The HDF Scholarship Application is now open.
Applications are now open for the HDF Scholarship Program. If you’re ready to take the next step in your educational journey, we’re here to support you! Below are this year’s essay questions. In the application process, you will get to choose which topic to write your essay on. If you are a new applicant, you will need to create a profile before beginning your application.
Option 1: Understanding that many Hispanic/Latino families continue to face challenges related to safety, stability, and belonging, how have these challenges affected you or those around you? What actions do you think could help restore trust and strengthen our community?
Option 2: Reflect on the most significant/difficult decision you have made in your life so far, either academically or personally. What steps did you take to overcome this challenge? What did you learn about yourself through this process that could be helpful advice to others?
Meet the HDF Scholarship Program Team
From left to right, Cinthia Yepez, Senior Scholarship Specialist and Alejandra Pérez, Director of Scholarship Program.
HDF Scholarship Program
The Hispanic Development Fund Scholarship Program has empowered generations of Kansas City’s Hispanic/Latino students to access higher education, pursue their goals, and give back to their community. What began in 1984 with $100 scholarships awarded to 100 students has grown into one of the region’s largest scholarship efforts awarding over $10 million to more than 6,030 students. Today, the program continues to break down financial barriers, support first-generation college students, and cultivate future Latino leaders who are shaping our community and beyond.
Scholarship Eligibility
The application window for 2026-2027 will open December 1, 2025 and close February 1, 2026. To qualify for an HDF Scholarship, students must be of Hispanic/Latino Heritage* along with the following requirements.
Graduating/have graduated from a Greater Kansas City metropolitan area high school or obtain a general equivalency diploma (GED or HiSET) from a local organization. (The Greater Kansas City metropolitan area is generally defined as Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte, in Missouri. Johnson and Wyandotte counties in Kansas.)
Accepted or enrolled in a college or university fully accredited by the U.S. Department of Education and working toward an associate, trade/certificate, bachelor, or graduate degree.
Enroll or be enrolled as a full-time student. (A minimum 12 credit hours for undergraduate and 9 credit hours for graduate. Extenuating circumstances will be reviewed for part-time enrollment.)
U.S Citizenship/Residency is not required to apply.
Evaluation
Scholarship applications are evaluated based on the following criteria:
Proven academic merit as reflected in GPA and answer to essay question.
Demonstrated need for financial assistance as exhibited by family’s gross income, size of family, and other financial need.
Demonstrated community involvement such as volunteering, extracurriculars, and/or work experience.
Applications are reviewed anonymously by the scholarship review committee.
Named
Scholarships
The growth of the HDF Scholarship Program coincides with the increase of individuals, families, businesses, and organizations who have created a Named Scholarship through HDF. These scholarships are funded in memory or in honor of a loved one, to affirm and inspire scholars pursuing a specific career path, to support undocumented students, amongst other reasons.
*If you do not meet the eligibility requirement of being of Hispanic/Latino Heritage but are working to advance HDF’s mission of improving the quality of life of Latino families in Greater Kansas City, reach out to scholarships@hdfkc.org.