Alumni Scholarship Program

We’re pleased to announce the Mount Tamalpais College Alumni Scholarship Program to provide scholarships and other support to MTC alumni. The scholarship program will be administered by the organization 10,000 Degrees, which will also assist MTC alumni in finding other grants and scholarships to support their educational pursuits.

Please read the FAQs below.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT IS THE MTC ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM?
The MTC Alumni Scholarship Program has been created to help MTC alumni continue their education in trade schools, community colleges, 4-year colleges, and graduate schools.

WHAT IS 10,000 DEGREES?
10,000 Degrees is an organization that administers scholarships and provides college advising. Their mission is to achieve educational equity and support students from low-income backgrounds to and through college to positively impact their communities and the world.

WHEN ARE APPLICATIONS DUE?
Deadline for submissions is Monday, June 26, 2023. Later applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR AN MTC SCHOLARSHIP?
At present, all students who have successfully completed at least six full courses with Mount Tamalpais College (formerly Patten College at San Quentin, Patten University at San Quentin, or the Prison University Project) are eligible to apply.

HOW MUCH MONEY IS AVAILABLE?
MTC Scholarships will cover up to $10,000 of your total financial need. Amounts in future years may increase based on available funds. When you apply for a scholarship through 10,000 Degrees, you may also be offered additional scholarships for which you are eligible.

HOW DO MTC ALUMNI APPLY FOR A MOUNT TAMALPAIS COLLEGE ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP?
All applications must be submitted online. For further details, visit 10000degrees.org/scholarships and select “Apply Now” - on page 7 of the application, you’ll have the chance to note that you attended Mt. Tamalpais College (formerly known as Patten College, Patten University, or the Prison University Project).

Note that applicants must complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act Application and have available a copy of the resulting Student Aid Report (SAR) before applying. Please go directly to https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa to complete the FAFSA. If you are an undocumented student, instead of completing the FAFSA, you’ll need to complete the California Dream Act Application (dream.csac.ca.gov).

10,000 Degrees is available to assist MTC alumni with FAFSA applications. Reach out at the contact info below if you need support or guidance.

HOW ARE SCHOLARSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS SELECTED?
Scholarship award recipients will be selected based on applicants’ meeting eligibility requirements, their financial needs, and information provided in their personal statements. Renewal applicants must reapply and must demonstrate continued financial need and academic progress.

WHOM SHOULD I CONTACT IF I HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED FURTHER ASSISTANCE?
For assistance with the application, please contact the staff at 10,000 Degrees: Director of Scholarships, Jin Choi. jchoi@10000degrees.org  (415.451.4002)

PAST SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Somdeng

Somdeng Danny Thongsy is an MTC alumnus who was formerly incarcerated, low-income, and a first-generation college student at UC Berkeley majoring in Sociology. I served 19 years of a prison life sentence as a youth offender. Read more

James

James JC Cavitt has dedicated his career to addressing educational disparities and inequalities among people directly impacted by mass incarceration. A tireless advocate for communities impacted by the criminal justice system.... Read more

John

John Lam is a first-generation Chinese-American, born and raised in Sacramento, California. At the age of 17, he was sentenced to serve 26 years-to-life. After 14 years of incarceration, his life sentence was commuted by Governor Brown. Read more