Requirements to Apply:

• Pediatric oncology patient/survivor diagnosed at age 18 or younger who has been registered as a Sunshine Kid for at least 3 months
• Has participated in Sunshine Kids programs
• Under 23 years of age
• Must be a graduating high school senior, previous high school graduate, or current college student
• Minimum cumulative GPA to apply: 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (unweighted)
  • Students with a GPA of 1.99 or below are not eligible.
  • Please review this guide for instructions on converting your GPA to a 4.0 scale. GPA should be rounded to two decimal points.
    
    
  • If you meet all of these requirements, visit our Application Process FAQ for helpful tips before you get started.

Renewal Students:

• Current recipients of the Sunshine Kids Scholarship who are planning to renew the scholarship for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year must complete several Renewal Tasks through this application. 
• How Do I Renew My Award? 
  • Please do not create a new application for the general scholarship. A Renewal Application will be created for you by the GHCF Scholarships Team. 
  • Keep an eye out for an email from GHCF Scholarships on February 25 with more instructions about renewing your award.

About the Scholarship Award

This is a renewable scholarship, meaning recipients can renew the award for multiple years funding if they meet the GPA and enrollment requirements and complete the renewal application for each academic year they plan to be enrolled.

• Multiple scholarships awarded for the 2026-27 academic year. Award amount varies by college/degree type:
  • 4-Year College - Annual award of $5,000 for the academic year. Award is renewable for a total of four (4) years, totaling $20,000 in scholarships. Can be claimed over a period of 5 years, allowing for deferment if needed.
  • 2-Year College - Annual award of $2,500 for the academic year. Award is renewable for a total of four (4) years, totaling $10,000 in scholarships. Can be claimed over a period of 3 years, allowing for deferment if needed.
    
    
• What can the scholarship be used for?
  • The scholarship will be mailed directly to the student's college to be used towards tuition, required academic fees, and/or book expenses. 
  • Scholarship funding cannot be distributed directly to the student. Funding cannot be used for room and board, rent, meal plans, parking passes, or other similar living expenses.
    
    
• Are there any requirements I must meet if I'm selected as a scholarship recipient?
  • Recipients must attend an accredited university, community college, or trade school in the United States.
  • Recipients must enroll in at least 9 credit hours for both the fall and spring semesters (or be enrolled part-time according to your school if it is on a different system).
  • Recipients must submit college enrollment information online through GHCF Scholar the summer before the academic year begins. This information is required in order for the scholarship check to be mailed to the student's college. Instructions will be included in the student's award letter.
  • Recipients must meet certain criteria in order to receive subsequent annual awards (i.e., renewals): maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, be enrolled in at least 9 credit hours per semester, and complete the renewal application for each academic year they planned to be enrolled.

What Is Needed for This Application?

• Eligibility questions based on the criteria above
• One (1) essay
• Two (2) recommendation forms (completed by your reference through the application site)
• Transcript (unofficial transcripts are accepted)
• Education information
• Resume (involvement in activities and service)

Language Considerations:

• This application is offered in both English and Spanish.
• To view your application in Spanish, click the "EN" dropdown button in the top right corner of the screen and select "Español".
• You may toggle between English and Spanish while filling out your application.