One application could change your entire college experience.

Application Process

1

Compose an essay and complete the application.

The essay is the most important part of your application and must be written entirely by the applicant, without AI assistance. It should demonstrate your writing ability while giving us insight into who you are and what matters to you.

We recommend allowing time to draft, revise, and refine your essay before submitting. You will also need to gather supporting materials, including references and transcripts, so be sure to plan ahead.

2

Submit your application by the deadline.

Each year, members of the LREF Board review all submitted applications and select finalists.

The deadline for the 2026 scholarship competition is Wednesday, March 25 at 11:59 pm PT. Applicants will be notified of their status by Wednesday, April 9.

3

Complete the interview process, if selected.

Applicants selected as finalists will be invited to participate in an interview with members of the Rader Education Foundation Board on Sunday, April 19. The interview process will involved a timed, supervised writing exercise, the results of which will be compared with the original writing sample.

Interviews typically take place on a weekend in March or April. Scholarship recipients are chosen from among the finalists and announced the following week.

The Application

The scholarship application is designed to understand how applicants live out their Catholic faith, engage in team athletics, pursue academic excellence, and demonstrate strong character.

Official Transcript

You’ll upload an official high school transcript in PDF format.

This is used to confirm academic eligibility and GPA requirements and to provide a clear picture of your academic performance.

References

You’ll provide references who can speak to your involvement in your parish and participation in team sports.

These references help the selection committee better understand your commitment, leadership, and character, and may be contacted if you are selected as a finalist.

Short-Answer Questions

You’ll respond to several short-answer questions throughout the application.

These questions focus on topics such as parish involvement, athletic participation, and your personal and financial circumstances. Your responses help provide context for your experiences and the values that guide you.

Personal Essay

The personal essay is the most important written component of the application. This longer essay gives you the opportunity to demonstrate your academic writing skills, reflect thoughtfully, and share your perspective in your own voice.

We encourage you to take your time and approach this essay with care—it plays a meaningful role in the selection process.

FAQs

Who is eligible?

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria: be female seniors attending a Catholic school in the Los Angeles Archdiocese, be practicing Catholics, maintain a minimum 3.2 unweighted or 3.5 weighted GPA, compete in a team sport, and demonstrate good moral character.

When should I apply?

Applications for the 2026 scholarship competition are currently being accepted. The application deadline is Wednesday, March 25, at 11:59pm PT.

Details and deadlines for each year's award are announced in February of the award year. The application deadline is typically in late March or early April, however both the announcement and deadline dates are subject to change. Applications and associated documents are accepted from the announcement date until the posted deadline. We recommend getting started early!

How many scholarships are awarded? How much money is awarded?

Each year we typically award two scholarships, each valued at $40,000, distributed as 4 annual installments of $10,000. To maintain the annual award, recipients are required to maintain a minimum college GPA of 2.75 and submit proof of good standing at the end of each academic year.

How are winners selected?

Our founder Lucille believed in the importance of being a leader, scholar, athlete, and writer. We choose scholarship recipients based on their Catholic faith, application essay, high school transcripts, athletic participation, and financial need. To be considered for the scholarship, each application must be completed and submitted on time.

What is the Lucille Rader Education Foundation?

The Foundation is a nonprofit organization celebrating success in academics and athletics in the lives of outstanding young Catholic women.

What schools have winners attended?

Our scholarship recipients have gone on to attend universities such as:

  • Bard College

  • Boston University

  • California Lutheran University

  • Colorado School of Mines

  • Harvard University

  • Johns Hopkins University

  • Loyola Marymount University

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology

  • Santa Clara University

  • Stanford University

  • UC Berkeley

  • UC San Diego

  • UCLA

  • University of Albany

  • University of Notre Dame

  • University of Oregon

  • University of San Diego

  • University of San Francisco

  • University of Southern California

  • Washington University (St. Louis)