DIStinguished public service scholarship
The Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) is pleased to announce Nicole Hoang as the 2026 Scholarship Winner. Congratulations, Nicole!
Since 2013, the FAPAC Distinguished Public Service Scholarship Endowment Fund, Inc. has awarded scholarships to students who exhibit academic excellence, demonstrate an interest in joining public service, and demonstrate a continuous effort advance the AANHPI communities. The scholarship is presented on a rotating basis in honor of three AANHPI leaders whose dedication and efforts in public service have opened doors for many others:
- The late Congressman Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
- The late Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, the first Asian American to serve in two Cabinet positions as Secretary of Commerce and Secretary of Transportation.
- The former Secretary Elaine L. Chao, the first Asian American woman to hold a Cabinet position, first as Secretary of Labor and then as Secretary of Transportation.
The 2026 Scholarship will be named in honor of Secretary Norman Y. Mineta. The winner will receive a stipend of $5,000 towards his or her education and be honored at the annual FAPAC Awards Gala on May 30, 2026 in Falls Church, Virginia.
Want to support the scholarship? Make an online donation or email scholarship@fapac.org to contribute to the Endowment Fund!
How to Apply
The 2026 Scholarship Application is now closed. Contact scholarship@fapac.org with questions.
- Essay: Up to two pages describing the applicant's contributions to promote AANHPI communities, your desire to work in public service, and how leaders like Secretary Norman Y. Mineta serve as a role model;
- Letter of recommendation: One letter from an unrelated individual (e.g. teacher, supervisor, coach, mentor) who can speak to your personal/professional accomplishments and your contributions to the AANHPI community.;
- Transcripts: Unofficial or official transcripts confirming your enrollment at an accredited academic institution;
- Biography: One page max;
- Head shot photo: Digital color or black and white, high resolution .jpg, .png, .tiff files
ELIGIBILITY
- Open to all college students with U. S. citizenship
- Currently enrolled in an accredited college or university in the United States
- Degree-seeking students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Not open to previous scholarship winners, past or current FAPAC Officers or their children, current Federal or State employees.
Evaluation Process
The Award Committee is comprised of the Awards Committee Chair and a Panel of Judges. The Awards Committee will review each application based on the criteria below. Each criterion will be rated on a 25-point scale for a maximum of 100 points.- Criterion 1: Demonstrates interest and commitment to public service
- Criterion 2: Demonstrates a continuous effort to advance AANHPI communities
- Criterion 3: Demonstrated leadership potential and desire for continued growth in leadership skills
- Criterion 4: Excellence in academic achievement
The Awards Committee will select the scholarship winner with the highest average score and present the result to the FAPAC President for final certification. The awardee will be notified of their selection at the end of April 2026. The awardee will be recognized at the FAPAC Awards Gala on May 30, 2026 in Falls Church, Virginia.