Lotus Scholarship Program

SYL Foundation is committed to creating opportunity and access to higher education. Immigrant students are assets to our communities and deserve our respect and support in their pursuit of post-secondary degrees. After 9 years of providing college scholarships to recent immigrants in need, the Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation is re-evaluating how we serve these students. We will be exploring ways to better guide students as they navigate college application and funding options, and how to best support them once they are in college. We will be listening to and learning from community members, students, education funders, and service providers as we determine our next steps.

We will continue to provide scholarships to all students currently in the program, but we will no longer accept new applicants to the Lotus Scholarship Program

For current Lotus Scholars, this change will not affect your scholarship. Renewal forms will be sent in late spring and scholarship checks will be sent to colleges on schedule in August. We still expect students to complete college in four consecutive years barring extenuating circumstances. Please make sure your contact information is up to date in our online scholarship site.  Additional information on renewal can be found online.

Renewal Application Process For Continuing Lotus Scholars

1. The renewal process will open in May each year. The renewal application will be completed online. All eligible Lotus Scholars will be notified by email. Please make sure we have your current contact information. You may send updates to programs@sylfoundation.org.
2. Gather all materials you will be required to upload as part of the application:
   • School transcript that shows college classes taken and grades; and
   • The name and email address of a teacher, college persistence advisor, advocate or school counselor who can comment on your level of motivation and external support. We want to ensure that you have the resources you need to stay in school. This person will be sent an email link with a few brief questions to complete online. Please check with your teacher/advisor BEFORE submitting their name and email address. PLEASE NOTE: You are responsible for ensuring that the short form is submitted by the due date.
3. Complete and submit an online application by the due date noted in the application, usually in July. We will contact you with instructions to access the online renewal form. You will be able to save your work and return to it later to complete the application.