Hispanic Development Fund (Current College Students)

For more than 40 years, the Hispanic Development Fund Scholarship Program has encouraged Hispanic/Latinx youth to attend college and accomplish their personal goals by awarding more than 6,539 scholarships totaling over $10 million to Kansas City-area students.

To qualify for an HDF Scholarship, students must:

  • Be of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage.
  • 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 fully accredited college or university 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.

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 and/or work experience as reflected in the application.
  • Applications are reviewed anonymously by the scholarship review committee.

For more information about the Hispanic Development fund, click here

Award
Varies (average award is $1,000)
Deadline
02/01/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. Are you a past HDF Scholarship Program recipient?
  2. If so, what year(s) did you receive the scholarship?
  3. If you are a graduate student, where did you earn your undergraduate degree, and in what major?
  4. If you are a graduate student, what is your anticipated graduation date?
  5. Use of generative assistance software and/or technology (i.e. AI) in creating this original work is strictly prohibited. If the Committee detects the usage of Artificial Intelligence to create the content of your essay, you may be disqualified. Indicate below that you agree.
  6. ESSAY PROMPTS: Choose one of the two options below and write a 250–650 word essay on that topic. For the topic you don't answer, enter "N/A" - you will not be able to submit your application if left blank.
    • 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?
  7. Background Information
    • A. What is your country of birth?
    • B. What is your family heritage?
    • C. Are you bilingual in Spanish?
  8. Upload a copy of your parents' 2023 or 2024 tax form 1040, (page 1) or 1040EZ (page 1). Only upload YOUR tax form if you are considered an independent student by the school you are attending.
  9. Would you like to be considered for a DREAMer scholarship?
  10. What is your ultimate career goal?
  11. Have you been accepted to a law school for the 2026-2027 school year, or are you already currently enrolled in law school and wish to be considered for a scholarship from the Hispanic Bar Association of Greater KC?
  12. Cell Phone Number
  13. How did you hear about this scholarship opportunity?
  14. By typing my name below, I hereby confirm that all information provided on this application is correct and I understand that any false information automatically disqualifies me from eligibility from the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Development Fund Scholarship. I hereby give the Hispanic Development Fund Scholarship permission to share this information for the purpose of recruitment, public relations and reports. I hereby give the Hispanic Development Fund Scholarship permission to obtain and discuss information regarding my academic achievement or financial aid from the High School/College or University I am attending or previously attended. I also understand that if I am selected as a recipient of a scholarship, I encouraged to attend an awards ceremony.
    • Date (mm/dd/yyyy)
    • Full Name
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