Editor’s Note: This article was updated to address the misattribution of quotes to sources and correct the accuracy of information regarding scholarships on Monday, June 10 at 9:15 p.m. Specific details can be found below the article.

The El Camino College Scholarship Office will inform scholarship applicants in September they are not allowed to use AI while writing the “Tell your Story” essay which is part of the requirements.

The Scholarship Office can check if AI is being used.

Two student applications were received by the Scholarships Office that had the same essay submission because they put the same AI prompt and submitted it, Executive Director of the El Camino Foundation Team Andrea Sala said.

El Camino has 600 scholarships available for students enrolling in and transferring out of the college.

The scholarship application period will open from Monday, Sept. 9 to Sunday, Dec. 1.

“Only around 1,200 students apply for scholarships,” Sala said.

On May 16, El Camino is hosting a Scholarship Dinner for students to meet the donors that supply them with their scholarships and funds, Sala said.

“In 2023, El Camino College students were awarded more than 600 scholarships totaling nearly $900,000. Many scholarships cover the full cost of tuition, fees, and textbooks. Like grants, they do not have to be repaid,” according to the El Camino Scholarship website.

The Scholarship Office emails all students individually about available scholarships at El Camino along with putting up flyers and signs to get the word out.

“All you have to do is go to MyECC and select the scholarship application under a drop-down menu listed. You answer some very easy questions like your name, student ID, major and then write a small essay on your life story so we better understand you,” Sala said.

The application places students into different categories where they are most likely to receive a scholarship based on major, community service, and their answers to the questions on the form they submitted.

According to a Scholarship Office General Information flier, students who have a minimum 2.0 GPA, are currently enrolled and have completed a minimum of six cumulative units at El Camino before the deadline may apply.

All scholarships are either non-transferable or transferable. “Non-transferable means that all funds must be used at El Camino College while transferable funds transfer to a four-year university or accredited, certificated vocational institution,” according to the flier.

The average scholarship money awarded to students is around $1,000. Transferable scholarships will have more than the average amount.

“Typically, a student only gets one scholarship but may receive more than one if they are transferring because the need is greater,” Sala later told The Union.

When the scholarships are received, the Scholarship Office won’t give each student a check; if the student chooses, the office can pay a student’s fees directly to the college from their scholarship so the student has no out-of-pocket expenses, or they can pay the fees and submit a reimbursement, Sala later told The Union.

Sala said the Scholarship Office may also set up a book voucher at the Bookstore, or students can purchase books online and then submit a reimbursement for those expenses.

According to the El Camino College Foundation Scholarship Program booklet that lists all of the partnerships from funding, donations and scholarships, there are hundreds of scholarship donors; some are individuals and some are companies.

Scholarships available for students to apply for can be found on the El Camino website. Students can start applying for scholarships on Sept. 9 when the 2025-26 Scholarship Application opens.

• The direct quotes in the third paragraph were misattributed to El Camino Foundation Team Scholarship Specialist Theresa Clifford and have been edited.
• The fifth paragraph has been edited for accuracy. At the time of the interview, the scholarship application for fall had not yet been determined. The application period has been updated to Monday, September 9, 2024 to Sunday, December 1, 2024, based on information from the El Camino College Scholarship website found here: https://www.elcamino.edu/admissions/finances/financial-aid/scholarships.aspx
• The second direct quote in the sixth paragraph was misattributed to El Camino Foundation Team Executive Director Andrea Sala and has been edited.
• In the seventh paragraph, “partnerships” has been changed to “donors.”
• The direct quote in the eighth paragraph was misattributed to Sala. This has been updated to the information provided on the El Camino College Scholarship website found here: https://www.elcamino.edu/admissions/finances/financial-aid/scholarships.aspx
• The 11th paragraph has been edited for accuracy.
• The 12th paragraph was misattributed to Clifford and has been edited.
• The 14th paragraph was misattributed to Clifford and has been edited.
• The direct quote in the 15th paragraph was misattributed to Sala and has been edited for accuracy.
• The 16th paragraph has been edited for accuracy.
• The 17th paragraph has been edited for accuracy. The “36 partnerships” previously mentioned refers to the list of company logos on the back of the 2024 El Camino College Foundation Scholarship Program booklet. They are the El Camino Foundation Team’s community partners.