Mark Murray and Susan Cady Scholarship Fund

The Mark Murray and Susan Cady Scholarship Fund was established to provide financial assistance to students with financial need who are pursuing college degrees or technical training in health care or education. The scholarship is intended to award students with demonstrated aptitude and ability along with a strong desire to pursue careers in education or health care and who lack only sufficient funding for these pursuits. Students selected for the scholarships must clearly intend and have shown through their personal statement and actions an intention to “give back” to their communities, an intent for “social responsibility”, to close gaps and disparities and an intent to improve the lives of others. Preference will be given to first-generation students.

Eligibility Requirements

• Open to high school seniors or current undergraduate college students.
• High School Seniors must be currently attending a school in California.
• Be pursuing a college degree or technical training in the areas of healthcare or education
• Be planning to attend an accredited two (2) or four (4) year college or university, Vocational or Trade School in the upcoming academic year. (The institution chosen to attend, and the field or area of interest pursued are limited to conventional or “mainstream” avenues i.e., does not include unproven, unconventional areas of education or health care. Specifically, chiropractic, massage, “body work” or unconventional areas of mental health are excluded from the eligibility. In addition, non-accredited institutions and non-accredited educational pursuits are excluded)
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
• Demonstrate financial need through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application
• Preference will go to first generation college students
• Preference will go to people of color in the following categories: African American/Black, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaskan Native,
  Caucasian/White (ethnicity Latin X or Mexican American)
• Be enrolled full time in at least 12 academic units or equivalent per quarter/semester in the fall

Application Requirements

• Submit the General Application to apply for the Mark Murray and Susan Cady Scholarship Fund.
• ESSAY: Please provide a personal statement that includes your background and personal history, your reasons for pursuing a health care or education career along with how you plan to “give back” to the community. The essay should also reflect your intent of social responsibility and why you want to improve the lives of others.
• Letter of Recommendation: Please provide two (2) letters of recommendation from persons other than family members or friends who can attest to your aptitude, desire and commitment to “giving back” to the community and a clear intent of social responsibility and desire to improve the lives of others.

Scholarship award

• May be used for the cost of attendance, including room, board, tuition, books and living expenses at the school at your school and must be accepted by 9/31/2025 or the award may be forfeited.
• The award applies to the application year and cannot be held and deferred to any subsequent year.
• Awardees will be required to submit a letter of acceptance* acknowledging the Mark Murray and Susan Cady Scholarship fund and confirming proof of full time enrollment at the institution and confirming that the field of study pursued is the same as in the original application and that the intent to “give back” and to improve the lives of others remains the same.
• Renewal awards* are limited to 1 – 4 years. Applicants must reapply for a renewal award. Preference can be given to previous recipients, provided that the student is making progress towards original goals and meets previous criteria.

The Mark Murray and Susan Cady Scholarship Fund requires that the organization, group or institution that is chosen to recruit, select and distribute funds to the chosen recipients be free from bias and demonstrate a philosophy of social responsibility. The bias inherent in the eligibility requirements is acceptable. The sub-committee or group that performs these functions of recruitment, selection and distribution is required to exclude any student who is a relative or friend of any member of that selection committee. Recusal is not sufficient.