Instructions
Deadline: Applications are due each year by November 15, and are accepted between July 1 and November 15. Award recipients will be
notified between January and June. Not all applicants will be selected for awards. Applications can only be submitted to SIA Headquarters or
one club. Your application will be reviewed by a panel of judges, but all information will remain confidential and will not be shared without your
prior permission.
Step 1: Determine if you are eligible
You are eligible if you are a woman who:
• Provides the primary financial support for yourself and your dependents. Dependents can include children, spouse, partner, siblings and/or parents.
• Has financial need.
• Is enrolled in or has been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program.
• Is motivated to achieve your education and career goals.
• Resides in one of Soroptimist International of the Americas’ member countries/territories (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia,
Ecuador, Guam, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Northern Mariana Islands, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, United States of
America, Venezuela).
• Has not previously been the recipient of a Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity or Live Your Dream Award.
• Does not have a graduate degree.
• Is not a Soroptimist member, an employee of Soroptimist International of the Americas or immediate family of either.
• Has a Social Security number or Tax ID number. (This is required for tax purposes and is only necessary if you are a resident of the United States. You
will not be asked to share this information unless you have been given an award.)
Step 2: Tell us about yourself
Fill out the award application telling us about yourself. Your information will be kept confidential and shared only with the evaluators unless you
give us written permission to use your story to publicize the program. **You must use Adobe Reader—a free download—to fill out the form. If you
do not use Adobe Reader, your answers in the application will not be saved.**
• Step 1: Download Adobe Reader.
• Step 2: Save a copy of the application to your computer.
• Step 3: Open Adobe Reader.
• Step 4: From the left column, choose ‘My Computer’ and find where you saved the application.
• Step 5: Open the application within Adobe Reader.
• Step 6: Hold your mouse over the first blue text box and click.
• Step 7: Type your responses into the application. (Note: You will not be able to change the type size. Please limit your answers to the
space allotted.)
• Step 8: Once all parts of the form are completed, select “File” and choose “Save As” from the drop down menu.
• Step 9: Change the file name (for example, “LYDApplicationLG,” where LG are your initials.)
• Step 10: Click “Save.”
• Step 11: Submit.
Step 3: Ask people to tell us about you
You will need two dierent people—who are not related to you—to fill out the reference forms. It is recommended that you request references
from people who know you from an education or work setting. Please email the form to your references and request they email the form back to
you when completed. Only two references will be accepted. Please use the form and do not submit reference letters.
Step 4: Submit your application
Applications are accepted between July 1 and November 15. Once you have saved your application and reference forms, please visit http://www.
soroptimist.org/rise/SIA/lydapplication to begin the submission process.
Questions
Check out the Live Your Dream Award Frequently Asked Questions at http://www.soroptimist.org/awards/dreamawardsfaqforapplicants.pdf. If you
still have questions, contact Soroptimist headquarters at siahq@soroptimist.org.
Ready to Apply?
Begin your application on the next page now! We wish you the best of luck in achieving your educational and professional goals.
education & training awards for women
YOUR
dream
live
®
Submit your completed application to: Los Medanos College/Office
of Financial Aid