Scholarships

The Holcomb and Farnell Foreign Study Fund is a needs-based, partial scholarship applicable to the Winter/Spring Semester or Winter/Spring Year program of any YFU country. This scholarship is funded by Sharon Holcomb and Fred Farnell, who wish to provide young Americans with a life-changing study abroad experience similar to the one Sharon had as a YFU exchange student to Germany.

The Japan-American Friendship Society (JAFS) is a merit-based, partial scholarship applicable to the Summer program in Japan. This scholarship is state-funded and aims to further Japan-American relations by helping motivated American students learn the language and culture of Japan.

The Tolpolka Scholarship Fund is a needs-based, partial scholarship applicable to a Winter/Spring Year or Semester program of any YFU country. This scholarship is funded by the family of the late Karla Topolka, who desired to provide a young person with a life-changing opprotunity to study abroad.

The Kikkoman National Scholarship is a merit-based, full scholarship applicable to the Summer program in Japan. This scholarship is funded by the Kikkoman Corporation and aims to further Japan-American relations by helping motivated American students learn the language and culture of Japan.

The Kikkoman FCCLA Scholarship is a merit-based, full scholarship applicable to the Summer program in Japan. This scholarship is funded by the Kikkoman Corporation and is available for students who are active dues-paying members of Family Careers and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA).

The Alan Hershey Legacy Scholarship for Japan Exchange is a needs-based, partial scholarship applicable to the Summer program in Japan. This scholarship is funded by family and friends of Alan Hershey, whose experience on the 1974 YFU program to Japan had a profound impact on his life, and inspired a career in international banking that brought him back to Asia dozens of times.

The YFU Legacy Grant is a $1,000 grant applicable to any YFU program. Students who are part of a family that has previously been involved in the YFU community as an alumnus, host, volunteer, and more are eligible for this grant.

The YFU Financial Aid Fund offers needs-based, partial Financial Aid and is applicable to any YFU program. The YFU Financial Aid Fund is made possible by generous donors to Youth For Understanding USA’s scholarship fund.

The YFU Stiftung and Stipendium Scholarship is a need-based, partial scholarship applicable to the Fall Semester or Fall Year program in Germany. This scholarship aims to provide minority American students with an educational and fulfilling intercultural experience in Germany.

The Jason Pollington Latin America Scholarship is a needs-based, full scholarship applicable to the Fall Year, Fall Semester or Spring Semester program in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay or Uruguay. This scholarship is funded by Matthew Hill and aims to provide American students with an education and fulfilling experience in Latin America, where both Jason and Matthew studied with YFU in 1997.

The YFU Passport to Equity Fund is for American students of African descent. This need-based partial scholarship is applicable to any Year or Semester program of the student’s choosing. Passport to Equity aims to give the world a more proportionate view of the American demographic.

The Culture Connect Scholarship is a needs-based, partial scholarship applicable to a YFU year, semester, or trimester program of the student’s choosing. This scholarship aims to encourage motivated students to learn more about culture through authentic immersion. Preference will be given to a student residing in North Carolina, however, students nationally are encouraged to apply.

The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) Scholarship is a merit-based, full scholarship applicable to the Fall Year program in Germany. The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program (CBYX) is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by YFU USA. This prestigious scholarship aims to further German-American relations by helping motivated American learn the language and culture of Germany. Students applying for the YFU CBYX scholarship must reside in one of the following states:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Iowa
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Missouri
• Mississippi
• Tennessee
• Wisconsin

The Germany For You Scholarship is a full scholarship applicable to a two (2) week summer program in Germany. This scholarship is funded by private German individual and corporate funders and aims to provide educational and fulfilling cultural exchange programs to motivated American students from Michigan. Priority will be given to students residing in the Great Lakes Bay region of the state.

The Kikkoman Folsom Scholarship is a merit-based, full scholarship applicable to the Summer program in Japan. This scholarship is funded by the Kikkoman Foods Foundation and aims to provide educational and fulfilling cultural exchange programs to motivated American students at the following Folsom, California schools:

• Folsom High School
• Cordova High School
• Oak Ridge High School
• Vista del Lago High School (Folsom)

The Kikkoman Walworth Scholarship is a merit-based, full scholarship applicable to the Summer program in Japan. This scholarship is funded by the Kikkoman Foods Foundation and aims to provide educational and fulfilling cultural exchange programs to motivated American students at the following Walworth County, Wisconsin schools:

• Elkhorn High School
• Badger High School
• Big Foot High School
• Williams Bay High School
• Delavan-Darie High School
• East Troy High School
• Faith Christian High School
• Walworth Christian High School
• Whitewater High School

The WEH Foundation Scholarship is a needs-based, full scholarship applicable to any summer program YFU offers. The WEH Foundation Scholarship aims to provide educational and fulfilling cultural exchange programs to students who reside in one of the following counties:

• Sacramento County, California
• El Dorado County, California
• Placer County, California
• Nevada County, California
• Alpine County, California
• Amador County, California
• Calaveras County, California
• Sutter County, California
• Yuba County, California
• San Joaquin County, California
• Washoe County, Nevada

The Chevron Culture and Travel Program Scholarship is a merit-based, full scholarship and is only available to students who have a parent or legal guardian employed at Chevron.

The Epson America, Inc. International Scholarship is a merit-based, full scholarship and is only available to students who have a parent or legal guardian employed at Epson America.

The Mazda Canada, Inc. Scholarship is a merit-based, full scholarship and is only available to students who have a parent or legal guardian employed at Mazda Canada.

The Mitsubishi Electric U.S., Inc. Scholarship is a merit-based, full scholarship and is only available to students who have a parent or legal guardian employed at Mitsubishi Electric.

The Sony Corporation of America Scholarship is a merit-based, full scholarship and is only available to students who have a parent or legal guardian employed at select divisions at Sony.