Vietnamese Freedom and Heritage Scholarship
Many Vietnamese Americans face unique challenges shaped by economic hardship, familial responsibility, and cultural expectations.
As the generation of Vietnamese refugees who sacrificed everything for the hope of freedom begins to pass on, it is more important than ever to preserve the culture, history, and values they held dear. Their legacy lives on in the stories, traditions, and aspirations of their children and grandchildren. This scholarship aims to honor those sacrifices by empowering Vietnamese-American students to carry forward their heritage with pride — preserving the identity, values, and spirit of a people who refused to let freedom be forgotten.
This scholarship aims to ease the burden faced by Vietnamese-Americans and affirm the role of education as a pathway to personal and community advancement.
Any Vietnamese-American high school senior or undergraduate student who is a descendant of Vietnamese refugees (parents or grandparents) may apply for this scholarship opportunity. Applicants should demonstrate financial need, academic potential, and a strong connection to their cultural identity, including involvement in community or cultural organizations and pride in the values symbolized by the Vietnamese Freedom and Heritage Flag, the emblem of the former Republic of Vietnam.
This scholarship will be awarded on April 30th, a date known as Black April (Tháng Tư Đen). The date marks an important time to reflect upon the fall of Saigon & South Vietnam, and also to remember the sacrifices made so future generations could have freedom, liberty, and opportunities - especially in education - which this scholarship supports. To apply, respond to two of the essay prompts below.
Please respond to two of the following prompts:
-Describe how your Vietnamese heritage has shaped your educational and personal journey. How has your family's history of immigration influenced your goals for the future?
-The Vietnamese community has demonstrated remarkable resilience through hardship and displacement. How have the values of perseverance, hard work, and community shaped your academic and career aspirations?
-As a Vietnamese-American, how do you honor your family’s sacrifices in your pursuit of education and personal growth? How do you plan to give back to your community?
-What does the Vietnamese Freedom and Heritage Flag mean to you, and how has its symbolism influenced your identity and aspirations?
-Facing cultural or familial challenges can often influence our goals and perspectives. How have these experiences shaped your vision for your future and your desire to impact the community?
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FAQ
The application deadline is Mar 29, 2026. Winners will be announced on Apr 30, 2026.
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Award amounts per winner are designated by the donor. Check the award amount for a detailed breakdown.
The winner will be publicly announced on Apr 30, 2026. Prior to the announcement date, we may contact finalists with additional questions about their application. We will work with donors to review all applications according to the scholarship criteria. Winners will be chosen based on the merit of their application.
Award checks will be sent to the financial aid office of the winner's academic institution or future academic institution in their name to be applied to their tuition, and in the name of their institution (depending on the school's requirements). If the award is for a qualified educational non-tuition expense, we will work with the winner directly to distribute the award and make sure it goes towards qualified expenses.
Before we award the scholarship, the winner will be required to confirm their academic enrollment status. Depending on the circumstances, verification of Student ID and/or their most recent transcript will be required.
If you have any questions about this scholarship or the Bold.org platform, just email contact@bold.org and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.
Yes. The terms and conditions for this scholarship can be found here.
