USA Scholarships
El Dorado Mineral & Gem Scholarship 2027 - CA
The El Dorado County Mineral and Gem Society Scholarship 2027 funds college study tied to rocks, minerals, and the earth sciences for people rooted in El Dorado County. The 501(c)(3) club pools about $2,000 each year for graduating high school seniors or students already enrolled in college or graduate school who major in geology, lapidary arts, or a closely related field at an accredited institution. You need a 3.0 cumulative GPA, and reviewers give preference to applicants active in the society. edcmgs.org publishes the only acceptable application. Mail the completed packet postmarked no later than March 1 to the Placerville post office box listed on the form.
What is the El Dorado County Mineral and Gem Society Scholarship?
The El Dorado County Mineral and Gem Society Scholarship grows out of a volunteer club that spends its weekends teaching lapidary arts, hauling field-trip buckets, and filling grab bags whose sales feed the same education fund you are reading about now. Each spring the society sets aside roughly $2,000 for county students who want serious academic training in geology, earth sciences, or lapidary work rather than a casual hobby table at the rock show.
Residency is the hard gate. The award is built for people tied to El Dorado County, whether you are finishing at Oak Ridge or Union Mine or coming home from a university with a 3.0 GPA and a major that maps to minerals, mining history, or gem cutting. Graduate students count when their program still points toward earth science careers, which matters if you are doing field mapping or petrology beyond the bachelor level.
Application mechanics stay deliberately old school. edcmgs.org hosts a PDF or form you must use exclusively, and the instructions on the education page repeat the same postmark rule every year: March 1 to the Placerville post office box. That means planning for USPS timing, not a midnight upload button. Membership preference is real but soft. You do not always see a membership checkbox treated as mandatory, yet the society tells reviewers to favor active participants, so a short paragraph about Junior Rockhounds nights or lapidary workshops can separate otherwise similar files.
If you are stacking local awards, skim the Harry A. Hodges Scholarship guide for another California county preference model, or browse California scholarships for statewide funds that can sit beside this county check.
Eligibility
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✓El Dorado County residencyScholarships serve residents of El Dorado County, California. El Dorado County Office of Education listings tie the award to county high school graduates and students with local roots pursuing earth-science careers.
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✓Geology, lapidary arts, or related majorYou must pursue a degree or career path in geology, earth sciences, lapidary arts, or another field the society describes as earth-science-related at an accredited college or university.
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✓Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPAApplicants need a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Include transcripts or grade reports that show the calculation clearly.
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✓High school senior or current college studentGraduating seniors heading to college and students already enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs may apply when they meet residency and major rules.
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✓Society membership preferenceThe scholarship committee gives preference to applicants who have been active members of the El Dorado County Mineral and Gem Society. Document meetings, field trips, or lapidary workshops if you participate.
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✓Accredited postsecondary enrollmentAwards support study at accredited colleges or universities. List your intended or current institution on the society form.
Benefits
- Scholarship pool About $2,000 total per cycle
- Tuition support Applied per society award letter
- Earth science outreach tie-in Supports club education mission
- Room and board Not specified on society pages
- Automatic renewal Reapply each year on new form
- Graduate eligibility County residents in earth-science grad programs
- Same GPA floor 3.0 cumulative minimum
- Membership preference Active members may rank higher
- Camp Paradise travel Separate member program, not this check
- Multi-year guarantee Annual competition
Document checklist
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✓EDCMGS scholarship application formDownload the official application linked from edcmgs.org/education/scholarship/ or the education page. The society requires exclusive use of its form; generic school applications are not accepted.
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✓Transcript or grade reportProvide current high school or college transcripts showing cumulative GPA and relevant science coursework.
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✓Proof of El Dorado County connectionInclude address history, school enrollment, or other evidence that you qualify as an El Dorado County resident or graduate as described on the form.
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✓Major or program statementExplain how your geology, lapidary, or earth-science program connects to the society mission of education and outreach.
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✓Society activity summaryIf you attend meetings, Junior Rockhounds events, or lapidary classes, summarize participation so reviewers can apply membership preference.
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✓Letters of supportAdd teacher, counselor, or mentor letters when the application requests them, especially from science instructors who know your field work.
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✓Mailing envelope with March postmarkSend the packet to El Dorado County Mineral and Gem Society, PO Box 950, Placerville, CA 95667 with a postmark on or before March 1.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the El Dorado County Mineral and Gem Society Scholarship?
It is an Earth Science and Lapidary Arts Scholarship funded by the El Dorado County Mineral and Gem Society, a Placerville-based 501(c)(3) club. The program typically distributes about $2,000 per cycle to county residents studying geology or lapidary-related fields.
Who can apply for the El Dorado Mineral and Gem scholarship?
El Dorado County residents who are graduating high school seniors or current college or graduate students may apply when they pursue geology, lapidary arts, or related earth-science majors with at least a 3.0 GPA.
When is the El Dorado County Mineral and Gem Society scholarship deadline?
Applications must be postmarked no later than March 1 each year. Mail completed forms to PO Box 950, Placerville, CA 95667.
How much is the El Dorado Mineral and Gem Society scholarship worth?
El Dorado County Office of Education and society pages list a total scholarship pool of about $2,000 for the current cycle, which may be split depending on the number of qualified applicants.
Do I need to be a member of the gem society to win?
Membership is not always listed as an absolute requirement, but official descriptions state preference for applicants active in the El Dorado County Mineral and Gem Society. Document your participation if you attend meetings or classes.
Can graduate students apply for the El Dorado earth science scholarship?
Yes. Published requirements include college, university, or graduate students from El Dorado County who meet the GPA and major criteria.
Where do I find the El Dorado County Mineral and Gem Society application?
Download the form from https://edcmgs.org/education/scholarship/ or the education overview at edcmgs.org/education-1/. The society states that only its attached application may be used.
Does financial need affect the El Dorado Mineral and Gem scholarship?
El Dorado County Office of Education lists financial need as not applicable for this award. Reviewers focus on residency, major, GPA, and membership activity instead.
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