2026 Dr. Reyes Ortega Scholarship for the Latino Leadership Council
Applications are NOW OPEN!
(DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS IS Saturday, May 30, 2026)
The Board of Directors and staff at the Latino Leadership Council (LLC) recently established the
Dr. Reyes Ortega Scholarship Fund at Placer Community Foundation (PCF), in honor of his long-standing social justice activism, teachings, mentorship, and community service.
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Dr. Ortega serves on LLC's Board and is Professor Emeritus at Sierra College. Twice awarded as Faculty of the Year, Dr. Ortega was additionally honored as the recipient of the inaugural Excellence in Equity Award. He taught Chicana/o Studies and Chicano/Mexican American History and was instrumental in the successful design of the Sierra College Associate Degree in Chicana and Chicano Studies. Furthermore, while serving as an academic and personal counselor, Dr. Ortega introduced and co-coordinated the nationally acclaimed Puente Program at Sierra College, which maximizes academic access and success in higher education.
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“I am so very fortunate to serve on LLC’s Board and to have engaged as a practitioner of community service. Through education, health, and youth development, LLC carries the enormous responsibility of welcoming and introducing “nuestra comunidad Latina” [our Latino community] to the complexities and benefits of life in the United States. This gargantuan task cannot be achieved without the genuine commitment and dedication of an incredible staff and Board of Directors. ¡Sí Se Puede!”
- Dr. Reyes Ortega
Applications for the Dr. Reyes Ortega Scholarship for Latino Leadership Council are available for graduating Placer High School and Lincoln High School students applying to Sierra College. Applicants must:
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apply as a first-time college student with no prior college experience;
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enroll as a full-time college student with a minimum of 12.0 semester units;
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identify as a 1st Generation College Student (someone whose parents or legal guardians did not complete a four-year college or university degree);
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demonstrate an interest and understanding of the Hispanic/Latino experience within the United States; and
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have a declared educational goal of completing a Sierra College associate degree and transferring to complete a bachelor’s degree at a California State University (CSU), a University of California (UC), or another regionally accredited college or university.
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Special note: Scholarship is divided into two installments and is individually awarded to the student at the successful completion of each fall and spring semester during the 2026-27 academic year.​
Scholarship Amount: Placer High School Student $1,000, and Lincoln High School Student $1,000
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Application and Selection Criteria
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To be considered for this scholarship, you must answer the questions on this form, complete the required essay, and submit at least one letter of recommendation, although you may submit up to two. Reference letters must be submitted directly to the application committee at DROScholar@LatinoLeadershipCouncil.org. Selected finalists will be invited to do an informal virtual interview with the selection panel for a brief "get to know you" chat. More instructions about the letters of recommendation are below. Scholarship selection will be based on essay responses, interviews and references.