Scholarships for Local Students Attending Pre-College Programs

BISHOP, CA — Eight standout local students have been awarded scholarships to participate in the 2026  Pre-College Program. Summer programs let you “try on” a major in a stress-free environment. It’s the ultimate way to explore your interests and see what sticks before you have to make it official on a college application. Supported by $20,000 in community funding, these scholars will head to UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego this summer to gain hands-on experience in high-level academic fields and get a head start on the university experience.

The scholarship initiative originally saw a strong response with 17 initial applications. While the program aimed to support as many students as possible, the final funding was strategically redistributed to eight dedicated participants following changes in student availability. This redistribution has allowed the program to significantly lessen the financial barrier for the remaining cohort, providing robust support for their academic journeys and ensuring cost is not a factor in pursuing these higher education opportunities.

Immersive Academic Exploration at Top-Tier Campuses

The Summer Springboard program is a rigorous two-week summer intensive held at Universities across the globe. This program focuses on California university campuses of each student’s choice. This year’s scholars will join driven peers for a “deep dive” into their specific fields:

  • At UC Berkeley, one student will tackle the complexities of Engineering, while another will gain hands-on experience in Trial Law.
  • At UCLA, two students will explore the intersection of Psychology & Neuroscience, and two will immerse themselves in Filmmaking.
  • At UC San Diego, one student will dive into the world of Business & Entrepreneurship.

These immersive programs serve as a vital bridge to higher learning, connecting with the mission of the Eastern Sierra Foundation, enhancing community through higher education. These eight students get to explore their professional passions and increase self-awareness before they ever set foot on a college campus as full-time undergraduates.

A Legacy of Community Support

The $20,000 scholarship fund is the result of a collaborative effort between major regional partners. The Eastern Sierra Foundation contributed $15,000, providing the foundational support necessary to make this opportunity a reality for the Bishop community.

The Edison International Foundation stepped up with a $5,000 contribution, specifically emphasizing the importance of STEM exposure. By supporting students in tracks like Engineering and Neuroscience, Edison’s contribution ensures that local talent has direct access to world-class university environments and the technical training required for the workforce of tomorrow. Perhaps more foundations will contribute before they embark on this educational ride.

Voices of Success

The impact of these scholarships is best described by the students who have experienced the program’s intensity firsthand. Hazel, a participant from the program’s pilot year, reflected on the profound shift from the classroom to the real world:

“The experience was unforgettable—one moment we were debating intelligent peers from around the world, and the next we were in a real courtroom witnessing a murder trial. When the gunshots from the evidence video thundered through the room, we almost jumped out of our seats. It was an intense, eye-opening deep dive into the law that I’ll remember for years. Finding a community of students who care so deeply about academics was truly refreshing and life-changing.”

From left to right: Malia Ruiz, Sara Cardelas, Abby Rivera, Kylie James, Ali Rainville, Hazel Hays, Julie Faber (ESF President), Matthew Paruolo (SCE Government Relations Manager), Augie Warburton, Liam Livingston

Read more about the experience from the eyes of the middle school applicants:

Dear Eastern Sierra Foundation,

This summer, two classmates and I attended the UCSD Summer Springboard, thanks to your support. I was nervous for its outcome at first, but the summer camp proved to be all I had hoped for and more.

Each camper chose a different area of study to take a weeklong course on, such as Business and Entrepreneurship or Medicine. I chose Trial Law, the camp’s newest program. This proved to be a great decision for me, in part because of the exciting excursions we partook in. Early in the week, my classmates and I took a bus to the San Diego Superior Court. Once there, we passed through security and entered an empty courtroom, where we then conducted a mock trial among ourselves. Each person chose a role (I was the prosecutor) and were given a corresponding script. This gave me an introduction into how a court works and allowed me to be put into the shoes of a lawyer firsthand.

After this we went up an elevator to another courtroom, but this one was not for a mock trial. It was a murder trial.

We tiptoed in and sat down in the space for the public. The prosecutor was in the midst of playing a series of videos that witnessed the killing. We watched as the screen showed a man running across the screen, and we almost jumped out of our seats hearing the thundering gunshots that followed. This trial was by far the most exciting part of the week for me, and I don’t doubt that I will remember it for years to come.

