This document provides information about prestigious awards, grants, fellowships, and scholarships. It discusses the benefits of receiving such awards, including financial support and opportunities for professional and academic growth. Examples are given of nationally competitive scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students, along with brief descriptions of eligibility requirements. Contact information is provided for Dr. Janetta Rebold Benton, the Faculty Coordinator of Scholarly Initiatives, who can provide more details on the application process and nominating students for certain awards.

1. Prestigious Awards, Grants, Fellowships, and
Scholarships Information
To learn more, contact
Dr. Janetta Rebold Benton,
Faculty Coordinator of Scholarly Initiatives
Jbenton@pace.edu
Research.
Teach.
Study.
Explore.
Network.
Grow.
Travel.

2. Why apply for a prestigious award, grant,
fellowship, or scholarship?
The benefits of receiving such an award are considerable, even
beyond the obvious financial reward:
Enrich your life as you live, study, research, work, and travel abroad
Acquire or hone your skill in another language
Gain a competitive advantage when applying to graduate school, law school,
medical school
Augment your professional and academic learning/growth
Expand your networking opportunities
Broaden your future career prospects
Utilize the opportunities that the experience gives you; an award
opens doors to further opportunities

3. Diversity matters:
Who are prestigious scholarship winners?
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All academic disciplines
Women and men
All races and ethnicities
Varied geographic locations
All religions
Any socio-economic status
Persons with disabilities
Leadership experience
Awards/achievements
Creative talents
Community service
Study abroad/international travel
experience

4. What are Nationally Competitive
Scholarships?
Undergraduate
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Gilman Scholarship
Boren Scholarship
Critical Language Scholarship
Truman Scholarship
Udall Scholarship
Goldwater Scholarship
Graduate
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Note: This list is not exhaustive.
There are many more prestigious
scholarship and fellowship opportunities.
Fulbright Grants
Rhodes Scholarship
Marshall Scholarship
Mitchell Scholarship
National Science Foundation

5. Two very useful sources of information:
http://www.pace.edu/office-student-success/prestigiousfellowships
This brings you to a wealth of information on Prestigious
Fellowships/Scholarships.
Information is organized with sections on:
Getting Started: Where to Begin?
Programming Calendar
The Four Year Plan
International Opportunities
National Scholarship Opportunities
Fulbright
Scholarship Advice & Testimonials
http://www.pace.edu/honors-college/nyc-students/
and click on Fellowships & Scholarships.
This brings you to a list of Fellowship Databases and a list of Specific
Fellowships

6. Advice:
Plan to apply for 2 or more awards during your undergraduate
career. You will need to answer the same or similar questions and
can therefore re-use your work to apply for several awards.
Carefully read through all relevant information.
Determine what your own professional goals are. Aim high.
Select the several awards that are most appropriate for your
interests. Again, aim high.
Plan ahead--if you are a first or second or even third-year student,
position yourself/prepare yourself so that you will have the
necessary credentials to win specific awards.

7. Basic components of an application:
Online form: basic facts about yourself, your education, your
accomplishments.
Be scrupulously accurate.
Supporting documents:
transcripts
letters of recommendation (usually 2 or 3)
resume
Essays:
personal statement
research or project proposal
Note: Writing the essays is the most difficult part of the
application.
Interview: not required by all awards.

8. Due dates and deadlines:
Check the application deadlines and begin planning now--the
application process is very time-consuming.
Make an appointment with Dr. Benton to discuss your choice of
awards.
Draft your essays.
Make another appointment with Dr. Benton to edit your essays
and to discuss your choice of potential recommenders.

9. Among the top nationally-recognized awards/scholarships
for undergraduates are:
International:
Gilman: Funds students receiving Federal Pell Grants who want to
study abroad, worldwide. Requires Pace University nomination.
Boren & Critical Language: Funds 1 year of study abroad “in areas
of the world that are critical to US interests and under-represented
in study abroad.” Requires Pace University nomination.
National:
Truman: Funds graduate study in public service fields: master’s,
doctorate, law school, MPA, MPH, MS, MEd, MPP, or MIA.
Udall: Funds study of the environment, tribal public policy, or
Native American health care, requires 3.0 GPA.
Goldwater: Funds study of natural sciences, mathematics, or
engineering.

10. Among the top nationally-recognized awards/scholarships for
graduates are:
International:
Fulbright: Provides 1 year abroad to teach English or research,
worldwide. Requires 3.5 GPA, on-campus interview, and Pace
University nomination. Watch the Fulbright US Student Program
PowerPoint in the “Fulbright” section of the “Prestigious Fellowships/
Scholarships” section of the “Division of Student Success” website.
The Fulbright Program Advisers are Dr. Pradeep Gopalakrishna
(Pleasantville) and Dr. Andrij Danylenko (NY).
Rhodes: Funds 2 years of study at Oxford University, England. Requires
Pace University nomination.
Marshall: Funds 2 years of study at any British university. Requires 3.7
GPA and Pace University nomination.
Mitchell: Funds 1 year of study at any Irish university. Requires Pace
University nomination.

11. Top nationally-recognized awards/scholarships for graduates ,
continued:
National:
National Science Foundation (NSF), Graduate Research Fellowship
Program (GRFP): Supports research-based master’s and doctoral
degrees in science or engineering.
Important note:
Apply for graduate awards during the summer after
your junior year; deadlines are during the fall semester.

12. Information on specific awards
for undergraduates

13. Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship
This scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students
who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or fouryear college or university to participate in study abroad programs
worldwide.

14. Boren & Critical Language
Established in 1991
“For US students to study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to
US interests and underrepresented in study abroad”
Up to $20,000 for full-year study-abroad program
Service commitment required of Boren award recipients

15. Truman Scholarship
Founded in 1975
“A living memorial to President Harry S. Truman, dedicated to
education and public service”
Funds roughly 60 Truman Scholars
Up to $30,000 for graduate study in public service fields

16. Udall Scholarship
Established in 1992
“For students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal
public policy, or Native American health care”
Expects to fund 80 scholarships awards up to $5,000

17. Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship
Established in 1986
“Honors Sen. Barry Goldwater, provides a
continuing source of scientists, mathematicians,
and engineers”
Approximately 300 scholarships awarded each
year
Funds up to $7,500 per academic year

18. Information on specific awards
for graduates
Apply after your junior year

19. Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Created in 1946
“Sponsored by the US government, designed to increase mutual
understanding between the people of the United States and the people
of other countries”
1,800 grants awarded to American students annually
Fellowships for US students; funds a year abroad studying, teaching
English, or conducting research

20. American Rhodes Scholarship
Established in 1903
“Oldest and perhaps most prestigious graduate scholarship program”
32 American Rhodes Scholars are chosen each year for 2 years of study at
Oxford University in England
Criteria: literary and scholastic achievement; character--including devotion to
duty, unselfishness, and fellowship; moral force and the instinct to lead;
physical vigor as shown by fondness for sports

21. Marshall – United Kingdom
Established in 1953
To “commemorate the humane ideals of the Marshall Plan”
Up to 40 awarded each year for one to two years of study at any British
university

22. Mitchell - Ireland
Founded in 1998
To honor Senator Mitchell’s contribution to the Northern Ireland peace
process; designed to connect future American leaders to Ireland
Up to 12 awarded each year for a year of graduate study at any Irish
university

23. Prestigious Awards, Grants, Fellowships, and
Scholarships Information
To learn more, contact
Dr. Janetta Rebold Benton,
Faculty Coordinator of Scholarly Initiatives
Jbenton@pace.edu
Research.
Teach.
Study.
Explore.
Network.
Grow.
Travel.