De Anza Zafiro Family Scholarship

Description & Purpose:
Katrina Zafiro was born and raised in the Philippines until her family immigrated to California in the early 1990s. Katrina’s sisters- Kristina, Karina, and Karmina, and mother- Jemima, all took classes at De Anza. Kristina graduated from University of San Francisco, Karina from San Jose State University, and Karmina from UC Berkeley. Katrina graduated from De Anza College and then transferred to San Jose State. She earned her law degree from the University of Washington School of Law and just two years later, she opened her own practice dedicated exclusively to immigration and family law.

While at De Anza Katrina received a scholarship, which not only meant critical financial support but also the validation that others believed in her. She has many fond memories of De Anza and feels strongly that it gave her the vital stepping stone in her education journey. Katrina and her sisters established this scholarship established this scholarship to pay it forward to future students who have had adversity in their lives but possess the drive and potential to reach their own personal dreams.

Criteria:
1. Applicant must be enrolled at De Anza College in at least 6 units at the time of application and disbursement of scholarship funds.

2. Applicant’s cumulative GPA must be a 2.5 or higher.

3. Applicant must demonstrate financial need. Applicant must file a current academic year’s financial aid application (the FAFSA at www.fafsa.gov for U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens, or the California Dream Act Application at https://dream.csac.ca.gov for undocumented students who qualify for AB540 status) at least one week prior to the scholarship application deadline by 4:00pm. NOTE: Undocumented students who do not qualify for AB540 status should contact the Financial Aid Office for guidance about completing a financial aid application.

4. Applicant must demonstrate how they have overcome adversity and/or shown determination in achieving their education and life goals.

5. Recipients of the Zafiro Family Scholarship may re-apply in subsequent years.