GIA Education Report: Military School Protests, Financial Aid Fraud, & UC Riverside Scholarship Match Tool

Welcome to the GIA Education Report. With the latest in Southern California education news, I’m Alyssa Silva. 

Hundreds of American students enrolled in military base schools overseas have protested recent policy changes affecting curriculum, book access, and student clubs. The demonstrations, which began last month and continued into April, were significantly smaller after school administrators issued warnings that students could face disciplinary action for participating. Students expressed frustration over what they see as an erosion of previously supported rights, while the Defense Department cited concerns about classroom disruptions and student safety. The situation highlights growing tensions within Department of Defense schools abroad.  

In other news, two international students studying in California have filed lawsuits against the federal government after their student visas were revoked and their records in a federal immigration database were terminated, according to a report by KQED. The legal action follows a broader trend under the Trump administration, which has rescinded the visas of numerous international students—many linked to pro-Palestinian activism. 

So far, at least 83 international students in California have reportedly been affected, including students at Stanford, Cal State campuses, and multiple University of California schools. The lawsuits allege that the students were removed without due process, putting their academic futures and immigration status at risk. University leaders have voiced concern about the implications for campus communities and reaffirmed their support for international students.  

Community colleges in California are facing a growing fraud crisis, with recent data showing that over one-third of applicants may be fake. These individuals, often aided by AI tools, have fraudulently claimed millions in federal and state financial aid, diverting funds and occupying classroom seats. College faculty are working to detect these imposters, but the effort is becoming more difficult as federal education staff and fraud investigators face cuts under the Trump administration. Education leaders warn that fewer resources could further undermine fraud prevention efforts. 

The Riverside County Office of Education has been honored with the first-ever Academic Excellence Award from the California State Treasurer’s Office for its leadership in advancing financial literacy and increasing access to college savings through the CalKIDS program. With more than $137 million in CalKIDS accounts available for local students, RCOE’s efforts have led Riverside County to lead the state in account claims. Superintendent Dr. Edwin Gomez accepted the award at the inaugural California Early Wealth Education System Summit in Sacramento on April 10. 

 To close this report, we highlight a new scholarship-matching tool launched at UC Riverside. The platform, called Scholarship Universe, helps students connect with financial aid opportunities tailored to their academic history and personal interests. By analyzing student data, the tool matches users with both internal and external scholarships—some of which don’t even require a formal application. With over 4,000 awards currently listed and more being added regularly, UCR aims to make the scholarship search more accessible for both undergraduate and graduate students. Students can get started at ucr.scholarshipuniverse.com. 

And that’s this week’s GIA Education Report, I’m Alyssa Silva.