Introducing New West Charter Scholar Awards
We hope this will motivate students to take full advantage of the learning opportunities available to them, experiment with potential college majors and career paths, and earn something special to put on their applications for admissions, scholarships, and jobs.
The mix of high school, college, and real-world experiences typically needed to earn scholar awards for each department are below. All students who come close to completing the list of targets set by each department are encouraged to apply for recognition in their senior year.
For example, click here to see the list of courses offered at Santa Monica College.
High School
Three Social Science classes (World History, American History, and Government/Economics) passed with at least a B at New West Charter* and one year of Archaeology, Yearbook, Film Production, Mythology, Psychology, or Speech & Debate passed with at least a B.*
College
Three courses passed with at least a B at a community college through a concurrent enrollment program or online through an approved program. Courses in these fields qualify:
- Anthropology
- Business
- Economics
- Geography
- Global Studies
- History
- Journalism
- Media Studies
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Sociology
- Urban Studies
- Women’s Studies
Real World Experience
Internship lasting at least 40 hours or work experience in the field of Social Science. Examples include:
- African American Museum
- Natural History Museum
- California Science Center
- Office of an elected official
- Political campaign
- Legal firm
- Courthouse
- News source
- Research firm (ex: RAND Corporation)
- Study abroad program
- International trip
- University professor in a Social Science
- Other approved by Department Chair
- Students are responsible for providing evidence of completion.
- Department Chair will approve college courses and career preparation experiences.
- Department Chair will verify evidence of completion (checking transcripts, calling job/internship references, etc).
* With Distinction will be awarded if all grades are at least an A. With Highest Distinction if all grades are at least an A and Honors.
High School
Four English classes (English 9, World Literature, American Literature, British Literature) passed with at least a B at New West* and one year of Archaeology, Yearbook, Film Production, Mythology or Speech & Debate passed with at least a B.*
College
Three courses passed with at least a B at a community college through a concurrent enrollment program or online through an approved program. Courses in these fields qualify:
- English Literature
- English – Creative Writing
- Entertainment Technology
- Journalism
- Media Studies
- Communication Studies
- Linguistics
- Theatre Arts
- American Sign Language
Real World Experience
Internship lasting at least 40 hours or work experience related to English. Examples include:
- Newspaper company
- Magazine company
- Publishing company
- Published author
- Advertising company
- Professional scriptwriter (ex: television, movies, commercials)
- Radio or television broadcast company
- University professor in an English-related field
- Other approved by Department Chair
- Completion of a substantial literary work (such as a novel, a screenplay, a collection of poetry, an anthology of short stories) under the direction and review of a department member with final review and approval by department chair
- Students are responsible for providing evidence of completion.
- Department Chair will approve college courses and career preparation experiences.
- Department Chair will verify evidence of completion (checking transcripts, calling job/internship references, etc).
* With Distinction will be awarded if all grades are at least an A. With Highest Distinction if all grades are at least an A and Honors.
High School
Four of these six Math classes — Geometry, Algebra II, Trigonometry and PreCalculus, Calculus A/B, Calculus B/C, Probability and Statistics — passed with at least a B at New West.*
College
Three courses passed with at least a B at a community college through a concurrent enrollment program or online through an approved program. Courses in these fields qualify:
- Mathematics
- Accounting
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Computer Applications
- Geographic Information Systems
Real World Experience
Internship lasting at least 40 hours or work experience related to Math. Examples include:
- Engineering company
- Architectural company
- Construction company
- Accounting company
- NASA program
- JPL program
- Astrocamp program
- Computer or internet services company
- University professor in a mathematics related field
- Other approved by Department Chair
- Students are responsible for providing evidence of completion.
- Department Chair will approve college courses and career preparation experiences.
- Department Chair will verify evidence of completion (checking transcripts, calling job/internship references, etc).
* With Distinction will be awarded if all grades are at least an A. With Highest Distinction if all grades are at least an A and Honors.
High School
Four Science classes (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth & Space) passed with at least a B at New West.*
College
Three courses passed with at least a B at a community college through a concurrent enrollment program or online through an approved program. Courses in these fields qualify:
- Anatomy
- Astronomy
- Biological Sciences
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Computer Applications
- Computer Science
- Energy Efficiency
- Engineering
- Environmental Studies
- Geographic Information Systems
- Geology
- Microbiology
- Nursing
- Photovoltaic Systems
- Physics
- Physiology
- Recycling and Resource Management
- Zoology
Real World Experience
Internship lasting at least 40 hours or work experience related to Science. Examples include:
- Natural History Museum
- Doctor’s office/hospital/medical professional
- Physical therapy office
- Page Museum – La Brea Tar Pits
- Aquarium of the Pacific
- Santa Monica Pier Aquarium
- California Science Center
- Internet or information services company (ex: Google, Spectrum)
- Engineering company
- Architectural company
- Construction company
- Astrocamp program
- Aerospace company (ex: NASA, JPL, Space X)
- Energy company/provider (ex: LADWP, Edison, Solar City)
- University professor in a science related field
- Other approved by Department Chair
- Students are responsible for providing evidence of completion.
