Scholarships for Students

The San Mateo County Association of Grand Jurors initiated a yearly scholarship in October 2006. The scholarships are presented to high school seniors who submit the best essay on the importance of the grand jury system in California. The student will receive the scholarship at the annual school award ceremony. Our goal is to focus on schools where student needs are greatest. We offer one $1,000 scholarship and one $500 scholarship based on student essays that best meet our criteria.

2025 Application 

(click above for the document)

The applicant must be a graduating senior or have successfully completed 24 units of community college study.

2.           Students applying should have at least a 2.0 grade point average.

3.           A letter of application must be submitted which includes: a) a paragraph about you and your background; (b) community service; (c) clubs, interests and offices held, and (d) plans after high school or community college.

4.           An essay, answering the questions below, must be submitted with no less than 300 words and, at least three paragraphs.  The essay must be well written and proofread for spelling errors. AI written essays will not be considered.

5.           In order to write the essay, students must visit the California Grand Jurors Association (CGJA) website at https://cgja.org/californias-civil-grand-juries/ to link to the booklet California’s Civil Grand Juries - History, Law, How They Operate, 4th Edition.   Students are asked to read at least Chapters II, V, and VI in the booklet.

6.           After students have visited the CGJA website and read the booklet, students must visit the San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury site and study the 2020-2021 report SEXUAL ASSAULT KIT TESTING REPORTS IN SAN MATEO COUNTY: WHAT ARE WE MISSING? linked here:  https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/sak.pdf Additionally, students should study pages 3 and 10 of the 2021-2022 report SUMMARY OF RESPONSES TO THE 2020-2021 SAN MATEO COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY REPORTS linked here: https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/continuity-2020-21-gj-reports.pdf

                          The essay should address these questions:

                          • How did this report in particular increase public knowledge of the Civil Grand Jury system?

                          • Which of the five findings in the report benefit the public the most and why?

                          • Of the three recommendations in the report, which resulted in significant action taken by the                 Sheriff’s Office and how did those actions benefit the public?

 

Name:                                                                                                                                                                               

                             Last                                                                 First

 

Address:                                                                                                                                                                            

                             Street                                                                            City                                                   Zip

 

Phone:                                                                                       Email:  ______________________________         

                             Area code & number

 

School:                                                                                       

                             Name                                

This award may be used for tuition and/or books for education beyond high school or community college.  A representative of SMCAGJ is available to present the scholarship at a school awards assembly or virtual event.

The San Mateo County Association of Grand Jurors reserves the right to reject any and all essays that do not meet the above criteria.

By checking here ______ you give permission for the SMCAGJ to submit your essay, including your name, to a local newspaper for a potential Student Opinion or Guest Editorial column.

PLEASE RETURN THIS APPLICATION TO SanMateoCoAssocOfGrandJurors@gmail.com

NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, APRIL 25th, 2025

Past Award Winners include:

2024

Indira Sergio

Zakirah Hussain

2023

Aran O’Sullivan

2017

Nathan Mora

2016

Jessica Reyes

2015

Stephanie Barrow

2014

Julian Matthew San Miguel

2013

Graham Birks

2012

Jackelin Amorin

2011

Heather Dobbins

2010

Andrew Bleich

2009

Brenda Day

2008

Marco Genesta