Another highlight of the camp was having class debates. I am a very argumentative person, my parents can assure you of that, and I loved being able to debate other intelligent kids.

My law course was both exciting and informative, but the thing I loved most at camp was spending time with friends I made there. Some were from San Diego, some Ohio, and one was from Taiwan, but all of the people I met were kind, smart individuals that I clicked with instantly. It was also very refreshing to meet likeminded kids that care about school and academics, which, as much as I love Bishop, is a hard thing to find here.

Overall, the middle school program was wonderful, and I’m sure that many others would both wholly enjoy the program and learn a lot from it. But on reflection I believe that the Summer Springboard would be even more beneficial for high schoolers because it feels like what I imagine college might be like: campers eating buffet style meals at the mess hall and staying in the college dorms. Therefore, I believe it would be perfect for high schoolers who wish to get a taste of the college experience before they leave high school. I, for one, would love to attend this summer camp again.

In summary, thank you so much for the funds that allowed us to attend the Summer Springboard program. It was the experience of a lifetime and I will forever be grateful for your support.

Sincerely,
Hazel H. 

UCSD Interview Transcript – Ali R.

Interviewer: Tell me what it was like to show up to the Campus.

Ali: We started out with a tour of the dorms and getting some AWESOME SWAG! Next we all went to a common area and played card games, basketball, or ping pong. I tried to play ping pong and it may have been a disaster but I had fun trying!

Interviewer: How did your expectations change throughout the camp?

Ali: At first, I was really hopeful, but I was very nervous, because I had never been away from my parents for that long, and it was just different.

Interviewer: How long was it? 

Ali: It was five days and five nights. I guess at first I felt like this was completely unreal because I got to be independent and try new things. 

Interviewer: I heard you went on two excursions, tell me about those experiences. 

Ali: Our first excursion was going to a business incubator, which is an old big building that they use to rent out little areas for small business owners to have an office away from their home. It was super cool to get to see all these different types of businesses in this one spot and see how they thrive together. On the second excursion, we went to Old Town, San Diego. We went into Toby soap and candles, and we got to see how their business worked. My classmates and I got to hear about their journeys and the problems that they persevered through.

Interviewer: How was it meeting the other students at the camp?

Ali: I was scared at first but eventually I found my group and it was like we had been friends for years. One of the first things we did was split up into mentor groups and there was a girl who was so sweet and funny, we clicked instantly. Over the course of the camp, I made friends from LA, Ohio, and even Taiwan. It was awesome to get to see a diversity of people that you can’t see in a small town.    

Interviewer: What was it like around the dorms and having a roommate?

Ali: It was incredible. My roommate was Hazel and we had known each other for a long time but this trip gave us a whole new type of bond. It was a very comforting space and we got to have some fun there like a bake-off and a movie night. All these activities brought us closer to each other.

Interviewer: What was your class about?

Ali: I took a business class and we learned not only how to be an entrepreneur but also how to start a business as a high-schooler. We started the week knowing nothing and now I can write an elevator pitch (a sales pitch about a product or person in a short amount of time) in ten minutes. During the five days of class, we created a dehydrated business plan and presented it in front of our peers! My group’s idea was to make an app that uses AI to create a well organized schedule in seconds. We ended up making a detailed powerpoint and presenting it in a shark-tank style competition.

Interviewer: What are you gonna take away from this opportunity?

Ali: I learned so much from my class and also from the experience of being on a college campus with other like-minded students. I discovered how businesses are founded and grow. I made incredible memories with new friends. The class taught me many awesome tools and tricks to be successful in both school and life.

Interviewer: Why would other kids like to do this Program?
Ali: It is AMAZING to get to be independent for a week and see a college and explore a job opportunity that one might follow. Overall this was a life changing experience, very challenging, and I feel more prepared for my freshman year!

Dear ESF Board,

I want to Thank you for providing a scholarship to attend Summer Springboard program at the University of California – San Diego 2025.  I was able to stay on campus and experience dorm living.  I have a sense of what my living experience will be like when I attend a university, and I am excited.

I was introduced to Straegyzer, a website for entrepreneurs to help with all aspects of starting and moving forward businesses.  I was able to complete a Business Model Canvas and a Value Proposition Canvas with a team.  We learned about the Small Business Administration and its resources.  We investigated how to register a Fictitious Name.  

