SCHOLARSHIPS for Freshmen

The Honors College offers a limited number of scholarships for incoming first-year students.

The Honors College offers several merit scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to applicants based on the strength of the admissions application.

KERR SCHOLARSHIP - covering full in-state tuition and fees, renewable for up to four years.

THE HONORS SCHOLARS AWARD - valued at $3,000 yearly, renewable up to four years. This award may be applied to tuition only.

In addition, Honors College applicants can be considered for the following scholarships based on both merit and need factors.

HONORS COLLEGE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD- valued at $8000 yearly, renewable for up to four years. This award may be applied to tuition only.

HONORS COLLEGE ACADEMIC DISTINCTION AWARD – valued at $5,000 yearly, renewable for up to four years. This award may be applied to tuition only.

If you receive other financial aid from UIC, these scholarships will be considered part of the total financial aid package. Admission to the Honors College does not guarantee a scholarship.

SCHOLARSHIPS for Transfer Students

PHI THETA KAPPA SCHOLARSHIP

Each fall and spring the Honors College awards the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, a one-time, one-semester tuition waiver, to new Honors College transfer students. Transfer students to the college who are members of Phi Theta Kappa, the community college honor society, have a minimum of a 3.5 transfer GPA, and are enrolled for at least 12 credit hours during the fall term are eligible to apply. Applications for the Fall 2013 semester are now available and are due Thursday, August 1, 2013. This scholarship is competitive and not all eligible students will receive an award.

TRANSFER MERIT TUITION AWARD

The UIC Transfer Merit Tuition Awards are given on a competitive basis to new transfer students each fall and spring. Applicants must be enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program, have a minimum transfer GPA of 3.25 on a minimum of 45 transfer credits, and be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours. A written statement outlining your educational and career goals and how you have financed your education thus far and a copy of financial aid awards statement should be submitted along with a completed application. Applications for the Fall 2013 semester are now available and applications are due Thursday, August 1, 2013.

SCHOLARSHIPS for Current HC Students

HONORS COLLEGE ADVISORY BOARD SCHOLARSHIP

Each Spring the Honors College Advisory Board awards one $1000 scholarship to a current Honors College student. Eligible students must be in good standing with the college (3.4 GPA), enrolled full-time, and possesses significant involvement in Honors College activities and student organizations. This scholarship is awarded during a ceremony at the Annual Honors College Ball. Scholarship link here.

HONORS COUNCIL AWARDS

The Honors Council, the College executive committee, recognizes outstanding students each year. These awards of $200 are made to students nominated by faculty on the basis of their honors work. Nominated students should submit an application as well as a letter of recommendation from an instructor.

JOHN CURTIS JOHNSON AWARD

The John Curtis Johnson award is named for former Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Curt Johnson, a longtime friend and supporter of the Honors College. The award of $500 is given each Spring to one Honors College freshman who has excelled in his or her Honors College core. Students are nominated by the Honors Core faculty.

FLAHERTY SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDY ABROAD

The Honors College offers Flaherty Scholarships for study abroad, for which Honors College students may compete to help defray costs associated with participation in international study. To be eligible to apply for the Flaherty Scholarship, students must apply to a study abroad program endorsed by the UIC Campus. A cumulative UIC grade point average of 3.40 upon application for the Flaherty Scholarship is required.

Applications for students studying abroad in Summer 2013, Fall 2013 or the 2013-2014 Academic Year are available here.

DEAN'S SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDY ABROAD

The UIC Honors College offers Dean's Scholarships for Study Abroad are available in awards ranging from $1,000 to $2,500 for students with demonstrated financial need. To be eligible to apply for the Dean's Scholarship for Study Abroad, students must apply to a study abroad program endorsed by the UIC Campus. A cumulative UIC grade point average of 3.40 upon application for the scholarship is also required.

Applications for students studying abroad in Summer 2013, Fall 2013 or the 2013-2014 Academic Year are available here.

