A message from Gail Koshland, Trustee
In 1999, Dr. Daniel Koshland Jr., the son of our foundation’s founding chairman, established the Koshland Young Leader Awards (KYLA), a scholarship program that recognizes young leaders who balance extraordinary challenges, including family separation and homelessness, yet continue to show academic promise and community leadership.
Each year, 11 outstanding San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) juniors are provided $10,000 each to fund college tuition and/or education-related expenses. To date, KYLA has awarded nearly $1 million to more than 100 young leaders to give them a jump start as they enter college.
2021 Koshland Young Leader Awards
The San Francisco Foundation and trustees of the Koshland Young Leader Awards are eager to host this year’s awards program in light of the unusually difficult times in which we are living. Given the many challenges educators and students are navigating today, we have significantly streamlined the KYLA nomination process for teachers, as well as the application process for students.
Please click on the sections below to read more about the 2021 Koshland Young Leader Awards nomination requirements, process, and timeline.
Nomination Requirements
Candidates must be a junior with San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). Competitive candidates have demonstrated academic excellence (at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA), are college bound, and embrace a commitment to strengthening their families and communities despite facing formidable life challenges, such as economic and family responsibilities.
Nomination Process and Timeline
March 1 – April 5: Educators nominate students
Educators are invited to nominate SFUSD juniors. One educator per student is asked to submit the online nomination form, including a complete and official high school transcript, by 11:59 pm PT on April 5, 2021.
Educators may include school teachers, counselors, administrators, college prep advisors, and academic-based programs and nonprofits.
The form consists of four main questions that ask for 250-word responses. For the 2021 awards program, we will also accept and consider high school transcripts from previous semesters (first and second year) to indicate student performance, achievement, and growth prior to COVID-19.
Nominators may submit multiple nominations. Late and/or incomplete nominations will not be considered.
April 6 – April 19: Students apply
Each nominated student self-records and submits a 6-8 minute application video that answers these questions. Submit your video file to this Dropbox link.
If a video recording is not possible, please contact Nora Kim at nkim[at]sff.org. Applications are due by 11:59 pm PT on April 19, 2021. Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Optional Additional Recommendation: If students are concerned that the nominating educator does not know them well due to the current remote learning situation, students may provide an additional recommendation from an adult (e.g. an employer, coach, family friend, religious leader) to supplement the educator’s recommendation.
June 1: Foundation notifies award winners
For questions about the awards program, please contact Nora Kim at nkim[at]sff.org.
2020 Koshland Young Leader Award Winners
| Elisa Aguilar Cinto | San Francisco International High School |
| Kathya Almanza Correa | June Jordan School For Equity |
| Gabriela Gonzalez Martinez | San Francisco International High School |
| Isreal Laviene | Mission High School |
| Jyairrah Martin | Ruth Asawa School of the Art |
| Jasmin Martinez | Leadership High School |
| Karin Andrea Muniz | San Francisco International High School |
| Nahomi Ruiz-Mejia | KIPP Bayview |
| Rana Salem | Balboa High School |
| Thiri Than | Balboa High School |
| Tien Tran | Mission High School |