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.
2026 Application
(click above for the document)
This scholarship will be awarded based on the criteria listed below:
1. 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 Civil Grand Jurors’ Association of California (CGJA)
website https://cgja.org/wp-content/uploads/Californias-Civil-Grand-Juries-Edition4r.pdf 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 2024-2025 report Who You Gonna Call? linked here:
https://sanmateo.courts.ca.gov/system/files/grand-jury/who-you-gonna-call.pdf Additionally, carefully
consider school district and County Office of Education letters of response to the report.
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 represent your past experience and/or current
circumstances at your high school?
• The majority of school districts submitted responses to the Civil Grand Jury’s six
recommendations. Which recommendation(s) resulted in significant action taken by the school
districts and County Office of Education, and how did or will those actions benefit students?
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 3rd, 2026
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