November 13, 2026
Merit- and Need-Based Scholarships for individuals of Chinese descent for undergraduate college tuition.
Application Deadline for the 2026–2027 Academic Year: January 24, 2027
IMPORTANT: Select Your Application Track
Applicants may apply under Track 1 (Merit-Based Only) OR Track 2 (Merit + Need-Based). Please review the criteria below to ensure you only submit the documents required for your track.
1. Basic Eligibility Criteria (Required for ALL Applicants)
All applicants, regardless of track, must meet the following general requirements:
- Be of Chinese descent.
- Be a resident of Minnesota and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Be a high school senior during the 2026–2027 academic year with an unweighted cumulative GPA of 3.0/3.5 or higher.
- Support and promote the vision and mission of CAAM (see details on the CAAM website). When opportunities arise, applicants and their families are expected to positively engage with CAAM, CAAM CDT, and CAAM TCCLS, and must not harm or tarnish their reputation under any circumstances.
2. Choose Your Track & Document Requirements
🔵 TRACK 1: Merit-Based Scholarship Only
- Who it is for: All eligible high school seniors meeting the basic criteria above (GPA ≥ 3.5).
- Required Documents: Application Form, Cover Letter, Material Proof of Service, Transcripts, and 3 Letters of Recommendation.
- ⚠️ STOP! DO NOT submit tax returns, FAFSA, or fee waiver documents. Merit-only applicants who submit financial files will not receive additional consideration and waste time preparing unneeded paperwork.
🟢 TRACK 2: Merit + Need-Based Scholarship
- Who it is for: Applicants meeting basic criteria who also seek financial need consideration (GPA threshold ≥ 3.0).
- Financial Verification (Submit ONE of the following options):
- Option A (Fee Waiver Proof): School-issued documentation showing you received a fee waiver for high school after-school activities.
- Option B (Financial Documentation): A completed FAFSA form OR the most recent 3 years of Federal Tax Returns.
- Note: If you are applying for Track 2 and did not participate in after-school activities, you must submit Option B.
Evaluation Criteria
- Applicants must fulfill all eligibility requirements listed above for their selected track.
- Applicants will be evaluated on academic performance, extracurricular activities, and leadership qualities.
- Active volunteer involvement in community service—especially events organized, co-organized, or sponsored by CAAM, CAAM CDT, and CAAM TCCLS within the past five years—will be considered.
- Please visit the websites of CAAM, CAAM CDT, and CAAM TCCLS to learn more about our organizations or to verify prior involvement/enrollment as a student.
Application Checklist
Applicants must submit the following materials:
- Completed Application Form: Signed and dated. (Download the Application Form)
- Cover Letter & Documentation of Service: Material proof demonstrating participation in CAAM, CAAM CDT, CAAM TCCLS, or other community volunteer activities. Email files named according to this format: LastName_FirstName_DocumentName (e.g., Liu_Aihua_Cover_Letter, Liu_Aihua_Recommendation_Letter, Liu_Aihua_Material_Proof). Applications with improperly formatted filenames will not be processed.
- Official Transcript: The latest official high school transcript, sent directly by the school.
- Three Letters of Recommendation: At least two from teachers from recent academic years, and one from a mentor or advisor.
- Note: Letters must be addressed specifically to CAAM for this scholarship and submitted directly by the recommenders (not by the applicant).
- Financial Documentation (Track 2 / Need-Based Applicants ONLY): Official school-issued fee waiver letter OR FAFSA / 3-Year Tax Returns. (Track 1 applicants skip this item completely).
Note: Incomplete applications will not be evaluated.
How and Where to Submit
Please send application materials to [email protected] as follows:
- Applicant Submissions: Completed Application Form, Cover Letter, Material Proof, and (if applying for Track 2) Financial Documentation
- School Submissions: Official Transcripts
- Recommender Submissions: Letters of Recommendation
Application Deadline: January 24, 2027
Applicants will receive email notifications confirming receipt of their materials and again following the review committee’s evaluation.
Attention: Applicants are responsible for verifying with the schools that all required items—especially transcripts and all three letters of recommendation—are submitted before the deadline.
Requirements for Awarded Recipients
- Academic & Behavioral Standards: Failure to maintain satisfactory academic performance and exemplary conduct throughout the school year may lead to revocation of the award.
- Media Release: Awardees must provide CAAM with a recent color portrait photograph and consent to its publication in announcement reports.
- Mandatory Volunteer Service at IFest-MN: Recipients must provide volunteer service at the International Festival of Minnesota (formerly Festival of Nations) on Friday, April 9, 2027 and Saturday, April 10, 2027, representing CAAM, CAAM CDT, and CAAM TCCLS. (Parents may fulfill this requirement on the recipient’s behalf if the recipient attends college outside the Twin Cities area.)
- Award Ceremony Attendance: Recipients must attend the scholarship award ceremony in person scheduled between April and May 2027. Failure to attend without a verified, documented justification will be treated as a forfeiture/rejection of the scholarship, and the award will be canceled.
- Mandatory Volunteer Service at Aquatennial Torchlight Parade: Recipients must participate in the Aquatennial Torchlight Parade in downtown Minneapolis on Wednesday, July 21, 2027 (5:00 PM – 9:00 PM) on behalf of CAAM, CAAM CDT, and CAAM TCCLS. (Parents may fulfill this requirement on the recipient’s behalf if the recipient attends college outside the Twin Cities area.)
Terms, Conditions & Mandatory Agreement
- Binding Agreement: By submitting an application for the CAAM – Stanley & Marvel Chong Scholarship, the applicant and their family explicitly agree to all terms, eligibility requirements, rules, and post-award volunteer/event commitments set forth above. Submitting an application constitutes a formal acknowledgment that the applicant understands and agrees to fulfill all duties if awarded.
- Membership Grant: Recipients will automatically become CAAM members in good standing upon turning 18 years of age. A complimentary one-year CAAM membership will also be extended to their parents.