California State University, Dominguez Hills has been awarded a $500,000 endowment from the Bernard Osher Foundation to establish the Osher Scholarship for students transferring from California community colleges.

Students transferring to CSU Dominguez Hills from one of the 112 campuses in the California Community College system who meet the eligibility requirements will be able to apply for the scholarship. Ten scholarships of $2,500 each will be awarded annually, with the first awards being given in fall 2013.

“The philanthropic investment made by the Osher Foundation generously supports academic achievement and makes it possible for community college students to continue on at CSU Dominguez Hills and fulfill their academic dreams,” CSU Dominguez Hills Interim President Willie Hagan said. “This endowment will make a significant difference in our efforts toward enhancing student success and serving the communities around our campus.”

Approximately 45 percent of all upper-division transfers to CSU Dominguez Hills come from state community colleges, primarily from local institutions such as El Camino College, Cerritos College, Long Beach City College, Los Angeles Harbor College and Santa Monica College. In the past three years more than 5,800 students entered CSU Dominguez Hills as state community college transfers.

To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be an upper division transfer with at least 60 units from a state community college, demonstrate financial need, and show academic promise and a commitment to obtaining a bachelor’s degree.

This is the second major endowment to CSU Dominguez Hills from the Bernard Osher Foundation, which seeks to improve quality of life through support of higher education and the arts. The first was a $1 million endowment to create the CSU Dominguez Hills Osher Lifelong Learning Institute that provides innovative learning opportunities for those 50 and older in the community.