United Scholarships, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing scholarships to deserving students of the Yreka Union High School District.
The USI program began modestly. Ed Foss, Yreka resident and owner of the local newspaper, began the organization over coffee one morning. Sitting with a few of his buddies, he asked them to “cough up” some money for scholarships for a couple seniors from the high school. That was 1964 and two scholarships were awarded that year in the amount of $50. Today, 56 years later, USI has awarded 3,057 scholarships totaling more than $3,887,550 to graduates from Yreka Union High School District.
From these humble beginnings, USI has grown into a complex organization with a Board of Directors totaling 15 people, an organized set of by-laws which govern the organization, and the services of both accounting and investment firms. The Board of Directors is comprised of eleven community members and four YUHSD employees. The Board holds four regular meetings each year to address the business of the organization.
The money used to provide scholarships to graduating seniors and alumni comes from individual donations, direct grants from bequests, and from earnings on the organization’s investment portfolio.
Each spring, seniors in the YUHSD have the opportunity to apply for Merit Scholarships. Applicants are required to have a 3.0 GPA to apply for this scholarship. They submit applications, transcripts and financial information from the FAFSA. A judging committee reviews the applications and makes awards based on academic achievement, financial need, and other circumstances presented in the application. This year over $113,400 was awarded to seniors in the YUHSD.
In 1979 as the financial strength of USI grew, a new scholarship category was created. These competitive Alumni Scholarships, formerly called Continuing Scholarships, were made available to graduates of YUHSD who were enrolled in colleges and universities. Over the years the amount of money set aside for these scholarships has grown and USI has become a generous source of scholarship funds for advanced students pursuing higher education. In 2014, $69,400 was awarded in this category.
Due to a generous bequest, a new scholarship was offered in 2006 called the Keefer Scholarship. This award is offered to YUHSD seniors who have maintained at least a 2.5 GPA. Students submit applications, transcripts and financial information for assistance in attending colleges and universities, as well as vocational or technical training.
The USI Merit and Keefer scholarships are awarded in May of each year at an awards ceremony sponsored by the local Yreka and Montague Rotary Clubs. This Top 100 Program is attended by parents and students and many academic awards and scholarships are announced. The Alumni Scholarship program occurs in the fall of each year with awards being mailed prior to Thanksgiving.
Through wise investments and sound stewardship, United Scholarships, Inc. is committed to making available to graduates of Yreka Union High School District for many future years the monetary awards they will need to be successful at college.
