Note: In December 2024, the Johnny Wong family proposed new scholarships, and the Scholarship Fund executive board agreed unanimously, planning to make an announcement in January. Then on January 7, 2025, catastropic firestorms devastated communities in and around Los Angeles. Dozens of lives were lost, thousands of homes and businesses burned to the ground. The aftermath reminds of us of our need to lend a hand. And these new awards will recognize a little of these efforts, and other community service.
The family of Johnny Wong is adding to the yearly Gom Benn scholarship they established in his memory. Beginning in 2025, they will award at least two $500 community service awards.
“We believe that Johnny would have wanted us to honor students who volunteer to help others in need, or otherwise make meaningful contributions to their community,” said May Quan Wong, Johnny’s wife.
Middle school and high school students – from 7th to 12th graders – are eligible to apply. Applicants will need to submit a letter from an organization verifying a minimum of 10 hours of community service between July 4th, 2024, and July 4th, 2025.
Tell Us What You Did
In addition, applicants will be required to submit an essay of at least 500 words, describing their community service, what they learned from their experience, and how their service benefited their community. The scholarships will be awarded based on these essays.
Here are a few examples of community service: tutoring or mentoring younger students, participating in a park clean up, helping to provide meals to the needy, assisting at an animal shelter, or volunteering at a nursing home.
Applications for the community service scholarships, and our other Gom Benn scholarships based on grades, will be made available in May 2025, with a deadline on or near July 4th, 2025.
Note: middle and high schoolers can apply for both the community service and the GPA-based scholarships.
