Pay It Forward Scholarship & Mentoring Program

The Pay It Forward Scholarship & Mentoring Program provides a $5,000 per year scholarship for up to four years at Cal State Monterey Bay, to local Monterey County, first-generation college students. Each Scholar is mentored by a community leader who helps the student navigate the challenges of college life while opening doors of opportunity for them. In turn, the Scholars must maintain a four-year graduation track and a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA. The Scholars “Pay It Forward” by mentoring younger students, creating a cycle of local college students who are contributing to the community even as they study.

Pay It Forward is a support & accountability program that ensures these first-generation college students succeed in school and in life. The program provides scholarship awards, life skills, mentoring, and structures that increase graduation rates and career placement success. Our Scholars are also taught skills like budgeting, credit-building, networking, professional etiquette, public speaking, self-care, and accessing resources. Since 2008 we have provided over 250 scholarships and our Scholars have provided over 35,000 hours of tutoring and mentoring in the community.

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal State Monterey Bay provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal State Monterey Bay complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.