Bank of Hope and its Hope Scholarship Foundation have selected 60 recipients for the 2026 Hope Scholarship Program, awarding a total of $150,000 in educational assistance to graduating high school seniors.
The scholarship recipients were notified individually last week after a competitive selection process that considered academic achievement, financial need, personal essays, letters of recommendation, and community residency.
Each recipient will receive a $2,500 scholarship to help support their college education beginning this fall.
This year’s scholarship class includes students from across the country, reflecting the bank’s broad community footprint. The recipients include 32 students from California, nine from Hawaii, five from New York, four each from Chicago and Seattle, two from New Jersey and Texas, and one each from Atlanta and Alabama.
The Hope Scholarship Program, established in 2001, is one of Bank of Hope’s signature community outreach initiatives. Over the past 25 years, the program has provided financial assistance to hundreds of students pursuing higher education and has supported the development of future community leaders.
“We are proud of this year’s scholarship recipients, who have demonstrated excellence both academically and in their communities,” said Kevin Kim, president and chief executive officer of Bank of Hope. “We hope these scholarships serve as a meaningful stepping stone toward achieving their educational and professional goals. Bank of Hope remains committed to investing in the next generation.”
Additional information about the Hope Scholarship Program is available through the bank’s scholarship website.
The annual program continues to be one of the largest scholarship initiatives sponsored by a Korean American financial institution in the United States.
