum each semester/quarter.
Continuation of Scholarship
Submit your most recent transcript (must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA) and current registration as a full-time student for the following semester/quarter by the deadline.
Renewal Deadline
- January 15–January 31 for grants in the fall semester.
- July 15–July 31 for grants in the spring semester.
Additional Information
- All awards are payable to the Financial Aid/Scholarship Office of the college/university of the selected student’s attendance.
- Scholarship recipients are responsible for checking with their respective institutions for disbursement of funds as well as their own financial aid eligibility.
- One academic year refers to two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters of academic study.
- Southern California includes the following counties: Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura.
- Students who fail to meet all criteria (maintain a 3.0 GPA, be registered for 12 units, and complete the FGSITC curriculum) will become ineligible in the subsequent semester.
- The FGSITC Scholarship Committee reserves the right to make changes to these policies and procedures at any time.
- There will be no appeals on non-selections.