What’s Happening is a community service from the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) to connect families, students, and educators with free and low-cost opportunities and resources, including educator grants and scholarships/contests for students. Helpful information is updated regularly on this page with highlights published at the start of each month as an e-newsletter.
Email communications@sdcoe.net if you have an opportunity to share with educators, students, and families in San Diego County.
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Free and low-cost opportunities for educators and students
Experience the colorful world of Puerto Rican music, dance, and culture during a free virtual concert on YouTube from April 15 through May 14. This bilingual concert presented by Classics 4 Kids is designed for grades TK-6 students. 
Teens at Mingei is a paid, eight-month internship program that offers 10th and 11th grade high school students a chance to meet artists and art professionals from San Diego, and gain insight into the inner workings of an art museum.
The San Diego Superior Court is offering a Juvenile Court town hall webinar series with a focus on Juvenile Justice. The town hall series aims to inform San Diego County residents about the court, its processes, and the role of partner agencies in Juvenile Court proceedings.
Mark your calendars for Educator Appreciation Night at the San Diego Natural History Museum on May 7. Register today for this free and fun event. 
The Chargers Champions School Grant Program is now open to assist schools with meeting some of the basic physical fitness, nutrition, and athletic needs of their students.  
Youth commissioner applications are due by April 4 for the County of San Diego Arts and Culture Commission. Youth ages 16-24 can help promote greater access to and increase public awareness of the value and benefits of the arts. 
The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is offering a free five-day student workshop with hands-on training from public health professionals, career exploration, and more. Rising juniors and seniors can apply. 
April is National Volunteer Month and it's a great time to encourage others to join the impact of volunteerism and get involved in their communities. See a list of resources, including some with opportunities for youth volunteers. 
The Padres will celebrate all San Diego County teachers and school staff at Educator Appreciation Night on May 30. See the Padres play the Pirates at 6:40 p.m. The 2025 San Diego County Teachers of the Year and the 2025-26 School District Teachers of the Year will be recognized during the game.
These materials are designed to support school leaders to identify proposed immigration policies that may impact their school communities and how they can address their community's needs.
School districts and charter schools across the county are hiring for a variety of teaching and non-teaching positions, and the upcoming job fair will help connect local job seekers to quality opportunities.
The San Diego County Office of Education is proud to recognize and celebrate the Month of the Military Child in April, during which time we recognize and celebrate the unique challenges and contributions of military children and youth. 
Parents and caregivers can learn about tools and strategies to support their children with mental health challenges through a free webinar series hosted by SDCOE and experts with the Transforming Mental Health Initiative at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. Final webinar in the series is March 19.
Wheelhouse Credit Union is encouraging San Diego college-bound high school seniors to apply for its 2025 scholarship programs. Open to any local students, these programs will provide $10,000 in scholarships.
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Lighthouse Awards, which honor school and community leaders in equity, diversity, and inclusion. The honorees will be recognized during the SDCOE Equity Conference on May 28-30. 
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The North Island Credit Union Foundation 2025 Spring Teacher Grant is now available for full time teachers in San Diego County. The foundation will award 10 grants of $500 each to help fund innovative learning opportunities for students.
The San Diego County Credit Union is proudly honoring local teachers through SDCCU Classroom Heroes, launched in partnership with SDCOE. Three teachers are recognized every quarter. 
There are many local scholarship and contest opportunities available for students in San Diego County. For more student awards and free or low-cost opportunities, visit SDCOE's What's Happening webpage.
The application period for students to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form online will close on April 2. Students and families can access the application at FAFSA.gov. The paper form is also available for students to submit. The CSAC hosts virtual Cash for College workshops so families can get help filling out the FAFSA or CADAA. Visit their webinar page for dates and to register. 
 
High school students can learn more about the admission requirements and benefits of the San Diego Community College District (SDCC) San Diego Promise, which aims to eliminate financial barriers to a community college education. Information nights will take place virtually from 6 to 7 p.m. on Apr. 22 and Jun. 17. Interpretation is available in American Sign Language, Spanish, Japanese, Filipino, Somali, and Vietnamese. Visit the SDCC San Diego Promise page for complete details.
 
