USU Debra L. Hammond Servant Leadership Scholarship

2025-2026 Academic Year Award

The Debra L. Hammond Servant Leadership Scholarship serves to support currently enrolled CSUN students by recognizing campus leadership, community service, academic excellence, and servant leadership.

This scholarship is open to continuing undergraduate students and graduate students. International students and undocumented students who have an approved California Nonresident Tuition Exemption Request (AB 540 Affidavit) on file with the University are eligible to apply. Students currently enrolled part-time are eligible to apply.

The Debra L. Hammond Servant Leadership Scholarship, formerly known as the University Student Union (USU) Board of Directors Leadership Scholarship was created in 2022 to support the USU Board of Directors’ mission of creating more financial opportunities for CSUN students. In January 2024, Debra announced her retirement after 31 years at Cal State Northridge and a cumulated 44 years in higher education. Former Executive Director Debra L. Hammond is nationally recognized in the field of student unions, having established herself as a thought leader, collaborator, and visionary. During Debra’s 31-year tenure at CSUN, she led the USU by creating programs, services and facilities that have successfully connected Matadors to CSUN and supported them through graduation.

The scholarship is meant to identify students who demonstrate campus leadership, community service, academic excellence and alignment with the USU mission statement and values. The recipient of the award should demonstrate a commitment to servant leadership. A servant leader is an individual whose leadership style prioritizes serving the greater good and the community. For the purpose of this award, a servant leader should demonstrate how they prioritize supporting the needs of the CSUN students and the campus community. After receiving the award, the scholarship recipient will agree to attend a Board of Directors meeting during the fall semester. They will be asked to provide a presentation outlining their leadership journey, their campus involvement, and their service to the community.

Eligibility Requirements:
•One letter of recommendation from faculty, staff, peers, and/or community members will be submitted on my behalf via the myMatador Scholarship portal. Reference letters must attest to your leadership skills, campus involvement, academic excellence, and servant leadership.
• Continuing Undergraduate students must enroll in 6 units or more during the upcoming Fall & Spring semesters.
• Continuing Graduate students must enroll in 4 units or more during the upcoming Fall & Spring semesters.
• Must have a GPA greater than or equal to a 2.0 for undergraduates and 3.0 for graduate students
• Must submit a resume that outlines professional, academic, community service, and leadership experience.
• Selected recipients must submit a thank you letter. In addition, the scholarship recipient will agree to attend a Board of Directors meeting during the fall semester. They will provide a presentation outlining their leadership journey, campus involvement, and their service to the community.

Important 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.