CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
TERRI HIGA SCHOLARSHIP
DEADLINE: February 1, 2026, 11:59pm
AWARD BACKGROUND
The Terri Higa Memorial Scholarship provides financial aid to an Asian Pacific Islander lesbian, bisexual, or queer woman, or a non-binary or transgender individual preparing for a career in a technical or trade program.
Founded by the elders of APIQWTC (Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women and Transgender Community), the scholarship celebrates the life and achievements of Terri Higa, a longtime San Francisco Bay Area resident and community activist. Terri owned and operated Higa Automotive in San Francisco which for over a decade was one of a handful of women-owned auto repair shops in the Bay Area.
Terri was one of the early, dedicated organizers of the Asian Pacific Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Women’s Network, an all-volunteer, community-based organization in the early 1990s. In 1993, she co-directed the first Asian Pacific Islander Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Retreat at U.C. Santa Cruz, which attracted API lesbian and bisexual women from all over the U.S. — with participants traveling from as far away as Canada and Great Britain.
Overcoming stiff parental opposition, Terri, in her twenties, studied automotive mechanics and graduated from Los Angeles Trade Technical College. She worked for eleven years for a gay-owned auto repair shop before she realized her dream of opening her own shop. Terri was passionate about well-cared-for cars; she loved to troubleshoot and bring ailing cars back to life. Through her business in downtown San Francisco, Higa Automotive, she continued her activism by offering discounts to senior citizens, students and employees of non-profits.
Terri loved sports, especially softball, at which she excelled. She joined the Asian lesbian women’s softball team in their inaugural 1985 season, playing left field, and surprised many opponents with her ability to hit and place the ball at will. The team, later called Tom Girls, won the S. F. Parks and Recreation C Division softball championship in 1986 and played in the USA National Slow Pitch Women’s Championship Tournament that same year.
In 1994, Terri served as birthing partner to Miki Adachi and became the proud godmother to Miki’s son, Michael. Terri was a lifelong learner with a great love of the outdoors, especially rocks. In her free time, she studied geology at local community colleges.
AWARD OVERVIEW
The Terri Higa Memorial Scholarship will award a $3,500 scholarship to an Asian Pacific Islander lesbian, bisexual, or queer woman or non-binary or transgender individual pursuing an Associate of Science (AS), Associate of Arts (AA) degree, or a certificate in a technical or trade career. (See degree examples at the bottom of this announcement). Applicants must reside in, and attend an institution in the US.
The scholarship is made possible by direct contributions from a generous community of elders with the goal of sustaining the Memorial Scholarship through 2026. Join us in donating here: https://apiqwtc.org/apiqwtc-scholarship-fund.
APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
Submit an electronic copy of the following to the email address below:
- In a short video (5 minutes max), respond to the following questions:
- How has your cultural heritage, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity influenced your life and decision to pursue your certification, training, or degree?
- APIQWTC values API queer community and visibility. What are your current activities that align with these values?
- What are your future goals and planned community involvement, either through your career or otherwise?
- The contact information for two individuals (i.e. references) such as an instructor, employer, academic counselor, coach, community leader, or any other individual not related to you who is familiar with your personal or leadership qualities. Please provide their name, job title, phone number, and email address.
Send an official transcript either as:
- A secure, digitally signed electronic transcript file from your current or last school. The official transcript should be sent directly by the school or school’s transcript service. Official transcripts sent directly by the applicant cannot be accepted.
- Or, if your school cannot send an official electronic transcript, then please request your school to mail your official, sealed transcript to the address below.
Deadline
- Email the video, transcript and references no later than 11:59 pm Pacific time, February 1, 2026 to: .
- If you must mail your official, sealed transcript, it must be postmarked by or before February 1, 2026 and mailed to:
APIQWTC Scholarship Committee
248 3rd Street, #927
Oakland, CA 94607
Feel free to direct any questions to .
The selection committee reserves the right not to award any scholarships if an appropriate applicant cannot be identified.
* AS and AA programs: Automotive Technician AS, Automotive Technology AS, Automotive Collision Repair AS, Nursery Management Specialist AS, Respiratory Therapist AS, Physical Therapist Assistant AS, Cosmetology AS, Carpentry AS, etc..
Please Donate – APIQWTC Scholarship Fund
👉 Check out this other scholarship: APIQWTC Scholarship
