Archived page. This page describes the 2022 scholarship cycle as the Autism Society of California published it. That cycle has closed. For current information about the scholarship, please visit the Community Foundation for Monterey County.
The 2022 winners have been announced! Learn about the 2022 winners here: https://autismsocietyca.org/news/2022-matthew-paul-finnigan-memorial-scholarship-winners/
Background: The Matthew Paul Finnigan Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Matthew Finnigan, an adult with autism whose life was taken before he could achieve his goal of helping others on the Autism Spectrum. Matthew was attending college in Monterey and had visions of going into graduate school to use his strengths in Math, Chemistry and Statistics and a growing interest in Psychiatry and Psychology to support research to help adolescents on the Autism Spectrum.
Envisioning his life five years into the future, Matthew wrote: “I have been selected to assist our current supervisor in the task of collecting and analyzing statistics pertaining to Aspergers Diagnosis and Treatment. I have been studying High School students and the effect their disorder has on them, and now I am using the data collected to see if I can find any trends relating biological and environmental factors and personal development that might indicate a reduction in the symptoms of Aspergers.” Reflecting on being prepared for death and recognizing that which is truly important in life, Matthew wrote that “you have a legacy that will live on as long as their stories about you keep being told” and reminded his reader to “always look on the bright side of life.”
This scholarship was established at the Community Foundation for Monterey County with gifts from the Finnigan family and friends, and some matching funds from Chevron, as a permanent endowed fund to help other students with a similar diagnosis and interests. The Autism Society of California is a proud partner in this endeavor.
2022 Scholarship Program: Three scholarships will be awarded – one for $2000, one for $1000, and one for $750 – for the 2022-2023 school year.
Eligibility: The Autism Society of California is pleased to invite applications from individuals with an Autism Spectrum diagnosis (DSM-IV or later criteria) pursuing full-time or part-time studies in the fields of Psychiatry, Psychology, Statistics, Chemistry, and/or Math and who plan to focus their work on improving the quality of life for individuals with Autism or a career which will help adolescents on the Autism Spectrum.
Graduating high school Seniors or current college students who graduated from a California high school and who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis are eligible to apply. A qualified applicant should already have been accepted to a post-secondary undergraduate institution or vocational-technical training program in one of the following:
- Four-year undergraduate college or university
- Two-year undergraduate college
- Trade, technical or vocational school
Eligible individuals must be enrolled on a full-time or part-time basis or be working toward certification or accreditation in a particular field.
Proof of Diagnosis: Due to the sensitive nature of medical information and the number of applications expected, the application process assumes the applicant has an Autism diagnosis. Once the Scholarship Selection Committee identifies finalists, it may require each finalist to submit copies of the medical documentation that established the diagnosis. Before applying, each applicant should ensure that they have proof of their diagnosis. Based on recent changes in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) criteria for Autism Spectrum diagnoses, finalists will be asked to verify that they meet criteria for either a DSM-IV or DSM-V diagnosis.
Application: The Autism Society of California prefers applications to be submitted online; however, paper applications will be reviewed. The deadline to submit applications will be midnight PST April 22, 2022. Paper applications must be emailed, postmarked or faxed by this date. It is extremely important that applicants include a letter of recommendation as requested in the application.
Review: The Scholarship Selection Committee is composed of members of the Autism Society of California’s Board of Directors; Timothy Finnigan or other members of the Finnigan Family; and other representatives that have expertise in the field of Autism, Learning Disabilities, and/or Twice Exceptional Children. Each complete application is reviewed. Incomplete submissions will be disqualified.
Reviewers base their evaluation and recommendations on the applicant’s personal story as conveyed by the essay’s original content: challenges that have been overcome, future aspirations, history of active participation in and/or volunteer service to the Autism community, the importance of the chosen field of study, and how the scholarship will help the individual achieve their academic, career, and personal goals.
Selection: Winners will be announced on May 12th, Matthew’s birthday.
What you will need to complete the application, by April 22, 2022:
- Basic personal and contact information
- An acceptance letter (or proof of continued enrollment for current students) to upload as an attachment. If you only have a hard-copy letter, please use a scanner to create an electronic copy. The application deadline is April 22, 2022, which should provide most students with enough time to decide which school or program they will attend.
- The date of initial medical diagnosis (it does not have to be an exact date). Please note that you do not need to supply proof of diagnosis in order to complete the application. Only those individuals who are selected as finalists may be required to produce documentation.
- Responses to five essay questions that you write (or dictate, if necessary). Please refer to the application for details on each question.
- A letter of recommendation on your behalf. This must be written by someone other than a family member who is able to explain why you are deserving of this scholarship. The letter can come from a teacher, guidance counselor, coach, pastor, mentor, etc.
- A recent photo of yourself to be included in the Press Release, if you are selected as a scholarship winner.
This scholarship program is made possible with the support of the Community Foundation for Monterey County. For more information on this program, please visit cfmco.org.
The 2023 scholarship application process should open in January or February 2023. Please do not try to submit in advance. Please also do not use the Contact Us form on this website to inquire about an exact date unless you do not see anything by March 1st.