California Scholarship Federation - CSF

The California Scholarship Federation (CSF)-(“Scholarship for Service”) was founded in 1921 and is the oldest scholastic scholarship institution in the state of California. CSF membership status is nationally recognized by colleges, universities, and scholarship organizations. 

CSF emphasizes high standards of scholarship, and community service for California high school students and encourages service to the school and community while fostering pride in academic scholastic achievement. 

 Membership

 CSF Membership is gained after qualifying grades are earned each semester. A point system specified in the CSF State By-Laws establishes the membership requirements. To secure eligibility for CSF membership, a student must earn sufficient points (10) from pre-approved course lists. The majority of the required membership points must be from A-G classes including any college prep, Honors, and AP classes. Students must reapply for membership every semester by presenting their report card for grade verification.

Lifetime Membership (also known as Seal Bearer) is achieved by qualifying for four or more semesters between 10th grade through 12th grade, and one of those semesters must be from the 12th grade in order to qualify for senior recognition at the student's high school. Membership counting towards lifetime membership (Seal bearer) begins with grades earned in the 10th grade year. Nine grade qualifies ONLY for associate membership and associate membership does not qualify for life (Seal bearer) membership.

Lifetime members earn the CSF Gold Seal on diplomas. Seniors eligible for lifetime membership, have a clear deadline to complete their activities.

Class of 2025: May 23, 2025

How does my child become a member of CSF? 

At the beginning of each new semester, the CSF advisers open the application up at the start of each semester and must be turned in by the deadline. Students must fill out and submit an application during the enrollment period ONLY. Late applications are not accepted and there is no retroactive membership. Applications may only be submitted to the school. No applications are accepted in the state office.

 Membership is based on the previous semester’s grades. Each chapter has an application that the student uses to compute his/her points. The completed application along with a copy of the student’s transcript or report card, and membership fee must be submitted to the College & Career Center when turning in the application.

No late applications - NO EXCEPTIONS

 What is required to be a member? 

  • Students need a total of ten points based on the lists of courses offered.
  • A minimum of seven of the ten points must be from List I and List II courses, with four of these points from List I. 
  • The additional three points may be from List III. Students may use up to five courses to apply for membership.
  • A grade of D or F in any subject, even if not begin used for CSF points, disqualifies the student for that semester.
  • List I courses are academic, college prep coursework that are within the state framework. List II are college prep electives and additional college prep coursework not in List I. List III are almost all other courses offered at the school with few exceptions (ex. PE)
  • Good citizenship standing is also a membership requirement.
  • You must reapply for membership each application period which is at the start of each semester.
  • Retroactive membership may not be granted to any student who has failed to take advantage of the opportunity to become a member.
  • A non-refundable FEE OF $5.00 IS DUE AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION.
  • You MUST attach copies of your appropriate term report cards or a current transcript for application to be complete. Incomplete applications will NOT be processed. It is your responsibility to obtain your report card or transcript as proof of grades. These records will NOT be printed by the College & Career Center.

 

Who maintains the membership information for my student? 

All membership records are held within Cleveland’s College & Career Center. The state organization never receives the names of the members. There are over 150,000 students in CSF each semester, so the organization relies on the respective high school chapters to keep record.

What are the community service requirements?

Each semester, students must participate in TWO CSF-identified community service activities to keep their membership “active.” Students who DO NOT participate each semester still retain membership but as “inactive” members, which affects eligibility to receive a gold cord or stole if a Seal Bearer, run for office positions, or be eligible for scholarships.

 

Contact Advisers

Ms. Alvarez [email protected] (818) 885-2367

Mr. Hernandez [email protected] (818) 885-2364

Ms. Romero [email protected]  (818) 885-2360