“To make a great dream come true, the first requirement is a great capacity to dream; the second is persistence.” - César E. Chávez
This scholarship was established in 2012 to honor the life and legacy of César Estrada Chávez. Born in Yuma, Arizona on March 31, 1927, Chávez was a community organizer, civil rights activist and humanitarian. He spent his life fighting for “la causa” - fair treatment, wages, working and living conditions for migrant farmworkers.
After eighth grade, he left school to help support his family by working in the fields. Throughout his life, Chávez was deeply committed to serving others. He joined the US Navy and eventually co-founded the first successful farm workers union in US history with fellow activist Dolores Huerta. Through his humanitarian efforts, he enacted change for the injustices migrant and farm workers faced using nonviolent protest methods such as fasts, boycotts, strikes, and pilgrimages.
The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial assistance to students who, like Chávez, have a commitment to civic engagement, and who show promise for engaging the principles of equity and social justice during their time at Davenport. Students from migrant, farmworker or undocumented families are encouraged to apply.
Application must be submitted by January 16th, 2026
Decisions will be made by February 1st and all applicants will contacted regarding their status by February 8th. Recipient is requested to attend the annual Hispanic Excellence Scholarship & Community Awards Gala, held in October 2026.
Scholarship is renewable for up to 4 years or bachelor's degree (whichever is shorter)
Students must maintain Standards of Academic Progress each year to continue receiving scholarship
Eligibility:
* The scholarship helps pay for tuition and routine fees after other government grants and scholarships are applied to recipients' Davenport student accounts.
* Students involved in community service and/or activities in support of diversity and inclusion are encouraged to apply.
* Students must be accepted to Davenport University with a minimum 2.00 grade point average.
* Applicants must be new high school graduates.
* Application must be accompanied by a high school grade transcript that must include at least six semesters with a cumulative GPA.
