MSP Quinten Thomas Memorial Scholarship

2025-2026 Academic Year Award

Quinten Thomas (September 28, 1995 – March 9, 2018) was admitted to California State University, Northridge, through the Educational Opportunity Program in 2014. He participated in the summer Residential Bridge Program and was an active member of the EOP Resilient Scholar Program. Quinten was raised in the Los Angeles foster care and probation systems. He was a junior working toward a baccalaureate degree in public health. Quinten loved being with his CSUN family and thirsted for a college degree as a means to develop as an individual and improve his prospects for a better life. He had a genuine passion for giving back to his community. He frequently went back to his high school in Lancaster to talk to students about college. He felt that if he could do it, anyone else could too. At CSUN, he always volunteered to give campus tours to middle school and high school foster youth and was able to make strong connections with the students. Quinten continued to face adversities in college, from food insecurity to houselessness, and despite these adversities, he struggled to change his life and that of others.

Quinten died March 9, 2018, while incarcerated at the Los Angeles Twin Towers Correctional Facility under the LA Sheriff’s Department’s supervision. He was arrested on March 2 on a warrant for a misdemeanor charge. While in physical distress, he continuously sought help from jail staff and was ignored and found dead in his cell on March 9. He left behind his daughter, Ashanti, a year old at the time, and Saharra White, Ashanti’s mother. He was working toward becoming a nurse to provide for his family and to help others. People who knew Quinten remember him as loving, kind, generous, caring, thoughtful, persistent, resilient, hopeful, and curious.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Open to both Undergraduate and Graduate students.
• Open to ALL majors.
• Must be foster youth, formerly incarcerated, youth on (criminal legal) probation, or currently or formerly houseless.
• Must have a FAFSA or California Dream Act application on file for the upcoming academic year.
• Undergraduate students must enroll in 3 units or more during the Fall & Spring terms of the award year.
• Graduate students must enroll in a minimum of 3 units during the Fall & Spring terms of the award year.
• Must upload a copy of your student resume. A student resume is a detailed record of your personal and educational information. It includes the name of your school/college, coursework, projects (if any) undertaken, and awards. The resume may also contain additional information like your extracurricular activities, volunteer experiences, job experiences (if any), hobbies, etc.

For questions about this award, please contact Dr. Martha Escobar at martha.d.escobar@csun.edu

Please note: If you are receiving Financial Aid (including loans), your financial aid award(s) may be adjusted if you receive a scholarship amount that exceeds your financial aid total limit. Speak to a financial aid counselor during walk-in hours to get a detailed overview about your individual situation.