2025 Scholarship Applications Are Now Being Accepted

Scholarships and Contests

For many decades members and friends of the Portland Lodge have worked hard to raise funds to support our mission of developing leadership, providing service to the community, and promoting civil rights. And the local community has been very supportive of our efforts.

One of the signature projects that benefit from our supportive community is our scholarships, National essay contest, and the Asian American Youth Leadership Conference.  Most of our scholarships and contests are open to qualified students of all ethnicities in Oregon and Clark County (State of Washington) high schools or its related equivalent. The scholarships and essay contest exists to help the students who will be the leaders of tomorrow.

The essay contest provides an avenue for students to communicate their views on contemporary issues of Asian concern through the medium of written words.  This contest is open to high school students no matter where they reside in the United States. 

Applications for the 2025 National Essay Contest are now being accepted

Saturday, March 1, 2025, commencing at 10:00 a.m. (PST) and concluding at 11:30a.m. (PST)

Registration deadline: Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. (PST)

Contest details and application

CHINESE AMERICAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE

NATIONAL ESSAY CONTEST

Through its 40+ year history, thousands of high school students across the nation have participated in the Alliance’s National Essay Contest. The essay contest is intended to foster creative thinking and self-expression and encourage an awareness of current local and world events. Top placing finishers receive cash scholarships towards their education endeavors. This annual contest is open to any student enrolled in high school (grades 9-12). No entry fee required. Participants are given 90 minutes to compose an essay in English not to exceed 500 words on a contemporary topic concerning the Chinese and Asian American communities. The essay topic is given at the time of the contest.  This contest will be held virtually via Zoom.  

All essays will be judged nationally for national cash awards.  Additionally, C.A.C.A. Portland Lodge will judge the essays written by Oregon and SW Washington contestants for local cash awards.      

National Essay Awards

National First Prize $1,000

National Second Prize $700

National Third Prize $500

National 10 Awards of Merit $100

Portland Lodge Awards

Portland First Prize $200

Portland Second Prize $100

Portland Third Prize $100

2025 C.A.C.A. Portland Lodge Scholarships

Applications are due by April 1, 2025

David Lee Quan Memorial Scholarship

Number of recipients: 1

Awarded to a student who has volunteered in a healthcare or medical setting, and intends to major in the medical health field.

Learn more about David Lee Quan

2025 David Lee Quan Memorial Scholarship Application

Tiffany Wang Arts Scholarship

Number of recipients: 2

Two students will be selected to each receive $500 towards a summer arts program.

This scholarship encompasses these art forms: visual art, dance, drama, music, vocal, and instrumental.

Tiffany Wang is a gifted musician, who has a passion for music and the arts. When Tiffany was in high school, she performed at various functions where she was paid or received gratuities. One such event was the local Farmer's Market. Tiffany felt privileged that her parents could afford to send her to summer music camps, and she sponsors this scholarship with the monies that she earned from her performances to help students that are less fortunate. This scholarship helps students with their tuition fees for summer camps in the fine arts and performing arts.

2025 Tiffany Wang Arts Scholarship

Fred G. and Betty Jean Lee Memorial Scholarships

Number of recipients: 4

At least one scholarship will be awarded to a student who attends a college in Oregon or Washington State, and one scholarship will be for a student going to a trade school or community college. These recipients will be selected based on the following: scholarship, leadership in school, and community activities. Being active in school and community activities, especially in leadership roles is particularly important.

Learn more about Fred G. and Betty Jean Lee

2025 Fred G. and Betty Jean Lee Memorial Scholarships

Sheung Mou and Fenge Tam Scholarship

Number of recipients: 1

This scholarship will be awarded to a first generation college student of any ethnicity.

Learn more about Sheung Mou and Fenge Tam

2025 Sheung Mou and Fenge Tam Scholarship Application

Asian American Youth Leadership Conference

The title of this scholarship program calls back to a time when many Asian immigrants looked upon America as a mountain of golden opportunities for themselves and their families. Awardees of the scholarship seek dreams of higher education, which are not only the dreams of the students but also of their parents and extended family.

This year,first-gen high school students who identify as AANHPI and will be graduating high school this year and starting college/university in Fall 2025 will be awarded $2,000 each.

Deadline: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST

START YOUR APPLICATION