Zappala Family Scholarship

Please note the following stipulations:

• Fee reduction will apply to all courses in the certificate EXCEPT the Study Skills one-day course. The Study Skills one-day course is a prerequisite to the certificate program if the candidate has not attained a minimum of an Associate Degree (AA). If required, the Study Skills one-day course must be completed before the scholarship is awarded.
• Awardees must attain a letter grade of “B” or higher in each course to maintain eligibility for the scholarship.
• Scholarships are nontransferable and will expire within three years of award date.
• The scholarship supersedes any other discounts available.

The following eligibility criteria will be checked and confirmed for all final candidates by UCLA Extension.

• Candidates must be a new student to the program registering in Fall 2025. Current students are not eligible for the scholarship.
• Candidates must complete the prerequisite Study Skills one-day course offered on August 18, 2025, if they DO NOT have a minimum of an AA degree documented by an unofficial transcript.
• Candidates must submit their application by 11:59pm (PT) on the deadline of July 1, 2025. Applications will be accepted starting April 1, 2025, at 8am (PT) to July 1, 2025, at 11:59pm (PT). Only complete applications will be considered.
• Scholarships are not awarded based on financial need and applicants are not required to submit financial documentation.
• UCLA and UCLA Extension employees and their family members or dependents are not eligible to apply.

Complete the following steps before the deadline of July 1, 2025 at 11:59pm PT.:

• If you do not have a UCLA Extension student account, please create one. Under ‘I’m a New Student,’ enter your email address to get started.
• Next, begin your application here. Enter your student account username and password and click ‘start application’.
• Under ‘My Applications’ you will see ‘AP0652 — Zappala Family Scholarship Application 1.’ Please click ‘Start.’
• Personal Statement: Please write a 500-word Personal Statement. Click 'Upload' to submit your Personal Statement as a Word document. Your Personal Statement should include:
  • What motivated you to enter the field of substance use disorder counseling?
  • What steps have you taken to prepare for this new career?
  • What is/are your career goal(s) once you have completed the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling certificate (Please include any professional certifications or graduate programs you intend to pursue)?
• Once your Personal Statement has been uploaded, please read, acknowledge and confirm the four statements by checking the boxes next to each statement and click ‘Next’.
• Student Recommendations: Enter the name, phone number and email address for two references. Please note:
  • At least one student recommendation should be submitted by a former employer, college instructor, or leader of a volunteer or civic organization with whom you have worked.
  • The other student recommendation may be submitted by a personal reference.
  • Upon submission of your application, our system will automatically request and collect the recommendations. The recommendation request will come from enroll@uclaextension.edu. 
• Lastly, click ‘Submit Application’ 

Submission of applications that are incomplete, late or from students who are not eligible will not be considered. UCLA Extension reserves the right to request additional documentation.