Students at Miami Dade College (MDC), including those of Cuban descent who meet the requirements, have until next Friday to apply for two scholarships of up to $1,000, aimed at specific profiles: young individuals who are the first in their family to pursue higher education and residents of certain neighborhoods in Miami interested in business and entrepreneurship.
Opportunities appear in the official scholarship catalog of Miami Dade College under the names 2026 Howard Greenfield Charitable Foundation Scholarship and 2026 Patrick F. Hidalgo Scholarship.
Although both share the same deadline, they have different requirements and application forms, so Cuban students interested must verify the academic, residency, and eligibility conditions of each program before submitting their application.
Howard Greenfield Scholarship: $1,000 for first-generation students
The Howard Greenfield Charitable Foundation Scholarship provides a $1,000 grant for first-generation college students who have completed high school in South Florida and demonstrate a commitment to education and innovation.
To request it, the student must have a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75 at Miami Dade College. If the student has just enrolled, the average obtained at the educational institutions previously attended is taken into account.
You must also submit a 250-word essay explaining your commitment to innovation and education.
The announcement specifies that priority will be given to students who have utilized the services of MDC Single Stop (integrated support service for MDC students), a program designed to assist students of the institution.
However, having used that service is not a mandatory requirement for all applicants.
Those interested can access the specific Howard Greenfield Scholarship form. The published deadline is November 6, 2026.
Patrick F. Hidalgo Scholarship: up to $1,000 for residents of Overtown and Liberty City
The second opportunity, named the Patrick F. Hidalgo Scholarship 2026, offers assistance of up to $1,000, but is aimed at a more specific group of students.
To apply for this scholarship, it is necessary to reside in Overtown or Liberty City, two communities in Miami, and seek enrollment in the Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center of Miami Dade College.
In addition, applicants must pursue a specialty related to Business or Education for Entrepreneurship.
The application requires demonstrating financial need according to federal financial aid standards, a condition that must be assessed by the Financial Aid Office of Miami Dade College.
A minimum cumulative academic average of 2.3 is also required in MDC or, for newly enrolled students, in the educational centers they previously attended.
Another requirement is to submit a 250-word essay explaining the candidate's interest in business and entrepreneurship.
The application is submitted through the official Patrick F. Hidalgo scholarship form, which also has a deadline on Friday.
Can Cuban students apply for these scholarships?
Cuban origin students can apply for these aids if they meet the specific requirements of each call for applications.
The published conditions do not establish Cuban nationality as an impediment, but they also do not guarantee that any Cuban student can access the funds.
For the Howard Greenfield scholarship, it is essential to be a first-generation college student and to have graduated from a high school in South Florida.
Therefore, those who completed pre-university education in Cuba and did not graduate from a high school in South Florida do not meet this requirement. They must also provide proof of their academic average and submit the requested essay.
In the case of the Patrick F. Hidalgo Scholarship, interested Cubans must reside in Overtown or Liberty City, seek to enroll in the Carrie P. Meek Center for Entrepreneurship Education, and meet the academic, specialization, and economic need criteria outlined in the announcement.
The immigration situation also requires attention. Miami Dade College invites on its general page national students, international students, and DACA recipients (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) to explore its scholarships.
However, the guidelines for these two aids do not explicitly clarify the eligibility of all migration categories, including Cubans with permanent residence, asylum, parole, or form I-220A.
It is important to distinguish between institutional scholarships and federal student aid. According to the official U.S. federal aid guidelines, certain categories, such as permanent residents and individuals with granted asylum, may qualify for federal funds.
Some parole beneficiaries may also qualify under specific conditions. In contrast, DACA and form I-220A alone do not establish eligibility for that assistance.
These federal regulations do not automatically determine who can receive the two scholarships from Miami Dade College. Cuban students with questions about their specific situation should consult directly with the Financial Aid Office of the institution before submitting their application.
How to apply for scholarships and what should students keep in mind?
Interested parties must first review the requirements of the call that corresponds to their profile and complete their individual form before the deadline. Miami Dade College does not specify a closing time for these two applications.
The general conditions of the institutional scholarships state that beneficiaries must enroll in at least six credits leading to a degree during each academic period for which they receive assistance.
The funds must be used within the MDC itself and cannot be transferred to another educational institution.
The institution also recommends completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, the option to apply for an institutional scholarship does not automatically mean that the student qualifies for federal aid.
On its general page, MDC invites national and international students, as well as DACA recipients (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), to explore its scholarship opportunities. However, this invitation does not guarantee that all of these categories can access the two mentioned calls, as each program has its own conditions.
Submitting an application does not guarantee receiving the funds. The institution does not publicly specify how many grants will be awarded through these calls or when it will announce the beneficiaries.
To resolve questions regarding requirements, the application process, or individual eligibility, students can contact the Miami Dade College Financial Aid Office at 305-237-9300 or consult their official contact directory by campus, which includes emails and options to schedule virtual appointments.
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