VCCF SCHOLARSHIP
RECOMMENDERS

Thank you for supporting our Ventura County students!

Every year, thousands of students apply for VCCF scholarships. Letters of reference are a vital part of the VCCF Scholarship application process. They provide members of the selection committee with a holistic view of the student during the evaluation process. Letters of reference reveal much about the applicant, and they allow selection committee members to better understand the applicant’s goals, aspirations, work ethic, and character.

“I’m a recommender because grades and activities only tell part of the story.
My hope is that a well-written letter of rec tells a donor the student’s story of
grit and perseverance.”

—SARAH PAGE, HIGH SCHOOL AVID TEACHER AND RECOMMENDER

Getting Started

Before you get started on your letter, please take a moment to review the following important information.

  • Students will ask if you would be willing to write a letter of reference on their behalf. If you agree, you will need to provide the student with your full name and email address.

  • Once the student has added your name and email address to their application, you will receive an automated email from Ventura County Community Foundation Scholarships with information on submitting a letter of reference. Be sure to check your junk mail folder! 

  • Note: You must submit your letter of recommendation as a PDF file. This is the only accepted format. Word documents will not be accepted. 

  • After you submit a letter of recommendation, the student will receive a notification email informing them that the letter has been submitted. The student will not be able to read the content of the letter, they will only see you submitted the letter.

Please be sure to include the following information in your letter of recommendation:

  • Your relationship to the student
  • How long you have known the student
  • The areas of strength of this student
  • The student’s work ethic

If you know the student in an academic capacity, please also address the student’s participation in class, as well as their skills in collaborating with and listening to others.

Unfortunately, applicants who do not have two letters of reference are automatically disqualified from the VCCF scholarship application process.

If you are unable to write a letter of reference for a student, please notify the student immediately so that the student can ask someone else.

VCCF staff will be available via the Zoom Q&A sessions to answer any questions from recommenders. 

For additional questions, email scholarships@vccf.org or call (805) 330-6668 or (805) 330-6669.

Important Dates

Convenings + Support

Recommenders, before joining any of the following Q&A discussions, we recommend watching the video below
on how to submit letter(s) of recommendation for your student(s).

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020 5:30-6:30pm (Q&A) – Register Now

Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 2:00-3:00pm (Q&A) – Register Now

Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021 3:30-4:30pm (Q&A) – Register Now

Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 2:00-3:00pm (Q&A) – Register Now

Submitting Your Letter of Recommendation

How to convert your letter into a PDF file

How to submit your Letter of Recommendation

Important: When entering the submission platform, be sure to click on the “References & Reviewers” tab
before entering your email address and password

Student Success: Antonio Plancarte Jr.
During my senior year of high school, I decided to apply for the scholarship program because I didn’t want money getting in the way of my education. Being able to receive the scholarships I received means making college a reality and avoiding financial stress for my family and I. The scholarships will help pay for my attendance to California University State Chico.

I was initially planning on majoring in business administration; however I recently changed my major to nursing. My ultimate goal after college is to change the world in a positive way and save lives!
Student Success: Jessie Peterson
I applied for a scholarship through VCCF my sophomore year in college because I was having trouble paying for tuition, housing, and food. I am so glad and grateful that I did because I know I would not be where I am today without VCCF’s support. Not only has VCCF helped me pay for all of those things in college, the foundation continues to help me pay for these things in law school. In addition to funding support, VCCF gave me a support system and wonderful mentors who I look up to and who inspire me. VCCF reminds me that people believe in me, people are rooting for me, that I am not alone, and that my hard work is worth it. Receiving the scholarship means so much to me. The scholarship has significantly lightened my financial burden, allowing me to focus on my learning and developing my legal skills to serve underserved and disadvantaged communities. It allows me to invest the time I would have spent working (and stressing) into focusing on my passion for public service, participating in pro bono opportunities, and preparing for the BAR after graduation. I currently attend University of San Francisco, School of Law. I will receive my J.D. in June 2021.
Student Success: Sophie Nguyen
My name is Sophie Nguyen and I am a senior year at California State University Channel Islands pursuing a BS in Sociology and Chicanx Studies minor. As a daughter of immigrants and a transfer commuter student from Oxnard, I have a deep appreciation for my educational journey and the incredibly valuable support I have received from the VCCF community. Thank you so much for making this scholarship possible. Receiving support from community members like you has instilled in me a strong passion and commitment to helping empower and uplift my campus community. Because you gave, I will be able to pay tuition my final year at CSUCI while I serve as Student Government President to help unify and advocate for fellow students. This scholarship truly means so much to me and I am incredibly grateful for your kindness, compassion, and generosity!
Student Success: Amisha DeYoung-Dominguez
I am the first in my family to go to law school, so receiving the scholarship was a very big deal for our family! My parents were both first generation college students, so I was proud I had the opportunity to live out the value of higher education that they instilled in me. I currently work as a lawyer that works for a state agency called the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB). I work in our Oxnard office, and the ALRB helps farmworkers who have been discriminated against for joining together to ask for higher pay or better working conditions (clean water, shade, sanitary bathrooms, etc). I spend my day working on legal writing assignments, discussing my cases with our team of lawyers, and interviewing farmworkers and the companies they work for. It's challenging but very rewarding work!
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