Sanvi Shah, a senior at Aliso Niguel High School has been honored with the California Scholarship Federation Seymour Award, receiving a $5,000 scholarship for her outstanding academic achievements and dedication to community service. This prestigious award recognizes the top high school scholars in California, highlighting their commitment to both education and societal contributions.
Initially unfamiliar with the organization’s mission, Sanvi was intrigued by its potential impact on college applications.
However, she soon observed a lack of engagement within the club: “I noticed that there was a lot of inactivity. I was a part of CSF, but I didn’t really have anything to do.”
Determined to foster a more dynamic environment, Sanvi took on a leadership role. As an executive council member over the past two years and currently serving as the President of CSF at Aliso Niguel High School, she aimed to transform the club into an active platform for student development.
Under Sanvi’s leadership, CSF has evolved into a resource hub for students navigating the complexities of higher education.
She emphasizes the club’s role in educating students about college, regardless of their generational status: “It’s become something where students get to learn about college, whether it be a student’s first generation of going to college or second or third.”
Recognizing the ever-changing landscape of the college system, Sanvi and her team strive to provide resources on internships, summer programs, scholarship applications and other areas where students may lack sufficient support.
She articulates, “The college system is so different and still changing, but we want students to have resources that provide them information about how to do internships or how to [apply for] summer programs, how to apply for a scholarship, or whatever it is that they need help with that they don’t get enough support for.”
Sanvi’s proactive approach led her to discover the Seymour Award application online. The award, distributed across five regions in California, grants a $2,000 scholarship to regional finalists, with an additional $3,000 awarded to one recipient per region.
Sanvi saw this as an opportunity with no downside: “They split it up for five regions across California, and if you’re chosen for your region, you’re going to get a $2,000 scholarship no matter what, so it’s a win-win situation; it can’t hurt me in any way.”
The application process was comprehensive, requiring letters of recommendation from teachers.
Sanvi completed and submitted the application without high expectations. To her surprise, she received an email confirming her selection as a finalist, guaranteeing the initial $2,000 scholarship. The next phase involved a four-hour group interview.
Sanvi describes the experience: “There were three interviewers and all ten of us together in a room, and they asked all ten of us a question, and we had to answer on our own.”
The interviewers posed introspective questions such as, “If you made an autobiography, what would be the title?” and “What motivates you?” She found the experience enriching, stating, “It was really an honor just to be in a room with those people, and get to hear about their experiences.”
Following the interview, an awards ceremony was held where each finalist was recognized. Sanvi recounts the moment they announced the recipient of the additional $3,000: “Afterwards, they made an awards ceremony where they spoke about all of us, then they announced who got the $3,000, and I’m very grateful and lucky it was me.”
Looking ahead, Sanvi plans to attend either the University of Southern California or Claremont McKenna College to study public policy or a pre-law track focusing on constitutional law. Her goal is to advocate for marginalized communities and affect meaningful change. The $5,000 scholarship will support her pursuit of higher education and her commitment to making a difference in society.
Sanvi Shah’s dedication to academic excellence and community service exemplifies the values upheld by the California Scholarship Federation. Her leadership has transformed the CSF chapter at Aliso Niguel High School into a vibrant community resource and her achievements serve as an inspiration to her peers.
