The Sok Impact Scholarship
| The Sok Impact Scholarship | |
|---|---|
| Khmer name | — |
| Common name | — |
| Type | Scholarship |
| Focus areas | flexible-use scholarship for Cambodian-heritage students in higher education |
| Business type | — |
| Location | — |
| HQ country | — |
| Address | — |
| Founded | — |
| EIN (US only) | — |
| Website | — |
| Donation | — |
| Contact | — |
| Languages | — |
| Sponsoring org | Linda and KT Tang |
| Award amount | $5,000 total fund; individual awards range from $500 to $1,500 |
| Eligibility | Students of Cambodian descent (Khmer heritage) who are accepted to or enrolled in a 2-year, 4-year, vocational, or trade school in the United States. High school seniors, current undergraduates, graduate students, and returning adult learners are all eligible. No GPA requirement. |
| Application window | Annual cycle; 2025 cycle opened April 21, 2025, closed June 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM, with winners announced September 11, 2025 and funds disbursed by end of 2025 |
| Apply | Apply to this program |
| Impact geography | US diaspora |
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| YouTube | — |
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| Status | active |
| Last verified | 2026-09-16 by WikiSysop |
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Overview
The Sok Impact Scholarship is a community-rooted award created to uplift and support students of Cambodian descent pursuing higher education — in any field, at any college, with any dream. Founded by Linda and KT Tang, first-generation Cambodian American college graduates, the scholarship celebrates identity, resilience, and personal growth rather than academic performance alone. Awards can be used for tuition, books, supplies, transportation, or living costs.
Linda, a daughter of Cambodian refugees, grew up in Santa Ana and became the first in her family to attend college, later earning both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree. KT arrived in the U.S. as a Trieu Chau-Cambodian immigrant in middle school and went on to earn an engineering degree at Cal Poly. They created this scholarship to give back and remove barriers for the next generation.
Award details
- Total fund per cycle: $5,000
- Individual award range: $500 to $1,500
- Number of awards: Multiple recipients per cycle (varies)
- Use of funds: Tuition, books, supplies, transportation, living costs, or any other expense supporting the recipient's educational journey
Eligibility
- Student of Cambodian descent (Khmer heritage)
- Accepted to or enrolled in a 2-year, 4-year, vocational, or trade school in the United States
- High school seniors, current undergraduates, graduate students, and returning adult learners all welcome
- No GPA requirement — selection panel prioritizes passion, story, and potential over academics
How to apply
Application materials:
- Personal statement (500-1,000 words) sharing your story, dreams, and how this support would help you reach your goals
- Optional: A creative expression (art, writing, music, etc.) that may help selection
Historical cycle (2025):
- Applications open: April 21, 2025
- Deadline to apply: June 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM
- Winners announced: September 11, 2025
- Funds disbursed by: End of 2025
Apply through: NYSEAN's Sok Impact Scholarship page
Founders
- Linda Tang — Daughter of Cambodian refugees from Santa Ana, California; first in her family to attend college; earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Her journey helped break the cycle of poverty in her family.
- KT Tang — Trieu Chau-Cambodian immigrant who arrived in the U.S. in middle school; overcame language and cultural barriers; earned an engineering degree at Cal Poly.
Partners
- New York Southeast Asia Network (NYSEAN) — Hosts the scholarship application page and promotes the scholarship to the wider Southeast Asian diaspora community
Sources
- https://www.nysean.org/blog/the-sok-impact-scholarship
- https://moconutlife.notion.site/The-Sok-Impact-Scholarship-1c689f629f7d8069ad98d2b5cbd15f82
- https://www.facebook.com/nysea.network/posts/the-sok-impact-scholarship-june-5-2025