- Department Chair will approve college courses and career preparation experiences.
- Department Chair will verify evidence of completion (checking transcripts, calling job/internship references, etc).
* With Distinction will be awarded if all grades are at least an A. With Highest Distinction if all grades are at least an A and Honors.
High School
Four total years of Dance, Music, Studio Art, Yearbook, or Film Production classes passed with at least a B at New West.*
College
Three courses passed with at least a B at a community college through a concurrent enrollment program or online through an approved program. Courses in these fields qualify:
- Art
- Art History
- Film Studies
- Cosmetology
- Entertainment Technology
- Fashion Design and Merchandising
- Graphic Design
- Interior Architectural Design
- Music
- Music History and Appreciation
- Photography
- Theatre Arts
Real World Experience
Internship lasting at least 40 hours or work experience related to Visual and Performing Arts. Examples include:
- Art museum (ex: LACMA, MOCA, The Broad, Grammy)
- Professional dance studio
- Professional music studio
- Professional theatre or venue (ex: Disney, Dolby, Microsoft)
- Professional visual artist’s studio
- Professional photographer (studio, news, media)
- Advertising company
- Acting in a play, TV show, movie or commercial
- Playing music in an organized group, ensemble, or solo
- Exhibition of visual art at a professional studio or museum
- Visual art dealer’s studio
- Media production company
- Computer gaming company
- University professor in a visual or performing arts related field
- Other approved by Department Chair
- Students are responsible for providing evidence of completion.
- Department Chair will approve college courses and career preparation experiences.
- Department Chair will verify evidence of completion (checking transcripts, calling job/internship references, etc).
* With Distinction will be awarded if all grades are at least an A. With Highest Distinction if all grades are at least an A and Honors.
High School
At least three total years of Spanish or Latin classes, reaching the most advanced course possible and passing each with at least a B at New West.*
College
Three courses passed with at least a B at a community college through a concurrent enrollment program or online through an approved program. Courses in these fields qualify:
- American Sign Language
- Arabic
- Chinese
- French
- German
- Hebrew
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Persian (Farsi)
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Spanish
- Turkish
- Linguistics
Real World Experience
Internship lasting at least 40 hours, work experience, or travel experience related to World Languages. Examples include:
- Translating communications for New West faculty and staff
- Study abroad program to a Non-English speaking country
- International trip to a Non-English speaking country
- International company (requiring use of Non-English)
- Tutoring program or company (requiring use of Non-English)
- Travel agency (requiring use of Non-English)
- International Airline (requiring use of Non-English)
- Other approved by Department Chair
- Students are responsible for providing evidence of completion.
- Department Chair will approve college courses and career preparation experiences.
- Department Chair will verify evidence of completion (checking transcripts, calling job/internship references, etc).
* With Distinction will be awarded if all grades are at least an A. With Highest Distinction if all grades are at least an A and Honors.
High School
A minimum of two years of Physical Education, Movement & Exercise, Weight Training, Fitness, Period 6 Sports Teams or Dance passing with at least an A at New West and play at least four seasons on competitive New West teams (cross country, volleyball, basketball, soccer, track & field, Dance Team).*
College
Three courses passed with at least a B at a community college through a concurrent enrollment program or online through an approved program. Courses in these fields qualify:
- Anatomy
- Athletic Training – Courses
- Dance
- Dance History and Appreciation
- Early Childhood Education
- Exercise Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Health Education
- Health Occupations
- Kinesiology Physical Education
- Kinesiology Physical Education – Aquatics
- Kinesiology Physical Education – Professional Courses
- Kinesiology Physical Education – Team Sports
- Nutrition
- Occupational Therapy
- Physiology
- Physical Therapy
Real World Experience
Complete one of the following (First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation [CPR] certification, Lifeguard [waterfront, poolfront, oceanfront], Earning Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification) and complete an internship lasting at least 40 hours or work experience related to Physical Education. Examples include:
- New West team manager
- New West team medic/athletic trainer prep
- Coaching (ex: Little League, YMCA, Pop Warner, Super Soccer Stars)
- Physical therapy
- Nutrition
- Professional dance studio
- Professional personal trainer at a gym
- Military induction and initial training
- Nursing or convalescent home
- College or professional sports team
- Deer Crossing Camp
- Summer Camp Counselor
- Other approved by Department Chair
- Students are responsible for providing evidence of completion.
- Department Chair will approve college courses and career preparation experiences.
- Department Chair will verify evidence of completion (checking transcripts, calling job/internship references, etc).
* With Distinction will be awarded if all grades are at least an A. With Highest Distinction if all grades are at least an A and Honors.