Center for Student Achievement

Nationally Competitive Scholarships

Are you a candidate for Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright or other prestigious scholarship?  These scholarships offer students the opportunity to study abroad, work at a federal agency, or pursue graduate studies on a fellowship.  Recipients of these awards not only have a tremendous experience while on the scholarship or fellowship, but also achieved life-long recognition associated with these awards.  Salisbury University supports students interested in pursuing these awards.  The value in such competitions is not solely in the winning, but in the process of preparing your application and working with a faculty mentor.  The entire experience lends to self-exploration and personal discovery that will enhance your experience wherever your future studies and career interests may lead you. 

The Process

You should start early and do research so that you are aware of what each scholarship program seeks in applicants and how these qualities align with your strengths and goals. .  Most awards are for postgraduate study, but some are for activities in college as well.  This means that you should not put off planning till your senior year.  Application dates vary with scholarship and fellowship programs, so start planning as early as you can, even in your first year of colleges.   

If you are planning to apply for a prestigious scholarship, sometimes it is necessary to adjust you curricular and co-curricular activities to ensure you are a strong candidate.  Take advantage of your summers to conduct research or do an internship.Some awards require university endorsements in addition to an application and letters of recommendation.  The number of applications from a campus may also be limited so it may need to be confirmed through a faculty committee.

Why Apply?

Though the primary goal for applying to one of these scholarships is to receive one of these prestigious awards, the process of preparing your materials and application is rewarding in and of itself. Through the experience, students:

·      Explore professional interests, career goals, and personal strengths and talents and learn to articulate them

·      Develop more meaningful relationships with faculty who can provide guidance in achieving your long-term goals.

·      Learn how to prepare application materials and sharpen interview skills that can assist you in future academic and career endeavors

 Available Scholarships and Fellowships

The Center for Student Achievement has information and provides advisement on a number of nationally competitive scholarships including:

Fulbright - http://www.iie.org/Template.cfm?section=Fulbright1
Fulbright Grants are awarded to graduating seniors and graduate students who propose a clear study project to be carried out in another country (over 140 countries participate) for one academic year. Applications are due in early October each year.  Contact Dr. Stiegler at bnstiegler@salisbury.edu or Dr. England at rkengland@salisbury.edu.  

Fulbright-mtvU Awards - http://us.fulbrightonline.org/types_mtvu.html

Deadline and Procedures are same as traditional Fulbright program. Up to four awards will be available to pursue projects around an aspect of international contemporary or popular music as a cultural force for expression. Preference will be given to creative projects that are conveyed in a dynamic fashion and are accompanied by a feasible plan. In addition to presenting unique projects on music as a global force for mutual understanding, applicants must submit a Documentation and Outreach Plan describing how they intend to share their activities with their peers during their Fulbright year abroad through mtvU print, broadcast and/or online mediums. The Documentation and Outreach Plan form is available must be submitted as part of the Fulbright application.
 

Gates Cambridge – http://www.gatesscholar.org/
The Trust seeks students of exceptional academic achievement and scholarly promise for whom further study at Cambridge would be particularly appropriate. The scholarship is tenable at Cambridge for one, two, three, and in some instances four years of study in virtually any discipline. Candidates should have at least senior standing, a strong GPA, and be admitted to Cambridge prior to receiving the award.  Contact Dr. Stiegler at bnstiegler@salisbury.edu or Dr. England at rkengland@salisbury.edu.  

Gilman Scholarships – http://www.iie.org/programs/gilman/index.html   

The Gilman International Scholarship Program provides awards for US undergraduate students who are receiving federal Pell Grant funding at a 2-year or 4-year college or university to participate in study abroad programs worldwide. The Gilman Scholarship Program broadens the student population that studies abroad by supporting undergraduates who might not otherwise participate due to financial constraints. The program aims to encourage students to choose nontraditional study abroad destinations, especially those outside of Western Europe and Australia. The Gilman scholarship aims to support students who have been traditionally underrepresented in study abroad, including but not limited to, students with high financial need, community college students, students in underrepresented fields such as the sciences and engineering, students with diverse ethnic backgrounds, students with disabilities, and students of nontraditional age. The program seeks to assist students from a diverse range and type of public and private institutions from all 50 states.

Award recipients are chosen by a competitive selection process and must use the award to defray eligible study abroad costs. These costs include program tuition, room and board, books, local transportation, insurance and international airfare.

Awards of up to $5,000 are made for U.S. citizen undergraduates to study abroad. Award amounts will vary depending on the length of study and student need with the average award being $4,000. Students who are receiving federal Pell Grant funding at 2-year or 4-year undergraduate colleges or universities are eligible to apply.   Contact Dr. Stiegler at bnstiegler@salisbury.edu or Dr. England at rkengland@salisbury.edu.  

