Great Minds in STEM (GMiS) is pleased to announce the GMiS California Health Sciences Scholarships, which provide financial assistance and support for underrepresented students in California, pursuing undergraduate degrees in health-related disciplines. GMiS awards these scholarships in honor of Dr. Alfonso Paredes, founder and President of Casa La Merced and Casa Paredes, which served the mental health, childcare, and housing needs of the underprivileged community in East Los Angeles. Dr. Paredes believed in enabling students to achieve their dreams of improving the quality of life, especially in the areas of mental health, rehabilitative and geriatric medicine, and individuals with disabilities.

Applicants to the GMiS California Health Sciences Scholarship must:

• Be a member of a traditionally underrepresented group in the health sciences
• Be pursuing a health-related undergraduate degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. or Puerto Rico with at least a 3.0 Cumulative GPA (On a 4.0 scale)
• Be a U.S. Citizen, Permanent Resident, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA).
• Additional preference will be given to applicants, who:
• Are pursuing careers in the areas of mental health, rehabilitative, geriatric medical specialties, or individuals with disabilities

Applicants to the GMiS California Health Sciences Scholarship must be prepared to submit the following documents:

• Personal Statement addressing a topic determined by Great Minds in STEM
• Current Resume
• One Peer Letter of Recommendation from a friend, classmate, lab partner, roommate, teammate, or fellow member of a campus or community organization
• One Faculty Letter of Recommendation from a faculty, teacher, mentor, advisor, counselor, principal, dean, or MEP Director
• Official Transcript with the imprinted seal or signature of your college (Transcripts must be in English). Transcripts must indicate a cumulative GPA based on a 4.0 scale.
• Self-photo (used for publication purposes only)