Catherine Harper Memorial Scholarship

UPDATED 2025/2026
The Catherine Harper Memorial Scholarship honors the legacy of beloved Catherine Harper’s compassion, resilient, creative, and bold spirit. It supports students in the Mesa Community who are inclusive of many backgrounds and bring unique, broad-ranging, and first-generation perspectives, including those participating in the DRC community. The scholarship is a gesture of solidarity with Mesa students and the diverse community that makes San Diego so vibrant and special.

The scholarship aims to:

  • Recognize and celebrate the internal assets that Mesa students bring to the campus: resourcefulness, grit, creative problem solving, among others
  • Create the conditions for students to fully actualize these strengths: removing economic barriers and building communities of care
  • Eligibility will begin with enrollment at Mesa College and participation in the DRC Community. The DRC team may have the discretion to set program-related eligibility requirements

Applicants may submit one of the following formats:

  • Short video (spoken word, storytelling, documentary-style)
  • Essay or poem (personal growth, challenges, aspirations)
  • Song or audio piece (original or remix with meaning)
  • Visual art (with explanation)
  • Resume
  • Portfolio of academic, job-related, or creative work that you are especially proud of

Award funds will be disbursed:
Immediate release of full award (May)
Opportunity to renew this award in 2026-2027, contingent on funding and continued enrollment.

Award
$2,250-$5,000
Deadline
02/17/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. 2025-2026 Additional Questions
    • Are you a first-generation college student? (No parent/guardian has completed a four-year college degree)
    • Do you have access to mental health support when you need it?
    • Do you have caregiving responsibilities for others (children, siblings, parents, grandparents, or other family members)?
    • Do you have reliable access to a computer and internet for completing coursework?
    • Do you serve as a translator or interpreter for friends, family, or community members?
    • Have you completed a FASFA on file at Mesa? If so, please respond “yes”, If not, please describe your financial needs and the degree to which your financial circumstances have impacted your ability to access and persist in college.
    • Have you or an immediate family member been impacted by the justice system?
    • How many hours do you typically work a week?
    • How reliable is your access to transportation for getting to school, work, or appointments?
    • In the past year, how often have you worried about having enough food?
    • Is English your first language?
    • Which best describes your current housing situation?
  2. 2025: APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS - This is an open application, which means that you are given the scoring rubric that reviewers use to make award decisions. From there, you are encouraged to submit any information you feel best shines a light on you. This is your chance to tell your story in any way that you think speaks to your strengths. We encourage you to consider submitting items that you have already created or are currently working on (to protect your time!). Think of places where you are already sharing your voice and perspective (social media, assignments, work activities, or creative projects).
  3. 2025: RUBRIC REVIEW - Please review the scoring rubric. This is the exact tool that will be used for reviewers to score and rank applicants. View the rubric here.
  4. 2025: APPLICATION SUBMISSION: Given the scoring rubric, please use this section to submit any materials you would like reviewers to see. This is your chance to tell your story in any way that you think speaks to your strengths. We encourage you to consider submitting items that you have already created or are currently working on (to protect your time!) Think of places that you are already sharing your voice and perspective (social media, assignments, work activities, or creative projects). Please refer to the application instructions video or the description of this opportunity for submission examples. PDF files and URL links are accepted.
    • You may upload a PDF here
    • You may upload a URL link here