Asian American Youth Scholarship 2027
A scholarship competition recognizing high school students for leadership, academic achievement and professional growth, with selected applicants presenting in person.
Asian American Youth Scholarship 2027
The Asian American Youth Scholarship (AAYS) is a competition for eligible high school students in New York City and Long Island. Applicants submit a written application and short video; those selected to present are expected at an in-person event in Flushing in January 2027. The Chinese American Aid Foundation (CAAF) says multiple scholarships of $1,000 to $3,000 will go to top presenters. Applying is a screening step and does not guarantee an award. Official AAYS 2027 page
The opportunity may fit a student who meets the grade, location, and GPA rules and can attend the competition if selected. Check CAAF’s page for current instructions.
At a glance
| Detail | Published information |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Chinese American Aid Foundation (CAAF) |
| Award | Multiple scholarships of $1,000 to $3,000 each for top presenters |
| Grades and location | High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors in New York City or Long Island |
| Academic threshold | At least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent B average |
| Application deadline | November 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM; time zone not stated |
| Application route | Online Google Form; a Google account is needed to upload files |
| Expected selection notice | Early December 2026; estimate may change |
| Competition | January 23, 2027, noon to 6 PM, Glow Cultural Center, Flushing |
| Presentation | Five minutes plus a two-minute Q&A |
| Travel and lodging | Not provided |
See CAAF’s AAYS 2027 page. The number of scholarships is not announced in advance.
What the scholarship offers
Multiple awards of $1,000 to $3,000 each go to top presenters. Applying is a screening step; it does not secure funding. The number of 2027 scholarships is not announced. Award and screening details
Treat the award as possible funding, not money that is already available for a school or family budget. The official information does not specify how amounts within the range are assigned or when funds would be paid. Those details remain unconfirmed; applicants can check the current CAAF page or ask the foundation if they need them for planning.
Selected presenters must attend Glow Cultural Center in Flushing on January 23, from noon to 6 PM, present for five minutes, and take two minutes of Q&A. Travel and lodging are not provided, so students should consider their own costs. Selected students should confirm event logistics through current instructions. Competition details
Who should apply and eligibility
Applicants must be high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors located in New York City or Long Island. They need a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or an equivalent B average. The brief does not give a conversion formula for other grading systems. If a student’s transcript uses a different scale or they are unsure how location is interpreted, they should check the current form or ask CAAF rather than convert or interpret the rule on their own. Eligibility rules
AAYS is designed to support Asian American youth. CAAF says priority may be given to applicants who demonstrate commitment to serving and uplifting Asian American communities. That is a possible priority; the supplied program details do not establish a service-hour minimum or a separate documentation requirement. U.S. citizenship is not required. Applicants should answer any identity or residency questions as the form presents them instead of assuming additional criteria. Program purpose and eligibility
Previous scholarship recipients may not receive another AAYS scholarship. The available information does not say whether a prior recipient can apply or participate again. Former recipients should verify that distinction with CAAF before submitting; the stated restriction is on receiving another scholarship.
Check the grade, area, and GPA rules, then consider whether you can complete the materials and attend in Flushing if selected. The latter are planning considerations, not extra eligibility rules.
How to Apply
Applications go through a Google Form, and applicants must sign in with a Google account to upload files. The five required items are a headshot, one-page resume, official or unofficial school transcript, 250–500 word essay, and video introduction of no more than one minute. CAAF lists the application materials here.
The essay must answer one of five prompts about an experience, goals, leadership, career direction, or future plans. The brief does not include exact prompt wording, so read the current form and choose one of its actual options. Keep the response within 250–500 words and submit through the form. Do not assume an emailed or separately shared essay will count.
The video must introduce the applicant, describe them in one word with a brief explanation, and then answer a prompt. It must show the applicant clearly; reading from a script is not allowed. The prompt itself is not specified in the brief, so check the live form before recording. Do not assume that an essay question also serves as the video prompt.
A practical submission sequence is:
- Open the official AAYS page and follow its current application link.
- Check the live form for the exact essay choices, video prompt, deadline, and upload instructions.
- Prepare the five required items and check the essay and video limits.
