The Matthew Paul Finnigan Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Matthew Paul Finnigan Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Matthew Finnigan, who was an adult with autism whose life was taken before he could achieve his goal of helping others on the Autism Spectrum
- Three scholarships, ranging from $500 to $2,000, will be awarded for the 2025/2026 school year.
- Application for scholarships open February 2025. The deadline will be April 25, 2025.
- Eligible individuals must have an autism spectrum diagnosis and be full-time or part-time students pursuing a career in Psychiatry, Psychology, Statistics, Chemistry, Math, researching autism supports, or a career that will help adolescents on the Autism Spectrum. Students can be graduating seniors or someone who has graduated from a high school in California and has been accepted to post-secondary, undergraduate education, or vocational-technical training.
To apply for the Matthew Paul Finnigan Memorial Scholarship for the 2024/2025 school year, complete the form below before the deadline date of April 25, 2025. You will need to upload a letter of recommendation, your college or training acceptance letter, and your picture. Your picture will be used in the press announcement if you are chosen. Winners will be announced on May 12, 2025, in honor of Matthew’s birthday.
Mathew Paul Finnigan
Matthew was attending college in Monterey and had visions of going into graduate school to use his strength in Math, Chemistry, and Statistics and a growing interest in Psychiatry and Psychology to support research to help adolescents on the Autism Spectrum.
The scholarship will help Matthew’s legacy live on, as he reflected in another essay about being prepared for death written just days before his life was taken: “You have a legacy that will live on as long as their stories about you keep being told”; and in which he also reminded his reader: “always look on the bright side of life.”
This fund was established at the Community Foundation for Monterey County to help other students with similar diagnoses and interests with gifts from the Finnigan Family and friends and some matching funds from Chevron as a permanent endowed fund.
This scholarship is for graduates or graduating seniors from high schools in California on the Autism Spectrum. The scholarship may be applied to tuition, room and board, books, supplies, and other necessary expenses related to attendance in post-secondary studies.