Goldwater - http://www.act.org/goldwater/
The Foundation seeks to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields. Each scholarship covers eligible expenses for tuition, fees, books, and room and board, up to $7,500 annually. Junior-level and senior-level scholarships are available. Applications must include an institutional endorsement. The filing date is mid-February, but interested candidates must provide a copy of their materials to Dr. Olmstead at klolmstead@salisbury.edu.

Javits Scholarship – http://www.ed.gov/programs/jacobjavits/index.html    

Administered by the Department of Education, Javits provides financial assistance to students who have demonstrated superior academic ability and achievement; exceptional promise; and financial need.  Students must be undertaking graduate study leading to a doctoral degree or a terminal mater’s degree.  Selected fields in the arts, humanities and social sciences are eligible to apply.  The award provides a one-year renewable stipend for use at a U.S. university.  Application deadline:  First of October. Contact Dr. Pereboom at mlpereboom@salisbury.edu.  
 

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Scholar Program – http://www.jkcf.org/

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Graduate Scholarship Program awards approximately 35 scholarships to college seniors or recent graduates to attend graduate programs of their choice.  The scholarship awards provide funding for tuition, room and board, books, and other required fees for the length of the graduate degree program, up to six years.  The amount and duration of awards will vary by student, based on the cost of attendance and length of the program as well as other scholarships or grants received.  The maximum award per student is $50,000 per year.  All accredited graduate programs are eligible, including law and medicine.  Preference will be given to students with proven financial need who also demonstrate outstanding academic excellence. Interested students must contact Dr. Holmes at hwholmes@salisbury.edu before the end of the fall semester; applications are due in early March.   
 

Madison Scholarship – http://www.jamesmadison.com

The James Madison Foundation seeks applicants with a demonstrated commitment to a career in teaching American history, American government, or social studies at the secondary level.  All winners must agree to teach one of the above subjects in grades 7-12 for one year per each full academic year of study under the fellowship.  The maximum amount of each award is $24,000.  Fellowship payments cover the actual costs of tuition, required fees, books, and room and board but cannot exceed $12,000 per academic year.  Two levels of fellowships are offered:  Junior Fellowships are awarded to students who are about to complete, or have completed, their undergraduate course of study and intend to pursue full-time graduate work.  Senior Fellowships are awarded to experienced teachers who want to pursue graduate studies on a part-time basis.  Application Deadline is March 1.  Contact Dr. Pereboom at mlpereboom@salisbury.edu or Dr. Pataniczek at dapataniczek@salisbury.edu.

Marshall - www.acu.ac.uk/marshall 
Marshall provides two years of study in any discipline at a university in the United Kingdom. Candidates must possess a keen intellect and have a strong record of service and leadership. Candidates must have at least senior standing but should not have graduated more than two years prior to applying. The British Consulate will not accept direct applications; the institution must nominate all applicants. Contact Dr. Stiegler at bnstiegler@salisbury.edu or Dr. England at rkengland@salisbury.edu.  

Mellon - http://my.cmu.edu/site/admission/menuitem.18c40008673813c019300710d4a02008/  
The Andrew W. Mellon Fellowships in Humanistic Studies are designed to help exceptionally promising students prepare for careers of teaching and scholarship in humanistic disciplines. The Mellon Fellowship is a competitive award for first-year doctoral students. Fellows may take their awards to any accredited graduate program in the United States or Canada.   The Fellowship covers graduate tuition and required fees for the first year of graduate study and includes a stipend of $17,500.  Contact Dr. Pereboom at mlpereboom@salisbury.edu.

Mitchell - http://www.us-irelandalliance.org/wmspage.cfm?parm1=441
Scholars are eligible to attend institutions of higher learning in Ireland, including the seven universities in the Republic of Ireland and the two universities in Northern Ireland, for one academic year of graduate study, with no restrictions as to academic field of study. Institutional endorsement is required. Requests for an institutional endorsement must be made to Dr. Stiegler at bnstiegler@salisbury.edu or Dr. England at rkengland@salisbury.edu.  

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship – http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=6201   

NSF awards are for study and research in the sciences or in engineering leading to masters or doctoral degrees in the mathematical, physical, biological, engineering, behavioral, and social sciences, and in the history and philosophy of science.  Applicants typically apply in their senior year of study or shortly thereafter.  Fellowship stipends are approximately $15,000 for 12-month tenures, plus a cost-of-education allowance of $9,500 paid directly to the recipient's graduate institution in lieu of all tuition and fees.   Students are eligible for up to three years of support over a five-year period.  Students apply directly to the NSF.  No nomination is necessary, although departmental support is critical.   Contact Dr. Olmstead at klolmstead@salisbury.edu.