- Sign in to a Google account, complete the form, attach all materials, and submit before the cutoff.
- Keep a personal copy of the materials and submission confirmation, if shown.
Keeping copies is optional recordkeeping advice. CAAF says AI-generated or plagiarized materials lead to disqualification, so the application must be the student’s own work. Either an official or unofficial transcript is accepted. Prepare materials early if obtaining them takes time. Application and integrity instructions
Timeline and attendance
The application is open through November 22, 2026, at 11:59 PM. The supplied information does not specify the time zone. Confirm the deadline displayed in the live form and leave time to handle sign-in or upload issues. Submitting early is a practical precaution; the published cutoff is the date and time CAAF provides. Deadline
Applicants are expected to hear whether they are selected in early December, but CAAF says this estimate may change. The brief does not specify how applicants will be contacted or how quickly selected students must respond. Check the form and monitor the account or email used for the application.
The competition is January 23, 2027, noon to 6 PM, at Glow Cultural Center in Flushing. Selected applicants present for five minutes and take two minutes of Q&A; travel and lodging are not provided. The topic, slide rules, and equipment are unspecified, so verify them through CAAF’s instructions. Timeline and event information
Preparation and common mistakes
The following are optional preparation ideas, not extra program requirements. Make a checklist of the five requested items and their limits: one page for the resume, 250–500 words for the essay, and up to one minute for the video. Either an official or unofficial transcript is allowed. Before submitting, open each file, confirm it is readable, and check that it is attached to the right part of the form.
For the essay, choose one of the five prompts in the live form and answer it directly. A useful approach is to identify what the prompt asks, select a specific example or goal from the applicant’s own experience, and explain its relevance plainly. If discussing service to Asian American communities, give accurate details about the student’s own commitment. CAAF says this commitment may receive priority, but does not publish a scoring rubric; no activity or outcome can be represented as a guarantee of selection.
For the video, practice the required sequence and time the recording. A short outline can help the applicant cover the introduction, one-word description and explanation, and video prompt without reading a script. Check framing, lighting, and sound so the applicant is clearly visible and audible. These are practical recording tips; the stated rules are the sequence, visibility, one-minute maximum, and no reading from a script.
Avoid outdated prompts, missed limits, missing items, account problems, and last-minute uploads. CAAF says AI-generated or plagiarized materials lead to disqualification. It does not explain how ordinary spelling or formatting help is treated; ask if unsure. Application instructions
Frequently asked questions
Is an award guaranteed to every eligible applicant?
No. Applications are screened, and multiple scholarships go to top presenters. Each award is $1,000 to $3,000, but the 2027 number of awards is unannounced. Award details
Do applicants need U.S. citizenship?
No. CAAF says citizenship is not required. The published rules do require the stated grade, New York City or Long Island location, and minimum GPA or equivalent. Eligibility
Can a past recipient apply again?
The confirmed rule is that previous scholarship recipients may not receive another AAYS scholarship. Whether they may apply or present is not specified, so a past recipient should ask CAAF.
Does the program cover travel or lodging?
No. Travel and lodging are not provided. Selected presenters should plan their own arrangements and confirm event logistics through current instructions.
What are the video prompt and presentation topic?
The brief gives the video sequence but not its exact prompt. It confirms the five-minute presentation and two-minute Q&A but not the presentation topic. Use the current form for the video question and selection instructions or CAAF for presentation details.
How many scholarships are available?
The count is not announced in advance. CAAF confirms multiple awards in the $1,000–$3,000 range but gives no fixed number or selection odds. Check the official page for updates.
Official source and details to verify
Use the Chinese American Aid Foundation’s AAYS 2027 page for the current application and updates. Before submission, confirm the live essay choices, video prompt, deadline and time zone shown in the form, and upload instructions. If selected, verify notification instructions, any response deadline, presentation topic and format, and event logistics through CAAF’s current communications.
The brief confirms the award range, eligibility, materials, cutoff, estimated notice, and competition date. The award count, odds, exact prompts, presentation topic, notification method, payment timing, and deadline time zone remain unconfirmed. Check CAAF’s page, form, or communications.