One of my tasks was to participate in a Shark Tank style business pitch. Our group had the idea of an App to help students organize their daily schedules.  App would be able to create a schedule, show it in multiple ways and set multiple alarms and reminders.  It would cater to students who have different routines each day. We shared this idea on the last day.

In addition to the business learning, I was able to participate in a boat ride around the bay, explore Old Town San Diego, and visit San Diego Made Factory and Toby’s Candles and Soaps.

San Diego Made Factory is a space they call an incubator for business.  It has spaces to create and sell any idea you come up with.  When we arrived, we had a history lesson about why this was started.  We were able to observe and see vendors in action. Next was an old warehouse that was split into studios.  We listened to a Guitar repair person give his history, he explained why he was the only one with a roof.  The guitars need to be in a controlled environment.

Next was a community area, we received samplers of perfume from a businesswoman who makes the perfumes in the Factory.

We met Latasha Fennell.  She is a navy veteran.  After years of uniforms, she wanted to express individuality and uniqueness.  She created Boss Lady Blingy.  She designs jewelry, clothing, hats and other outerwear.

At Toby’s Candles and Soaps, we learned how they make the one-of-a-kind candles. We had access to cubed shaped pieces, which had their own unique color and smell.  We picked out our colors and put them in a heart-shaped metal model.  It was placed on a cookie sheet, and they poured hot wax over it.  During the next hour, they placed the model into a clear vase with ice that cooled in quicker. While we were waiting, we were able to make dip candles.

In all I had an enjoyable, educational experience.  I met great peers and my instructors were awesome.  I want to say Thank you again, I am appreciative for the experience and very grateful for the monetary assistance your Board provided.  I hope in the future you can continue to help provide experiences like this to the Bishop youth.

William G.

 SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINES

2026 Summer Springboard ESF Scholarship Application is now closed.

Please have your student apply before November 21. Once we can gauge the level of interest and need, we’ll identify winners and amount of support from the ESF Scholarships, and then the student will need to apply and successfully get into the program. Questions? Feel free to email Julie Faber, ESF President.

ESF PRE-COLLEGE APPLICATION DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 21, 2025
ANNOUNCEMENTS OF SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS: NOVEMBER 25, 2025
SUMMER SPRINGBOARD EARLY ADMISSIONS: DECEMBER 1, 2025 (Discounted Pricing) //SEPARATE APPLICATION

Summer Springboard program chipped in with a $900 discount for the following residential campus locations:

  • UC San Diego (UCSD)

  • UC Berkeley

  • UCLA

Please Note: These scholarships apply strictly to the Residential programs at the three campuses listed above. At this time, we are unable to provide scholarship funding for commuter programs or for programs located at UCSB or Cal Poly.

We are thrilled to help our local students access these incredible pre-college experiences. Be sure to check your application details to ensure you are selecting an eligible residential program to receive this funding!

☀️ Get a Taste of College Life! (BEFORE COLLEGE)

  • Program for High School Students Grades 9-12 (No Cerro Coso College Experience Needed)
  • Experience college living: Stay in dorm rooms and eat buffet-style meals in the mess hall.
  • Explore diverse fields: Choose a week-long course like Business/Entrepreneurship, Medicine, or Trial Law.
  • Hands-on learning & excursions:
    • Trial Law: Conduct a mock trial in a real San Diego Superior Courtroom; observe a live murder trial.
    • Business: Learn to write an elevator pitch and create a dehydrated business plan; participate in a “Shark Tank” style pitch competition (e.g., an AI scheduling app).
    • Visit a business incubator (San Diego Made Factory) to see small businesses thrive.
    • Tour local businesses like Toby’s Candles and Soaps; create your own unique candle.
  • Build your network: Meet kind, smart, and likeminded peers from across the US and international locations (e.g., LA, Ohio, Taiwan).
  • Gain independence: A two-week program that helps you feel more prepared for college and life after high school.
  • Fun campus activities: Enjoy downtime with card games, basketball, ping pong, bake-offs, and movie nights.
  • Life-changing experience: An amazing opportunity to explore a job opportunity and gain skills for school and success.
  • ESF Scholarship Application