College costs can feel overwhelming, but scholarships are one of the most powerful tools students can use to make higher education more affordable. Many students believe scholarships are only for top academic performers or specific backgrounds, but the truth is that opportunities exist for everyone. This spring, the Santa Clara County Library District is offering a three‑part workshop series designed to help teens and their families understand the scholarship landscape, find opportunities that fit, and create strong, competitive applications.
All workshops are taught by Rebecca Lippman, an experienced UCLA instructor and advisor at the Center for Scholarships and Scholarly Enrichment. She has spent more than a decade helping students identify, apply for, and manage scholarships, and she brings that expertise directly to SCCLD teens.
Workshop 1: The Complex Landscape of Scholarships for College
Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2026 Time: 5:00–6:00 PM Format: Online (Zoom) Registration required
Becca will demystify the complex networks and application processes for scholarships and introduce an approach to navigating merit- and community-based scholarships.
Rebecca Lippman brings a decade of experience as a UCLA instructor and advisor at the Center for Scholarships and Scholarly Enrichment, where she coached undergrads through the process of identifying, applying for, and managing scholarships.
Click here to register: https://sccl.bibliocommons.com/events/69bae507b6c4ac1fedc699c4
Workshop 2: Finding Scholarships that Fit
Attendees will walk away with a 3-step-process for online searches, 10-25 customized search terms for getting the most out of personalized internet searches, and a better sense of how public institutions, private donors, and large organizations advertise scholarship opportunities.
Workshop 3: Developing Unique Essays
This workshop will focus on teaching participants how to develop a series of interchangeable written “modules” that can be used to address the most popular aspects of multiple scholarship essay prompts. Participants will learn to analyze and identify 3 typical varieties of the scholarship essay and walk away with a clear sense of the most relevant content, details, and facts that must be incorporated into a strong application.
Presenter: Rebecca Lippman
Rebecca has more than ten years of experience guiding students through the scholarship process as an instructor and advisor at UCLA’s Center for Scholarships and Scholarly Enrichment. She specializes in helping students identify opportunities that align with their goals and present themselves effectively in applications
Accessability
For accessibility accommodations, including ASL interpretation, please submit the request form at sccld.org/accessibility at least seven days before the event. If you need assistance completing the form, visit your local library, call (408) 540‑3945, or email ask@lib.sccgov.org.
