The Oakland Bay Area Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, is a national volunteer service organization of concerned and committed women, primarily of African ancestry, whose work enhances the quality of life in our larger communities. The organization strives to contribute to the formulation of a positive, productive, and culturally diverse Bay Area community through our focus on education, cultural enrichment, health and wellness, and civic involvement for almost 75 years. Our chapter has been awarding Bay Area students, our Celebration of Excellence Scholarship, for over 30 years and appreciate your assistance in reaching high school seniors to pursue their goals for higher education. Please share the following Celebration of Excellence scholarship information with your student community. We especially encourage students who self-identify as Black or African American ancestry to apply. We will be awarding individual scholarships up to $5000.
Members of the Links, Incorporated and their family members are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.
The Celebration of Excellence (COE) scholarship may be accessed electronically, using the link below.
The COE scholarship eligibility requirements are:
- High school seniors, graduating in May/June 2026
- A minimum cumulative (not weighted) GPA of 3.4 or higher (on a 4.0 Scale)
- Demonstrated active participation in community service activities
- Demonstrated active participation in school activities and leadership skills
- Provide plans to attend and graduate from a four-year college or university
- Complete and submit all requirements by 11:59 pm on Wednesday, March 4, 2026:
- Scholarship Application
- (2) Letters of Recommendation
- Student Portrait Quality Headshot
- Official School Transcript (sent by school only)
Recipients of the scholarship are required to attend the Celebration of Excellence Reception that will be held Sunday, April 26, 2026. If you have any questions, please contact us via email at coescholarships@oaklandbayarealinks.org
Use these links to complete your application and upload letters of recommendation and transcripts.
2026 Celebration of Excellence Application Instructions
2026 Celebration of Excellence Scholarship Application
2026 Celebration of Excellence Letter of Recommendation Submission Form
2026 Celebration of Excellence Official Transcript Submission Form