Dr. Boris Ricks Leadership Scholarship

(Current Academic Year Opportunity): Spring 2025

This fund aims to honor and preserve Dr. Boris Ricks’ enduring legacy of service, mentorship, and community engagement by fostering future leaders. The fund is dedicated to awarding scholarships to CSUN students who demonstrate outstanding leadership potential, either on campus or within the community, while promoting the values Dr. Ricks championed.

Professor Ricks, who served on CSUN’s faculty since 2008, was a brilliant scholar, with expertise in urban politics and racial and ethnic politics. He was a tireless and beloved mentor, inspiring thousands of students in the Department of Political Science and beyond.

Dr. Ricks served on many commissions dedicated to empowering the community, including the L.A. Governance Reform Project, a team of researchers and leaders who proposed significant reforms to the Los Angeles City Council. Ricks’ work in the community was centered on fighting to uplift Black and other marginalized groups in Los Angeles as well as nationally.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Open to current CSUN undergraduate students.
• Applicant must be in good academic standing (+2.0 GPA)
• Applicant must have completed one semester at CSUN by the spring semester of the award period.
• Applicant must have completed 90 units or less by the end of the semester in which they apply.
• Applicants must be enrolled full-time currently and during the academic year.
• Must upload a copy of your student resume. This resume must detail campus leadership positions and/or community leadership work.
• One letter of Recommendation speaking to the candidate’s campus leadership positions and/or community leadership is required. This letter must be requested through the myMatador Scholarship Portal.
• Recommended: A second letter of recommendation speaking to one’s campus leadership positions and/or community leadership may be submitted.

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.