The Pittsburg initiative aims to reduce financial barriers for students and encourage careers in STEAM fields.
The City of Pittsburg is proud to announce the establishment of the Pittsburg Promise Community Scholarship, an initiative aimed at promoting higher education in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). The scholarship program, authorized by the City Council on November 18, 2024, will provide up to $25,000 in annual scholarships, before the 2025-2026 academic year.
“The Pittsburg Promise Community Scholarship aims to assist in removing financial barriers to college for youth in our community and inspire more students to pursue careers in STEAM fields,” said current Pittsburg Mayor Jelani Killings.
Councilmember Juan Banales, who served as the City’s Mayor in 2024, added, “Investing in our youth is essential to the future of Pittsburg, and this scholarship program will empower young adults to pursue careers in STEAM, opening doors to innovation, creativity, and lifelong opportunities.”
While considering the development of the initiative, City Council noted that far too many Pittsburg youth are either financially unable to attend college, or face major financial liabilities upon graduation. The Pittsburg Promise Community Scholarship was established as a way to lessen the burdens of student loans or provide other means of financing to college-bound students which would have otherwise prevented these students from attending college. City Council members also highlighted their hope that many of these students will return to Pittsburg following graduation, helping to form the next generation of innovative leaders in the Bay Area.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, STEAM-related occupations are projected to grow by over 10% over the next decade, significantly outpacing other fields. Additionally, STEAM careers offer higher earning potential and greater job stability, reinforcing the need for communities like Pittsburg to invest in educational pathways for young professionals.
The scholarship will award up to five $5,000 grants annually. Eligible recipients include Pittsburg residents, as well as dependents of City of Pittsburg staff members, accepted into a four-year college with a declared STEAM major and a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. The application process includes an online submission, a personal statement, academic transcripts, and letters of recommendation. The City’s Community Advisory Commission (CAC) will oversee the selection process. Depending on the number of scholarship applicants, a lottery system may be employed to select the final recipients.
The application window is currently open through May 31, 2025, with awardees being selected and announced this summer. For more information or to apply for the Pittsburg Promise Community Scholarship, please visit www.pittsburgca.gov/pittsburgpromise.
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The City of Pittsburg Incorporated in 1903, Pittsburg is located on the south shore of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in Northern California, approximately 40 miles east of San Francisco. The City has a population of 77,752 and operates under the council/manager form of government with its own Police, Public Works, Community and Economic Development, Finance, Community Services, and Recreation Departments, as well as its own utility divisions operating as the Pittsburg Power Company and Pittsburg Water. With more than 5,000 new housing units in the development pipeline, as well as large industrial corridors slated for redevelopment, Pittsburg is one of the fastest growing cities in Contra Costa County.
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