The Tom Thomas Leadership and Community Service Scholarship is intended to assist students from Upland, CA who are planning to obtain a degree or trade with skills they can bring back for leadership and service supporting the betterment of their community.

Longtime community leader and advocate Tom Thomas died unexpectedly from a bicycling accident in February 2022. His dedication and service to Upland is immeasurable, including his 20 years as a member of the Upland City Council, four years as an Upland Planning Commissioner and leadership positions with countless organizations that benefited the community and its citizens, including chair of the Upland Community Foundation.

Among his many achievements and accomplishments, Tom co-founded and was an annual participant in the Tour de Foothills, one of the top bicycling events in California. He was on the boards of Foothill Family Shelter, Upland Sister City Association, Upland Police Foundation, Friends of the Upland Library and Cooper Museum. His community service and generosity also aided the Friends of Upland Animal Shelter, Inland Valley Repertory Theatre Ophelia’s Jump, Samaritan Counseling Center, Upland Skate Park, Upland Police Foundation and the Pacific Electric Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail.

With an especially strong interest in water, Tom was president of the boards of the San Antonio Water Company, West End Consolidated Water Company, Six Basins Watermaster and Pomona Valley Protective Association, and he served on the boards of the Agua De Lejos Water Facilities Authority and Chino Basin Watermaster and was a member of the Regional Wastewater Policy Committee under IEUA and the Upland Public Works Committee.

The scholarship program grants awards without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, age, gender, disability or national origin.

Awards
  • Awards are not based solely on academic merit or financial need. Grades are only a portion of what the scholarship committee is considering. We highly value community service and leadership experience as well as a desire to come back to serve the community.
  • Top candidates, as determined by the scholarship committee, may be invited to interview for the scholarship. If selected as a recipient, the student will receive an award of up to $5,000.
  • Awards are not renewable, but students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.
  • Awards are for study at an undergraduate institution or trade school.
  • Applicants will be notified no later than June 2025.
  • The Upland Community Foundation processes scholarship payments on behalf of the Tom Thomas Scholarship Committee. Payments are made in a single installment in fall 2025.

Required Documents

As part of your application, you must upload the following document(s):
  • Proof of current academic standing/current or past enrollment/attendance at a high school in Upland, California (most recent transcripts or grade/credit report)
  • Proof of enrollment or letter of acceptance to college, university or vocational school for fall 2025*

*Please submit when available.

Applications are not considered complete unless all required documents are submitted electronically.

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* 1. Contact Information

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* 2. Address

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* 4. Phone

Qualifications:
  • Scholarship recipients will be selected based on information included in the application essay, self-declared academic information, leadership and participation in school and community activities and work experience.
  • Scholarship recipients must be a current or former Upland resident who has attended or is attending an Upland school.
  • Plan to enroll in full-time or part-time undergraduate study at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university, or a vocational-technical school for the 2025 fall semester.

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* 5. College, University or Vocational School for fall 2025:

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* 6. If known, Major or Field of Study (optional):

Application:

Please answer the following questions (there is a minimum of 500 and a maximum of 2000 characters per question):
  • What are your future educational and/or career goals and how would this scholarship help you achieve those goals?
  • Describe your community service or leadership activities. Please list and explain each role. (optional: include a letter of reference from your supervisor for these activities and/or your resume)
  • What sets you apart from other applicants for this scholarship? Is there anything else you would like us to know about you to help us make the decision?
Include any additional documents or materials that demonstrate your interest.

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* 7. Personal Statement

PDF, DOC, DOCX file types only.
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* 8. Most recent transcripts or grade/credit report from a highschool in Upland, California

PDF, DOC, DOCX file types only.
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* 9. Proof of current academic standing

Proof of enrollment or letter of acceptance to college, university or vocational school for fall 2024 (please submit when available)

PDF, DOC, DOCX file types only.
Choose File

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* 10. Additional Documents

PDF, DOC, DOCX, PNG, JPG, JPEG file types only.
Choose File

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* 11. Please read the following statement:

Applications must be submitted by April 7, 2025, to the Tom Thomas Leadership and Community Service Scholarship.
By completing this form, you are submitting your scholarship application. Only completed applications will be considered.

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