The Esparanza Fund is currently accepting applications for high school seniors who are planning to attend college in the fall. This scholarship opportunity is open to high school students who are immigrants or the first-generation children of immigrants in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

In spring 2014, The Esperanza Education Fund will award scholarships ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, (depending on financial need) to immigrant students in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia, to attend public colleges and universities, regardless of ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status.

Funds are distributed directly to the educational institution to which the applicant is planning to attend school. While the fund is only available to students graduating from high schools in the select regions, the funds can be used to attend colleges outside the region. However, students graduating from outside the region cannot apply for scholarship funds to attend colleges within the region.

Applicants must stay in good standing and maintain a 2.5 grade point average to stay in the program. The education must be received from a public college and applicants must stay in contact with Esperanza Fund management and mentors during their educational career.

In order to be eligible, applicants must be born outside the U.S. or have two parents born outside the U.S., must be a graduating senior at a high school in D.C., Maryland, or Virginia, (or, if a GED student, must complete a separate application for GED students), and must enroll full-time at an accredited public college or university in the 2014-2015 academic year.

The Esparanza Education fund disbursed $90,000 in scholarships as a result of the 2013 application process.The Esparanza Education fund received more than 450 applications for funds in 2013.