Resources and Opportunities

Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Paff endowed this scholarship in memory of their daughter Shereen. Shereen Paff earned a master’s degree in early childhood education in 1971 from San Francisco State University and spent 25 years working and teaching in the field of special education. She specialized in supporting children with visual impairments and special education needs in elementary schools and dedicated her life to helping children.

Basic eligibility includes:

• Department of Child & Adolescent Development (CAD) or Graduate College of Education (GCOE) student with a concentration/major in early childhood education
• Senior status (90 cumulative units or more) or current graduate student
• Enrolled in 12 units (undergraduate) or 4 units (graduate/credential)
• Cumulative (overall) GPA 3.5 or above
• Completed, or in-progress of completing, 18 hours of course credit in the Special Education program at SFSU; or have Special Education declared as their minor

We highly encourage all eligible students to apply! The application opens August 15th and the deadline is October 15th. Awardees of the Paff Scholarship are eligible to receive up to $4,000, which can be used towards their education at SFSU! The scholarship will be awarded in the Spring semester. If you would like to apply or know more about this scholarship, please log onto Academic Works. 

This scholarship is being offered and awarded through the College of Health & Social Sciences for the benefit of students in the social sciences. Mrs. Ida J. Lewenstein, an SFSU alumna, is the widow of Morris R. Lewenstein, an SFSU professor who taught for more than 35 years in the Department of Social Science (Interdisciplinary Studies). He was considered the founder of the University’s first social science program, establishing this program for aspiring social science teachers. Professor Lewenstein passed away in 2003 at the age of 79. In 2004, a granite bench located in the Quad at the University’s main campus was dedicated in his memory. To continue honoring Professor Lewenstein’s significant contributions to SFSU, Mrs. Lewenstein has chosen to establish a scholarship fund in memory of her late husband that will benefit students pursuing a major in the social sciences.

Basic eligibility includes:

• Currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate students in any of the social science degree programs listed below.
• Social Sciences disciplines, defined solely for the purposes of the Lewenstein Scholarship include: Anthropology; Child & Adolescent Development; Counseling; Economics; Ethnic Studies: Africana, American Indian, Asian American, and Latina/o Studies; Family Interiors Nutrition & Apparel; Geography; Health Education; History; International Relations; Labor & Employment Studies; Criminal Justice Studies; PACE (Environmental Studies, Gerontology, Public Administration, Urban Studies & Planning); Political Science; Psychology; Recreation, Parks & Tourism; Social Work; Sociology/Sexuality Studies; Women & Gender Studies.
• Demonstrated financial need through submission of a statement of financial need.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0

If you would like to apply or know more about this scholarship, please log onto Academic Works.