The California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) provides webinars and in-person workshops to help students and their families learn about scholarship applications and local financial aid resources. The workshops are open to all San Diego County students, with a special focus on current high school seniors. Check out the Cal-SOAP website for more information on programs to help pay for college including current scholarships. 
 
The Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County (RCD) Scholarship is an annual scholarship program for graduating high school seniors pursuing further education in the fields of resource conservation, environmental sciences, biology or agriculture. The scholarship is available to students residing in the RCD of Greater San Diego County boundaries. Up to seven scholarships of $1,000 are awarded each year. Apply by April 14 on the RCD San Diego Scholarship page. 
The Taiwanese American Foundation of San Diego is offering a scholarship for 2025 high school seniors in San Diego County. A $2,500 scholarship will be offered to nine high school seniors per year who are exemplary in academics and have a positive impact on their community. Three of the scholarships are reserved for those with financial needs. Submit your application by April 15. More details can be found on the Taiwanese American Foundation website. 
The Pacific Islander Festival Association (PIFA)Scholarship is available for high school students who are of Melanesian, Mirconesian, or Polynesian descent. Through this scholarship PIFA strives to provide educational resources and enhance the knowledge and understanding of Pacific Islanders’ traditions and values. Apply by April 15 on the PIFA Scholarship page. 
 
Hui O Hawaii of San Diego is offering a scholarship for high school students entering or attending college or a business or vocational school in the fall. Applicants should be directly affiliated with the Hui, as members, or dependent children of members in good standing. Apply by April 15. More information can be found on the Hui O Hawaii scholarship application page.
 
High school seniors residing in San Diego County who will be first-year, full-time college students at a San Diego County college or university can apply for the San Diego County Citizens' Scholarship Foundation (SDCCSF) scholarship. Awards range from $1000 to $1500 and there is no minimum GPA. Scholarship winners will be announced in May. Download a scholarship flyer. Visit the SDCCSF scholarship application page to apply.  The application deadline is April 18.
College-bound high school seniors in San Diego county can apply for the Wheelhouse Badge of Honor Scholarship or the Wheelhouse Sustainability Scholarship available from the Wheelhouse Credit Union. Interested students can find more information and apply online on the Wheelhouse Credit Union website. Credit union membership is not required. Apply by April 30.
SeniorCare.com is offering a $1500 scholarship to incoming freshman or current college students who best demonstrate why "Aging Matters" to them. Applicants must currently care for an aging loved one, volunteer within the senior community, or intend to pursue a career that will have an impact on the elder population.  All applicants can get more information and apply online on the Seniorcare.com website. Apply by May 15.
 
High school seniors and college students currently enrolled in a school district within San Diego, Orange, or Los Angeles counties, and who intend to pursue a career in healthcare, are invited to apply for the Health Care Communicators of Southern California (HCCSC) scholarship. A minimum scholarship award of $3,000, generously provided by AMN Healthcare, will be granted. Scholarship recipients will also be recognized at the prestigious Finest Awards event in May, alongside leading communications professionals in the healthcare industry. The application deadline is June 30. View the HCCSC Scholarship flyer for more information. 
San Diego high school students are invited to help capture the essence of San Diego’s unique natural beauty in the Living Coast Discovery Center’s first ever photo contest. The theme, "Meet the Locals," calls for stunning images that highlight the native species and diverse habitats found in the San Diego region. The deadline to submit is April 27. For more information, including contest rules, view the contest application form. 
 
San Diego K12 students can participate in the 2025 STEM Art Contest. This year’s theme is Design Your Future. The contest is celebrating Engineering Week by promoting creativity and inspiring engineers of all kinds through future thinkers. The entry deadline is April 30. For more information visit the 2025 STEM Art Contest page. 
 
California students in 6th through 12th grade are invited to submit a podcast, narrative essay, or photo essay to the Climate Storytelling Contest. This year's theme explores feelings towards climate change, and educator resources are available. The deadline to submit is May 29 by 5 p.m. Visit the contest page for more information. 

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