Applications are now open for the $5,000 Ken and Shirley Van Sickle Scholarship. This college scholarship is open to graduating seniors from the city’s public high schools who are also residents of Alameda. Selection is based on a combination of academic achievement, leadership ability and financial need.

The scholarship is named in honor of Ken and Shirley Van Sickle, two distinguished educators who together devoted over 50 years to the education of Alameda’s students. Now in its 29th year, the scholarship was established by their son Keith, a 1976 alumnus of Alameda High who later earned degrees at Stanford and Harvard.

Last year the scholarship was awarded to Edylwise Romero of the Alameda Science and Technology Institute. Edylwise is currently enrolled as a freshman at Carleton College in Minnesota.

The deadline for applications is Feb. 20; the award will be made in May. Application forms are available from each high school’s counseling office.