HONORS COLLEGE TUITION WAIVER

Each semester, Honors College students with at least a 3.5 GPA are eligible to compete for a limited number of tuition waivers offered by the Honors College. Students are awarded these waivers based on a combination of merit and need. The Honors College Tuition Waiver application is now available online. In addition to completing the online form, applicants must also upload their personal statement and Financial Aid Report (if available). Applications are due January 1 for the Spring 2013 semester.

HONORS COLLEGE DEAN'S EMERGENCY FUND

The Honors College Dean's Emergency Fund is intended to help meet the financial needs (tuition, fees, books, housing) of Honors College students who encounter an emergency situation or one-time, unusual, or unforeseen expenses during their degree program that prevent them from continuing their studies at UIC. Situations that might trigger such an emergency need include, but are not limited to, such events as:

Medical, dental, or mental health emergencies
Major accidents and events such as fire and natural disasters
Home foreclosure or other loss of a domicile
Unexpected loss of income

Students who find themselves in such situations should apply for funds, generally up to $2,000, from the Dean’s Emergency Fund by submitting the following:

Brief statement describing the emergency situation or one-time, unusual or unforeseen expense and the total dollar amount of emergency funds being requested. Students should ask for the bare minimum necessary, so as to reserve as much as possible for other students, and explain how they have exhausted all alternative funding possibilities. Please be sure to include your name, UIN and UIC netid on your statement.
Budget detailing the amount of emergency funding requested, a list of the specific expenses to be covered by the award (which can include tuition, fees, books, housing), and your financial situation including sources of income and other available funding.
Any available documentation in support of the student’s request, including a financial aid award report and employment history.

Please note that funds from the Dean’s Emergency fund do not replace regular scholarship dollars, and students are encouraged to apply for all other possible sources of money. Funds are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Preference will be given to juniors and seniors. Students can only receive funding through the Dean’s Emergency Fund for two semesters during their Honors College career. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with no particular deadline.

SALLY and KEVIN DESOUZA FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP

The Sally and Kevin Desouza Family Scholarship is awarded to full-time students in the Honors College. Recipients shall demonstrate high academic achievement, and shall be actively involved in the campus community in ways that make a contribution to the quality of campus life. Preference shall be given to international students and U.S. permanent residents; all eligible students must have full legal status. For 2013, two $1,250 scholarships will be awarded for the Spring 2013 semester. One of these awards will be for a student pursuing a degree in the College of Business Administration. The other award is open to all Honors College students, regardless of major.

The application deadline for Spring 2013 is Friday, March 15, 2013.

CEO SCHOLARSHIP FOR WOMEN IN ENGINEERING

The CEO Scholarship for Women in Engineering is awarded to a full-time woman engineering student in the Honors College. The award is based on financial need and academic merit; applicants must be U.S. citizens. Consideration will be given to those students exhibiting Creativity, Enthusiasm, and Optimism as well as demonstrated ability and interest in engineering. The winner receives $3,000. The application materials can be found here and the application deadline is September 7, 2012.

SISTER DOROTHY DROBIS AWARD

The Sister Dorothy Drobis Award is awarded each year awarded to an outstanding junior or senior majoring in education who intends to teach in an urban environment. Preference will be given to minority candidates. Applicants must also be a member of the Honors College. The award is based on academic excellence and leadership, and the winner receives a $500 cash prize. The Drobis Award is made each year in recognition of Sister Dorothy Drobis and her long career in elementary education in Chicago. To apply submit a completed application along with one letter of recommendation.

MARK A WYATT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

The Mark A. Wyatt Memorial Scholarship is awarded each year to an outstanding junior majoring in Biological Sciences, Biochemistry or Neuroscience and planning to go to medical school. The award is based on academic excellence, research, and leadership. Preference is given to continuing students (not graduating) who have demonstrated leadership and a passion for research The Wyatt Scholarship is a memorial to Mark Wyatt, a pre-med Biological Sciences and Honors College junior who exemplified academic excellence and leadership. After his death in 1990, his fellow students led the effort to establish this scholarship in his name.

