A Non-Profit Organization to Help University Students Achieve Their
UCSD Town and Gown is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007. Town and Gown awards scholarships, one of its primary missions, and sponsors monthly lecture programs addressing the most timely and vibrant issues of current times, brought to the membership by acclaimed UCSD professors and researchers. The eight lectures for this year include topics such as impact on science and research caused by federal spending cuts, newly discovered sea creatures, healthy aging strategies, Ukrainian war poetry, and the homeless crisis and solutions.
Town and Gown integrates and engages residents of the region with the academic life of UC San Diego, developing informed advocates who support the university and its student scholarships. Members benefit from presentations by distinguished professors and researchers recognized as leaders in their disciplines.
For the academic year 2025/2026, the monthly lecture programs are held on the second Tuesday of each month, October through May, at the Roth Auditorium which is part of the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine.
One of the most gratifying things about Town and Gown is the opportunity to change a young person’s life through the awarding of a scholarship. The money raised from membership fees goes towards scholarships. Since 2007, 233 students have received Town and Gown scholarships. The $6,000 scholarships are awarded in May for the following academic year. This past year, Town and Gown awarded 23 scholarships in 2025-26 to UCSD juniors and seniors, including many first-generation college students.
Scholarship applicants are identified by the UC San Diego Financial Aid Office as having significant financial need. Scholar selection is based on four criteria: a high grade point average (usually above 3.80), volunteer community involvement, a career goal that offers service to others, and high financial need. Many applicants work multiple jobs and live at home or commute long distances to make ends meet; some were raised by a single parent. Thanks to the generosity of Town and Gown, their paths toward earning a college degree have become more manageable.
One student shared that receiving a Town and Gown scholarship allowed him to purchase required textbooks rather than spend long hours in the library reading shared copies. This simple but meaningful support enabled him to use his time more efficiently and pursue his academic goals more successfully.
For more information about UC San Diego Town and Gown and our lectures series, visit https://townandgown.ucsd.edu.
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