Bill and Meredyth Stern
Amigos de Bolsa Chica Scholarship
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February 23, 2026
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Review eligibility and information described below about the Amigos de Bolsa Chica Stern Scholarship application.
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Applicant must be a future STEM major, submit two essays, a resume, school transcripts, two letters of recommendation, and are encouraged to complete voluntary community service at the Bolsa Chica wetlands.
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Multiple opportunities are available to attain voluntary community service hours at the Bolsa Chica wetlands. Visit this website’s Get Involved webpage (you can also select from Get Involved from the website’s menu) to find out times and location of volunteer opportunities available at the Bolsa Chica wetlands.
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Contact your school counselor or Science teacher for more information about the Amigos de Bolsa Chica Stern scholarship. Or see below for more information. Also, you can e-mail info@amigosdebosachica.org if you have more questions.
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It is recommended that each scholarship applicant complete preparation for the application process ahead of time. Once the scholarship applicant has completed the essays, their resume, and letters of recommendation, they can then complete the application process online. The website will only save work completed in one session.
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It can take multiple hours to complete the application process. Students should adequately prepare in advance to complete a competitive application.
Awarded by Amigos de Bolsa Chica through the generous gift of Bill and Meredyth Stern. Bill was such an important part of the Amigos de Bolsa Chica. He volunteered for hours in diverse ways such as leading tours as a Naturalist, cleaning up the parking lot, or working to ensure additional nesting platforms for Ospreys become a reality. He also served on the Board of Directors, but no job was too little or too big. Bill would raise his hand, then show up for whatever needed to be done for the Bolsa Chica Wetlands.
Bill and Meredyth also made significant financial contributions over the years to support the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve and the Amigos de Bolsa Chica, including a very generous donation by Meredyth in Bill’s honor, that funds this scholarship. Bill and Meredyth’s contributions are a gift that will continue to make the world a better place.
Scholarship Goals and Eligibility
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Goal of the Bill and Meredyth Stern – Amigos de Bolsa Chica Scholarship
Award multiple $5,000 scholarships to the most outstanding applicants based on academic record, volunteer experience, and financial need.
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Who is eligible to apply?
College bound high school graduates of the class of 2026 who are enrolled in one of the following school districts:
Long Beach Unified School District
Santa Ana Unified School District
Garden Grove Unified School District
Huntington Beach Union High School District
Placentia Yorba Linda Unified School District
Other districts not targeted above
Scholarship Requirements:
Students must achieve at minimum a 3.0 Grade Point Average. Students must submit their High School transcript or academic record with the application.
Students must submit two essays, one detailing their personal aspirations and goals, and one describing how this scholarship would help them with their financial needs for college/university.
Students must submit a resume summarizing their work experience, volunteer experience, awards and extra-curricular activities (such as athletics, arts, student council, student clubs or student organizations). Volunteer experience related to Bolsa Chica wetlands or marine ecosystems may be given priority.
The Amigos interview board will review essays, volunteer experience, financial need, and High School transcripts (through Fall/Winter 2025/2026 semester) to determine the top candidates. Those selected will be invited for in-person or remote interviews in Spring 2026.
The Amigos interview board will determine the most outstanding candidates, who will then be recommended to the Amigos de Bolsa Chica Board of Directors to receive the Bill and Meredyth Stern – Amigos de Bolsa Chica Scholarship.
2025 Recipients
Long Beach Unified School District:
Annabelle Kerendian, Lakewood High School and Jillene Wetteland, Long Beach Poly High School
Santa Ana Unified School District:
Fernando Ortega, Santa Ana High School and Yayoy Espinoza Soriano, Segerstrom High School
Huntington Beach Unified High School District:
Jim Le, Westminster High School and Alexa Barrera, Ocean View High School
Garden Grove Unified School District:
Tiffany Nguyen, Garden Grove High School and Kristy Huynh, Rancho Alamitos High School