RINA K. DUKOR AWARD FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

The Rina K. Dukor award for undergraduate research provides research grants to support Honors College students in their research endeavors. Preference is given to students who are conducting research in chemistry and related fields, but students conducting research in the natural or social sciences may apply. Women are especially encouraged to apply.

Spring 2013 applications are due February 20, 2013 and the application is available online.

CATERPILLAR AWARD FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

Through the generosity of the Caterpillar Foundation we are pleased to announce the availability of undergraduate awards to pay for the costs associated with research (up to $1,000). Students in the Honors College who are conducting research in the natural sciences and engineering (including disciplines such as mathematics and computer science) may apply. Underrepresented minority students, women, and students who are the first in their families to go to college are especially encouraged to apply.

Spring 2013 applications are due February 20, 2013 and the application is available online.

SARAH MADONNA KABBES AWARD FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

The undergraduate research experience is an important part of a student’s training, especially students who seek to enter excellent graduate or professional programs. Each year, outstanding Honors College students are recognized for their achievement in undergraduate research with Sarah Madonna Kabbes Scholarships awards to pay for the costs associated with research (up to $1,000). Miss Kabbes was an alumna of the Urbana-Champaign campus and a former faculty member at UIC’s Navy Pier campus. All students in the Honors College who are conducting research in any field may apply.

Spring 2013 applications are due February 20, 2013 and the application is available online.

STUDENT ENGAGEMENT GRANTS

Through the generosity of donors, the UIC Honors College is able to provide its students the opportunity to apply for Student Engagement Grants. These financial awards support enriching educational experiences that complement students’ educational programs. Grants will typically be less than $500; students may request higher amounts with a defensible rationale for doing so. Projects to be funded by the Honors College Student Engagement Grant will usually involve community service or on- or off-campus service or leadership activities. More information about projects eligible for the grants and a grant application can be found here.

PHI ETA SIGMA SCHOLARSHIP

The Honors College awards the Phi Eta Sigma Scholarships to applicants that are current members of Phi Eta Sigma. Applicants must also have a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.5 or above, and must have made some contribution to UIC. This year Phi Eta Sigma is excited to be offering three levels of awards, $700, $200 and $100. There are two different applications, one for the $700 award and one for the $200 & $100 awards. Completed applications are due to the Honors College on March 15, 2013.

OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS

DONALD AND LEAH RIDDLE PRIZE

The Donald and Leah Riddle Prize is awarded each year at Commencement to an outstanding graduating senior regardless of major field. The award is based on academic excellence and leadership. The winner receives a bronze medallion and a $1,000 cash prize. The Riddle Prize is made each year in recognition of the former UIC Chancellor Donald Riddle and his wife Leah and honors the Riddles' contribution to the campus. Applications are now available.

UIC SCHOLARSHIP ASSOCIATION
The Scholarship Association for UIC sponsors between thirty and fifty scholarships annually for UIC students. Award information is available during the first week of the semester every spring. We strongly encourage students to read information carefully and apply for all the scholarships for which they are eligible. The awards range in value from $500 to $1500. For more information, please visit their website for more information.

COLLEGE AWARDS
Liberal Arts and Sciences Alumni Association
The LAS Alumni Association Board of Directors wishes to recognize the many achievements of current LAS students and LAS alumni. The LAS Alumni Association Merit Award was created in 1992 to give current LAS students and returning LAS alumni the opportunity to receive a monetary award and, at the same time, receive recognition for both academic achievement and service to the university and/or community.

Each recipient will receive a $500 award (to be applied to tuition) and a formal memento of the occasion. Current LAS undergraduates and graduate students are encouraged to fill out the attached application form.

The LAS Alumni Association Board will conduct a blind review of all applications. Only the second sheet of the application form and your narrative will be considered by the Board. The first two pages of this application will be seen ONLY by the LAS Office of Advancement to assist the LAS Alumni Association Board in verifying information.

INQUIRIES - For further information regarding this and other LAS scholarships or eligibility requirements, refer to the Scholarship Guidelines Grid on the application web page at http://www.uic.edu/las/alumni/lasaa/. Or contact the LAS Office of Advancement at 312-413-1898 or LASconnect@uic.edu.

DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS
Many individual departments recognize outstanding undergraduates in their discipline through various scholarships and awards. Some departments announce their award winners during convocation ceremonies.

OFFICE OF SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
A wide range of scholarships supporting undergraduate and graduate study are open to high achieving Honors College students. In the Office of Special Scholarship Programs, Director Beth Powers assists students in searching for awards, learning about eligibility criteria and deadlines, and preparing applications. Deadlines for these awards begin early in the fall and continue through spring. Preparing a strong application requires students to begin well in advance of the deadline. In particular, the Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, Fulbright and Gates Cambridge have October or November deadlines and preparation to apply should begin the previous spring.

In addition to providing information about awards, OSSP helps students by offering feedback on essays and resumes, arranging for mock interviews and helping students in multiple application processes in order to prepare for the best possible outcomes. Please keep in mind that several awards required a university endorsement or nomination, including: Rhodes, Truman, Marshall, Mitchell, Fulbright, Goldwater, Jack Kent Cooke, Udall, and Merage. While the financial assistance or opportunity to study abroad offered by these awards is a great reward, the process of applying often helps students develop as thinkers, writers, and speakers in ways that prove beneficial to their professional and personal development. All awards except those noted require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.

Awards
Fulbright - provides funding to recent graduates or graduate students for one year of study, research, or the opportunity to teach English in any one of over 140 countries. Approximately 900 Americans chosen yearly. www.iie.org/fulbright

Gates Cambridge - Provides funding to students from the U.S. and other countries for 1-3 years of graduate study at Cambridge. Approximately 60 awards are given annually. www.gates.scholarships.cam.ac.uk

Goldwater - Provides up to $7,500 for 1-2 years of undergraduate study to students planning on research-based careers in math, science and engineering. Approximately 300 awards annually. www.act.org/goldwater

Jack Kent Cooke - Provides funding up to $50,000 to college seniors or recent graduates to attend graduate programs the following fall. Approximately 60 scholars annually. www.jackkentcookefoundation.org

Merage - Provides $20,000 of funding to immigrant graduating seniors for two years of pursuing your "American Dream" (graduate school, internship, etc.). Approximately 10 awarded annually. www.meragefoundations.com/mfad.html

Marshall - Provides funding for two years of graduate study at any British university. Awarded to 40 Americans each year. www.marshallscholarship.org

Mitchell - Provides one year of funding for graduate study in Ireland. Awarded to 12 Americans annually. www.usirelandalliance.org/mitchell

NSEP - Provides up to $20,000 to students pursuing foreign language study in a non-English speaking country outside Western Europe. www.iie.org/nsep. A graduate scholarship is also available.

NSF - Provides three years of funding for graduate study leading to a PhD in math, science, engineering and some social sciences. https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/

Rhodes - Provides 2-3 years of funding for graduate study at Oxford University. Awarded to 32 Americans annually. www.rhodesscholar.org

Soros - Provides a maintenance grant of $20,000 each year and a tuition grant of one-half the tuition cost to graduating seniors that are “New Americans,” and who plan to attend a U.S. graduate program the following fall. www.pdsoros.org

Truman - Provides $30,000 toward graduate study for students planning on careers as leaders in public service. Awarded to approximately 75 students every year. www.truman.gov

Udall - Provides up to $5,000 for undergraduates planning careers related to the environment, or to Native American students intending on careers in health care or tribal policy. www.udall.gov

Stay Informed - Join the OSSP Listserv!
The Office of Special Scholarship Programs has created a listserv - ossp@listserv.uic.edu - to keep you posted on upcoming scholarship deadlines and to provide you with information on how to be an effective candidate for awards. The listserv will include information on potential scholarships, internships and other academic funding and volunteering opportunities. The listserv is also a means in which you may ask scholarship advisors questions regarding academic funding.

If you would like to join the OSSP listserv, please email your first name, last name and email address to Beth Powers at bpowers@uic.edu so that she may add you to the list. If you have any questions, please contact Beth Powers directly.