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AWCA scholarships are available to undergraduate and graduate students who exemplify AWCA’s commitment to servant leadership and demonstrate financial need.
The Kihwa Scholarship
The Kihwa Scholarship was established to support the dreams of college and graduate school students who demonstrate a strong commitment to academic excellence and community service but face financial difficulty. The scholarship was named after its founder, the dearly loved Ms. Kihwa Kwak, and this year marks its 24th anniversary of giving back to the community. The scholarship awards a total of $6,000 to two recipients ($3,000 to each awardee) for the upcoming academic year.
The Duke & Judy Lee Scholarship
The Duke & Judy Lee Scholarship was established in 2025 to support undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing careers in public service or law enforcement and are facing financial challenges. Named in honor of Ms. Judy Lee, a beloved AWCA volunteer and board member, and her husband Mr. Duke Lee, the scholarship reflects their enduring legacy of community service and civic dedication. The scholarship awards a total of $ 5,000 to two recipients ($ 2,500 to each awardee) for the upcoming academic year.
General Eligibility
Applicants must meet all of the following general requirements:
– Full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 hours per semester, 15 hours recommended) in a US-accredited college or university
– Completion of at least one full academic year of college coursework (minimum of 24 credit hours) by the time of application
– Ability to attend the 2026 AWCA Scholarship Award Ceremony in person (Friday, August 7, 10 AM at AWCA)
Kihwa Scholarship-Specific Eligibility
– Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
– Proof of at least 100 verified volunteer hours completed within the past two calendar years (2024–2026); documentation must come from an official source
– Demonstrated a strong commitment to academic excellence and community service
Duke & Judy Lee Scholarship-Specific Eligibility
– Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale
– Must be pursuing a major related to public service or law enforcement, including but not limited to: Criminal Justice, Public Administration, Political Science, Government, Sociology, Legal Studies
– Must demonstrate a genuine interest in law enforcement or public service, as shown through: related work, volunteer, or internship experience, passion projects or academic involvement, community engagement or service-oriented leadership
Students are welcome to apply to both Kihwa and Duke & Judy Lee Scholarships if they meet the eligibility criteria for each; however, only one AWCA scholarship will be awarded per recipient per academic year.
Past applicants and awardees are welcome to reapply.
Timeline
Application Due Friday, July 10
Decision Letters Friday, July 17
Award Ceremony Friday, August 7 at 10 am
Ceremony Location AWCA (9 Genesee Ave, Teaneck, NJ 07666)
All required materials, including Letters of recommendation and documentations, must be received by AWCA by Friday, July 10.
CONTACT US
SAMUEL OH
Communications & Youth Program Director
Monday–Friday 9am–4pm
201-862-1664 | sam@awcanj.org | info@awcanj.org