National Security Education Program/Boren - www.borenawards.org
NSEP/Boren was designed to provide American undergraduates with the resources and encouragement they need to acquire skills and experience in countries and areas of the world critical to the future security of our nation. Applicants must be citizens of US and matriculated as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior at a US college or university and possess an interest in working for the federal government. The maximum scholarship awards will be about $10,000 per academic term and $20,000 for an academic year.

Rhodes – www.rhodesscholar.org

The prestigious Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest international fellowship. It recognizes superior scholastic attainment, a history of service and leadership, knowledge of current global issues, fondness and success in sports, and altruism. The scholarship is tenable at Oxford University for two years of study in virtually any discipline. Candidates must be 18-24 years old (no older than 24), have at least senior standing, and a strong GPA. Direct applications to the Rhodes Scholarship foundation are not accepted; applicants must be nominated by the institution. Requests for an institutional endorsement must be made to Dr. Stiegler at bnstiegler@salisbury.edu or Dr. England at rkengland@salisbury.edu.  

Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship – http://www.rotary.org  

The Rotary Foundation funds international study for periods ranging from three months to two years.  Students must apply through the Rotary club in their legal or permanent residence or place of full-time study or employment.   The following are ineligible:  Rotarians or honorary Rotarians, employees, spouses, lineal descendants, or ancestors of Rotarians or Rotary employees; and spouses of lineal descendants.  Several kinds of scholarships are available.  The committees are very interested in identifying talented, well-informed, and articulate young people who will represent their home country or club well.  Proficiency in the language of the host country is an important criterion.  Before applying students must contact their local Rotary club and inquire if and what kinds of scholarships are available and determine local application deadlines (as early as Feb 15 or as late as July 15).  Note: The deadlines are set over a year before the period of study begins.  If you want to study abroad in 2010-2011, you should apply in the spring of 2009. Applicants must have completed at least two years of college-level coursework.  Contact Dr. Stiegler at bnstiegler@salisbury.edu.

Soros - http://www.soros.org/grants
The purpose of The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans is to provide opportunities for continuing generations of able and accomplished New Americans to achieve leadership in their chosen fields and to partake of the American dream. Fellows must have shown potential in the fields for which they seek further education; the capacity for creativity, persistence and work; and the commitment to the values of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The Fellowships are grants for up to two years of graduate study in the U.S. A New American: is a resident alien; has been naturalized as a U.S. citizen; or is the child of two parents who are both naturalized citizens. The applicant must either have a bachelor’s degree or be in her/his final year of undergraduate study. Those who have a bachelor’s may already be pursuing graduate study and may receive Fellowship support to continue that study. To be eligible you must not be older than thirty years of age as of November 30 the year you apply. Each year the Fellow receives a maintenance grant of $20,000 (paid in two installments) and a tuition grant of one-half the tuition cost of the U.S. graduate program attended by the Fellow. A Fellow may pursue a graduate degree in a variety of fields. The application and selection process will take place in the late fall and winter, and Fellows will be expected to begin their graduate study no later than the following September. An institutional status form is required and should be requested at least one month prior to the application deadline, which is typically the end of November.  Contact Dr. Pereboom at mlpereboom@salisbury.edu.

Truman - www.truman.gov
This $30,000 scholarship is awarded to junior-level students who have extensive records of public and community service, have outstanding leadership potential and communication skills, and are committed to careers in government or elsewhere in the public sector. It provides $3,000 for the senior year of college and the rest for study in a graduate or professional program designed to provide preparation for these careers. A University nomination is required with your application. The deadline for submission of application materials is late January, but materials must be submitted to the Faculty Representative by December 1.  Contact Dr. Pereboom at mlpereboom@salisbury.edu.

Udall Scholarships – http://udall.gov

The Foundation awards approximately 75 scholarships to two groups of students:  1)  sophomores or juniors who study the environment and related fields.  2)  Native American and Alaska Native sophomores and juniors studying fields related to health care or tribal public policy.  Scholars receive up to $5,000 or the cost of tuition, fees, books, room and board, whichever is less.  Sophomore scholars may be re-nominated during the next year's competition.  Applications are due to the Honors Office in late January.  Contact Dr. Olmstead at klolmstead@salisbury.edu.

Ernest F. Hollings Scholarship - http://www.orau.gov/NOAA/HollingsScholarship/