Virginia Smith Trust Scholarship
Resource
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The Virginia Smith Trust (VST), administered by the Merced County Office of Education, is an endowment established from the will of Merced-native Virginia Smith, who declared that the land, which supported her family for more than a century, be used to generate scholarships for “worthy, deserving and needy students” in the city of Merced.
The VST has benefitted more than 3,000 Merced students through nearly $6 million scholarships since its inception in 1975. Plans to expand scholarship opportunities to students countywide are projected to take effect by 2028.
Eligibility
To qualify for the VST Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Attended a public high school in the city of Merced for a minimum of three years and lived in Merced County during that time.
- Applied to a four-year public or private institution of higher education in California, accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). (Community and junior colleges are not eligible.)
- High school applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. College applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 during the academic year awarded.
How to Apply
Application will only be accepted online at: https://smithtrust.scholarshipsplatform.com
The deadline to apply for 2026-27 VST Scholarship is March 2, 2026.