Scholarship Info

Scholarship Overview

The META Scholarship recognises and supports high school seniors and college students pursuing higher education who demonstrate strong academic achievement and multilingual or multicultural abilities.

META (Multilingual Educators Transforming Achievement) is the Stanislaus County chapter of the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE). Through this scholarship program, META aims to support language learners and future leaders who are committed to advancing multilingual excellence and cultural understanding in their communities and professional careers.

Scholarship awards range from $500 to $2,000 and are intended to help students continue their academic journey in higher education.

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About Tove Skutnabb-Kangas

In 2024, META dedicated its conference to our dear friend and colleague, Tove Skutnabb Kangas, who passed away tragically on May 29, 2023. Tove embodied META’s mission and vision of supporting students to pursue their higher education academic goals and capacitate themselves to carry out her legacy as proponents of linguistic human rights and social justice for all.

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Tove Skutnabb-Kangas 

July 6, 1940–May 29, 2023

Eligibility Criteria

Ideal candidates are students who have achieved academic success, demonstrate readiness for college-level work, and express a clear interest in continuing their study of world languages or pursuing multicultural careers.

To apply, students must:

  • Be a resident of Stanislaus County or attend a high school in Stanislaus County
  • College student applicants must have completed high school in Stanislaus County
  • Plan to continue their education at an institution of higher education
  • Demonstrate academic preparation required to enter higher education
  • Show intent to continue studying a world language and pursue a career where multilingual/multicultural competence is valuable

(META members in good standing may nominate students from outside Stanislaus County.)

Priority Consideration

Applicants who have earned one or more of the following credentials may receive priority in the selection process:
  • Seal of Biliteracy
  • Score of 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement (AP) world language exam
  • International Baccalaureate certificate or diploma

How to Apply

Apply Now

01

Review Eligibility

Before applying, be sure you meet our scholarship criteria:

  • Be a graduating high school senior or currently enrolled college student
  • Be a resident of Stanislaus County or attend a high school in Stanislaus County
  • Demonstrate a strong interest in multilingual education, bilingualism, or language equity in your future studies or career

02

Prepare Your Materials

Gather everything you’ll need to complete the application:

  • Proof of biliteracy, AP/IB scores, or other relevant credentials (if available)
  • A 500–750 word essay describing your plan to continue studying world languages and how you plan to use your multilingual and multicultural skills in your future career.

03

Submit Your Application

Once you have all materials ready:

  • Click the Apply Now button above
  • Complete the online form or download and fill out the application PDF form
  • Upload all documents and submit to: duarte.silva@stanford.edu by April 17, 2026.

04

Stay Connected

After you apply:

  • Watch your email for confirmation and updates
  • Be ready to provide additional info if requested
  • Follow us on social or sign up for our newsletter to hear about winners, future opportunities, and our annual conference

FAQs

High school seniors and college students who are Stanislaus County residents or graduates—and who meet the eligibility criteria—are welcome to apply.

Awards range from $250 to $2,000 per recipient.

Applicants must be a resident or attended/completed high school in Stanislaus County, must plan to attend a higher education institution, demonstrate academic readiness, and show interest in multilingual/multicultural careers.

Yes—students with the Seal of Biliteracy, an AP score of 3+ in a world language, or an IB certificate/diploma will receive priority.

Applications must be submitted by March 14, 2026.

Email your completed application to : duarte.silva@stanford.edu

Selected students will be notified by May 1, 2026.

Yes! META members in good standing may nominate students from other regions.

Upcoming Conference

META 2026

February 20-21, 2026

Possibility, Potential, & Promise for Language Learners

Stanislaus County Office of Education
1100 H Street, Modesto, CA 95354

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In 2024, META dedicated its conference to our dear friend and colleague, Tove Skutnabb Kangas, who passed away tragically on May 29, 2023. Tove embodied META’s mission and vision of supporting students to pursue their higher education academic goals and capacitate themselves to carry out her legacy as proponents of linguistic human rights and social justice for all.

For those of us who knew her, her unexpected death remains a tragic and inexplicable loss that we carry in our hearts. We can say that she was a linguist, a researcher, a human and language rights advocate. We can acknowledge that she was a teacher, a writer, an intellectual, an activist. These labels, while all true and deserved, barely skim the surface of her beautiful being. She was so much more that those at the edges of her life experienced. She was a true hero, fierce and uncompromising; she was a champion who lived a life of love and responsibility, who stood strong for all those whose voices and lives were often silenced and even made invisible by those more powerful.

In the California context, her work profoundly impacted the design of a framework for the education of language minority students that took place in the ‘80s. Beyond that, her monumental and magnificent body of work — she was indefatigable — continues even now to shape our thinking. Those of us working in the field of multilingualism and multilingual education are deeply familiar with her work and hold her in the highest of esteem. Sometimes this is the only way we know the giants of Tove’s caliber. Some of us had the privilege of knowing her on a personal level as well, however, and this has enriched our lives immeasurably.

In recognition of her deep commitment to the work we at META strive to accomplish, we are honoring her at this conference and by awarding this year’s META student scholarship in her name. Her passing remains a tragedy; yet there is solace in recognizing that as a force majeure, a north star like no other, Tove will continue to shine bright, and her lasting memory,
written in the sky, will provide us with an enduring strength to continue her work. Her spirit and beauty are with us always.