Cheryl Brown Gerontology Scholarships Now Available

California State University, Sacramento offers scholarships for gerontology students

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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California State University, Sacramento is offering the Cheryl Brown Gerontology Scholarship program for the 2026/27 academic year. The program aims to support students pursuing gerontology majors and minors, with a focus on diversity and inclusion in the field of aging. Eligible students from the Black Honors College and those from the Inland Empire Counties of San Bernardino and Riverside can apply for the scholarship, which awards $2,500 to minors and $5,000 to majors.

Why it matters

The scholarships, established in 2024 by the California Commission on Aging, address the growing need for professionals trained to serve the aging population. The program also aims to encourage diversity and inclusion in the field of gerontology by targeting students from the newly established Black Honors College at Sacramento State and those from the Inland Empire region.

The details

Eligible students must apply by March 2, 2026, through the student portal and select the appropriate college or geographic option. Recipients can reapply for up to four years, pending additional funding. The scholarships are open to students at all academic levels, including freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduate students.

  • Applications due March 2, 2026
  • First awards distributed fall 2025 for Black Honors College students
  • First awards distributed fall 2026 for Inland Empire students

The players

Cheryl Brown

Former Assemblymember and former chair of the California Commission on Aging.

California Commission on Aging

The organization that established the Cheryl Brown Gerontology Scholarship program in 2024.

California State University, Sacramento

The university offering the Cheryl Brown Gerontology Scholarship program.

Black Honors College

The newly established honors college at Sacramento State that is eligible for the scholarships.

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What they’re saying

“I strongly encourage people of all ages to take advantage of this opportunity to study gerontology and contribute to the well-being of older adults in California. After all, we will all be 'old' one day.”

— Cheryl Brown, Former Assemblymember and former chair of the California Commission on Aging (blackvoicenews.com)

What’s next

Interested students are encouraged to submit their applications through the student portal and select the appropriate college or geographic option.

The takeaway

The Cheryl Brown Gerontology Scholarship program at California State University, Sacramento, aims to address the growing need for professionals trained to serve the aging population, while also promoting diversity and inclusion in the field of gerontology.