Scholarships & Grants
Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated is dedicated to empowering women, promoting academic excellence, and achieving gender equality. In that spirit our organization, our partners, and our Chapters and Collectives offer scholarships and grants to support the development and growth of women and girls in our communities and our own members.
Our Alumnae Association nationally administers two opportunities which are offered annually in the spring:
- The Reach for the Gold Book Scholarship for inbound College/University freshmen
- The Golden Colibri Grant for Sorority members pursuing post-graduate education
Other scholarships are also made available by our Chapters and Collectives at the local level and by our partner, Omega Phi Beta Foundation.
Reach for the Gold Book Scholarship
The Reach for the Gold Book Scholarship (RFTG) recognizes academic and benevolent achievement among young women of color and supports continued success through the first year of college. The Alumnae Association of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated awards $1000, to one scholarship recipient annually.
2021 RFTG Application is OPEN
All submissions will be reviewed based on content, clarity, and creativity. They must be fully complete and submitted by June 1st, 2021. The award recipient will be announced no later than Friday, July 30, 2021.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION
Eligibility Criteria:
Applicants to the Reach for the Gold Book Scholarship must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a female student of color. Woman of color identifies with any of the following ethnic backgrounds: Hispanic / Latina, Native American / Alaskan Native, Arab or Middle Eastern, Asian or Pacific Islander, or Black / African American
- Must be a senior in high school or secondary school, graduating by end of June 2021.
- Must reside in the United States; Citizen or Non-Citizen – Open to all regardless of immigration status
- Must be entering an accredited 4-year college or university program as a first-year student by the fall 2018 semester.
- Must have a minimum high school / secondary school academic average of 85/100%, or 3.4 on a 4.0 GPA scale.
- Must have a minimum (math, writing, and critical reading) SAT score of 1200 or a minimum ACT Composite score of 24.
Delivery Options:
Electronic packets are due via Dropbox. They must be fully completed and submitted by June 1st, 2021. The award recipient will be announced no later than Friday, July 30, 2021.
The Golden Colibri Grant
The Golden Colibri Grant was established in 2011 and serves to recognize and support the professional and academic development of alumnae members of Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. The Alumnae Association awards $500 annually to one grant recipient towards the pursuit of an advanced degree, professional certification, specialization, or license. Applicants must be alumnae members of OPBSI that hold a Bachelor’s Degree at the time of submitting their application and are in pursuit of an advanced degree or professional certification.
Our past grant recipients have been:
- 2011: Virginia Rivas – Upsilon Chapter; pursuing MSW at Monmouth University
- 2012: Elaine Rodriguez – Beta Chapter; pursuing a doctorate in Medicine
- 2013: Monica L. Miranda – Alpha Chapter; post-graduate work at University of Rochester
- 2016: Two winners selected:
- Yasmeen Elsakary – Upsilon Chapter; pursuing a graduate degree at the Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health
- Lotus Feliz – Beta Delta Chapter; pursuing a graduate degree at New York University
- 2017: Maria Zepeda – Beta Pi Chapter; pursuing a Masters of Public Health at the Evans Center, University of Washington
- 2018: Daisy A. Figueroa (Cuevas) – Beta Mu Chapter; pursuing a Juris Doctorate at Boston University School of Law
- 2019: Alicia Morejon – Alpha Gamma Chapter; pursuing a Juris Doctorate at William & Mary Law School
In order to foster mentorship and networking among alumnae members, the award recipient is expected to present her experiences and reflections to the Sorority at large in the format of her choice, within a year following receipt of the Golden Colibri Grant. The Alumnae Association will work with the Grant recipient to complete this requirement.
Below are a few things you need to know:
- Only applications submitted by July 1st, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. PST will be considered.
- The application can be accessed via the following link: Grant Application
- All documents can be submitted via the following link: Grant Submission
- Eligibility criteria and requirements are listed at the beginning of the online application.
- Applications are reviewed based on content, clarity, and creativity. If alumnae/MAL have any questions, please have them contact the Alumnae Association at alumnae@omegaphibeta.org.
- The grant recipient will be announced no later than July 31, 2020.
We are excited to continue to support our amazing alumnae as they continue their professional and academic development. For more information about the Grant please contact AA@OmegaPhiBeta.org.
Other scholarship opportunities may be available through our foundation: Omega Phi Beta Foundation (OPBF) and through our Chapters and Collectives.
To see a list of available OPBF scholarships please visit the Scholarships section of their website. Currently, OPBF has released its STEAM scholarships for women and girls which are available until May 31st for Fall term applicants and November 30 for Spring term applicants.
