Scholarship Program
Encouraging Students to Begin Thinking About College Early
Since 1987, Navidad En El Barrio (NEEB) has brought holiday cheer, community support, and opportunities to children and families throughout the greater Houston area.
Our work began when founder Israel “Izzy” Gomez, then with the Houston Police Department, received a $5,000 donation that helped launch what would become Navidad En El Barrio. Through the years, community members, law enforcement partners, civil servants, elected officials, businesses, volunteers, and supporters have helped the organization grow and serve Houston-area students and families.
While our Annual Christmas Program remains one of our signature programs, Navidad En El Barrio's work extends throughout the year to children in the custody of the State, children living in shelters because of abuse or neglect, children of incarcerated parents, senior citizens, individuals with special needs, and students working toward a brighter future.
The Navidad En El Barrio Scholarship Program, established in 2010, is one of the ways we invest in that future.
🎓 About the Scholarship
The scholarship was created to encourage students to begin thinking about college early.
Rather than reaching senior year wondering whether money will be available for college, we want a student to be able to think:
“I already have some money for college. I just need to graduate!”
The program begins with students in the ninth grade and is designed to build a continuing relationship between the scholarship recipient and Navidad En El Barrio throughout high school.
Each selected recipient is awarded $500 for the ninth-grade year. Each additional year that the student advances to the next grade and continues to meet the Scholarship Program requirements, the student earns an additional $500 award.
Students selected for the program do not have to reapply each year, but they must continue to meet all Scholarship Program requirements to remain in good standing.
📝Interested in Applying?
Who Is Eligible?
Applicants must be:
Currently enrolled in the ninth grade
Attending a Houston-area high school
Students selected for the Scholarship Program become continuing recipients and do not have to submit a new scholarship application each year.
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION / APPLICATION INFORMATION
Application Status: [OPEN / CLOSED / COMING SOON]
[PLACE APPLICATION BUTTON OR LINK HERE]
🎉Selected for the Scholarship? Here's What Happens Next.
Becoming a Navidad En El Barrio Scholarship recipient begins a multi-year commitment between the student and our Scholarship Committee.
Our goal is not simply to provide funds at graduation. We want to encourage recipients to remain focused on school, continue advancing toward graduation, participate in their community, and stay connected with Navidad En El Barrio along the way.
📅 Each School Year
To continue in good standing, scholarship recipients must:
Remain in good academic standing at their high school.
Be promoted to the next grade level (“Pass”) each school year.
Submit required progress reports and report cards to the Scholarship Committee.
Maintain regular contact with Navidad En El Barrio.
Complete 10 volunteer hours during each year.
Students and their families may decide which Navidad En El Barrio volunteer events they would like to attend. Upcoming activities and volunteer opportunities are posted on our website here.
Failure to meet the outlined requirements may lead to loss of the scholarship.
📅 Staying on Track During the School Year
Current scholarship recipients should keep their Scholarship Program information updated throughout the year.
Academic Records - Recipients are responsible for submitting their required:
Progress Reports
[INSERT SCHEDULE / DUE DATE INFORMATION]
Report Cards
[INSERT SCHEDULE / DUE DATE INFORMATION]
Volunteer Service - Each recipient must complete:
10 volunteer hours during each school year.
Students and families may select the Navidad En El Barrio events in which they would like to participate.
View Upcoming Events
✅ Monthly Scholarship Check-In
Current scholarship recipients and their mentors should complete the required monthly Scholarship Program check-in.
The monthly check-in helps Navidad En El Barrio stay connected with each student throughout the school year and maintain current information about academic progress, volunteer service, resources provided, and other Scholarship Program requirements.
[BUTTON: COMPLETE MONTHLY SCHOLARSHIP CHECK-IN]
For Current Scholarship Recipients & Mentors
[Link this button to the separate Monthly Scholarship Check-In page.]
✅ Moving From One Grade to the Next
A scholarship recipient who remains in good standing and is promoted to the next grade continues in the program without submitting a new scholarship application.
Ninth Grade - Student enters the Scholarship Program and earns the first $500 award after meeting program requirements.
Tenth Grade - Student continues academic progress, required reporting, regular contact, and annual volunteer service.
Eleventh Grade - Student continues meeting Scholarship Program requirements and preparing for the transition to college.
Senior Year - Student completes the final year of Scholarship Program requirements, graduates from high school, and prepares to enroll in college.
🎓 After High School Graduation
At the end of the senior year, the Scholarship Program currently provides that the recipient will have earned a total scholarship award of $2,500.
Once the student has graduated from high school and enrolled in college, scholarship funds are paid directly to the student's school account.
The scholarship is not paid directly to the student.
What the Student Must Provide
After enrolling, the recipient is responsible for providing:
A schedule of classes after registration
An itemized bill showing school expenses
The student's college or university student number so Navidad En El Barrio can deposit funds into the student's school account
The scholarship may be used toward tuition, books, fees, or other school-related needs.
Scholarship Payments
The current program provides for:
$1,250 at the beginning of the fall semester
and
$1,250 at the beginning of the spring semester
Payments are sent directly to the student's school account.
Why This Program Matters
For many students, one of the barriers to enrolling in college or university after high school is financial uncertainty.
Family circumstances and financial responsibilities can sometimes discourage students from pursuing higher education even when they have worked hard academically.
Through the Scholarship Program, Navidad En El Barrio seeks to build a relationship with a college-bound student beginning in ninth grade and continuing through graduation.
Our goal is for each recipient to know that someone in the community is investing in their education and encouraging them to keep moving forward.
The scholarship gives students something tangible to work toward while helping them remain focused on the larger goal:
Graduate from high school. Enroll in college. Keep going.
🤝 Our Commitment Beyond the Scholarship
Navidad En El Barrio's initial goal is to provide financial assistance toward college.
Our commitment does not necessarily end there.
We also want to help students identify other resources and opportunities for which they may qualify. Experience has shown that students may successfully enroll in college with financial assistance but later struggle to re-enroll when that assistance ends or when they are unfamiliar with other available resources.
Our long-term goal is to develop additional sponsorships and partnerships—including corporations, individual donors, colleges, and universities—that may help extend financial support throughout a recipient's college education.
🤝 Help Us Invest in a Student's Future
The Scholarship Program is made possible through the generosity of people and organizations who believe in giving young people an opportunity to succeed.
Corporations. Individual donors. Universities. Community partners. Volunteers.
Every partnership can help a student take another step toward graduation and college.
[BUTTON: SUPPORT THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM]
[BUTTON: BECOME A COMMUNITY PARTNER]
💬Questions for the Scholarship Committee?
Whether you are a student, parent, school representative, current scholarship recipient, or community supporter, we welcome your questions.
[BUTTON: CONTACT NAVIDAD EN EL BARRIO]
About Navidad En El Barrio
Navidad En El Barrio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to using tax-deductible private donations to support programs designed to improve the lives of people in our communities.
The Navidad En El Barrio Scholarship Program does not discriminate or request information to make award decisions based on ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or age, in accordance with federal anti-discrimination laws.