YEF Scholarships

Since 1995, the Santa Fe Springs Chamber/League Youth Enrichment Fund (YEF) has been dedicated to engaging, enriching, and educating local youth through the generous support of businesses, professionals, and community members.

YEF provides funding for impactful programs including mentoring, leadership development, college scholarships, and the CHOICES® program. Together, these initiatives serve more than 2,500 students each year, helping young people achieve academic success, develop leadership and workplace skills, and become active, engaged members of their community.

In partnership with the Santa Fe Springs Chamber of Commerce, the City of Santa Fe Springs, and local schools, YEF is proud to invest in the next generation of leaders. Many scholarship recipients and mentees maintain lasting connections with YEF mentors, becoming lifelong members of the YEF family.

Destiny Scholarship

The mission of the $20,000 scholarship is to provide an opportunity to help a student achieve their “destiny”. The Santa Fe Springs Chamber/League Youth Enrichment Fund is accepts applications for the Destiny Scholarship annually in January.  Candidates must be graduating high school students residing in Santa Fe Springs who will be attending a 4 year college/university.  The scholarship is for a maximum of $5,000 per year and may be extended for three additional years providing the qualifying student meets all of the eligibility requirements.  The total value of the scholarship is a maximum of $20,000. Information on the Destiny Scholarship application process will be posted in January.

The Santa Fe Springs Chamber/League Youth Enrichment Fund is accepting applications for our “Destiny Scholarship” award.  Candidates must be graduating high school students residing in Santa Fe Springs who will be attending a 4-year college/university. The annual scholarship fund amount is a maximum of $5,000 per year with the four-year potential (based on continuing eligibility requirements) of $20,000 per recipient over a period of not more than four consecutive years unless variation is approved by the YEF Board of Directors.

Scholarship recipients must meet ongoing minimum eligibility requirements throughout the award period. The application criteria include the following:

• Minimum GPA of 3.0 (unweighted) as shown by most recent high-school transcript.
• Santa Fe Springs resident of two years or longer (Proof of residency is required).
• Active involvement in school activities and clubs.
• Active involvement in civic causes and sincere in continuing their education.
• Will be attending a 4-year college/university.

Powell Scholarship

A $2,500 scholarship is awarded annually to recognize students who are actively pursuing careers in the Arts.  Scholarships have been awarded to students studying music, writing, graphic design, poetry, art, theater and film.

The Santa Fe Springs Chamber /League Youth Enrichment Fund is seeking applications for a scholarship which may be awarded to a Santa Fe Springs resident graduating from high school or currently enrolled in college or trade school who is pursuing an education in the ARTS.  The application is attached.  The grant is for a maximum of $2,500. Applicants are not restricted to one year; they may reapply annually for reconsideration.

The application criteria include the following:

• Student must be studying a field in the ARTS(art, photography, dance, music, theater, graphic design, writing, etc.).
• Minimum GPA of 2.5 (unweighted) as shown by most recent high-school or college transcript.
• Santa Fe Springs resident of two years or longer (Proof of residency is required).

The application must be completed and submitted online. The deadline to submit your application is in April 2026.

Applications will be reviewed and all applicants will receive written notice of the selected finalists.  Finalists will be scheduled for an interview with scholarship committee.  The recipient will be announced after the oral interviews have been completed.

The Youth Enrichment Fund’s “Powell Scholarship” program is an opportunity for the business community to enrich the education of a Santa Fe Springs resident.

Vocational Scholarship

The Santa Fe Springs Chamber / League Youth Enrichment Fund is proud to introduce a new $2,000 Vocational Grant, designed to support students who are actively pursuing careers in the trades.

This grant is open to graduating high school seniors, current college students, or trade school students who either reside in Santa Fe Springs or attend a school in Santa Fe Springs. Eligible applicants must be committed to a vocational path, and recipients may reapply annually for reconsideration (up to a maximum of four years).