U.S. Service and Leadership Awards
For these awards, the Scholarship Opportunities Program seeks undergraduates with the ambition to become practical leaders in their fields. Potential applicants should have demonstrated the capacity and vision for original public or community service and organizational leadership achievements. Practical leadership may take many different forms; such capacity and vision may be demonstrated through some or all of the following:
- Founding roles in new organizations or entrepreneurial ventures;
- Rising, within an existing organization, from the entry level of member or volunteer to a position of significant responsibility and influence;
- Sustained participation and dedication to achievement of increasingly challenging objectives related to a particular project or cause;
- Significant, progressively-responsible work or internship experience.
Whatever form your practical leadership may take, you must be able to articulate how you made a unique and measurable impact, separate from other members of the project or organization and others who have held the same or similar roles. The formation of close relationships with supervisors and mentors is also essential to building a competitive profile toward these awards.
Please note that external scholarship agencies will consider all of your credit-bearing coursework from any college or institution as part of the review process (including CSU, community colleges, private colleges, or other UC campuses/Extension programs, and including units earned while in high school or studying abroad). Grades from other colleges will be included in the calculation of your cumulative (overall) undergraduate GPA for eligibility purposes.
Application Procedures
- Phase 1: Exploration to self-enroll in SOP-PREP.
- At the completion of SOP-PREP, you will meet with a Student Advisor and receive links to appropriate Pre-Application forms based on your academic interests and goals.
- If your Pre-Application is deemed eligible for personalized advising and endorsement (nomination) services, you will work on your application materials for 3 to 6 months under the guidance of an SOP Primary Advisor.
Completion of both SOP-PREP and the correct Pre-Application form for the specific scholarship by the UCI Pre-Application deadline constitutes the mandatory first step in the personalized advising and campus evaluation and endorsement process (where endorsement is required).
SOP is able to advise competitive UCI undergraduate candidates only.
UCI graduate students: contact the Graduate Division for advising.
Explorer's 11: November Deadlines
Sophomores & Juniors: Donald A. Strauss Public Service Award
UCI Pre-Application Deadline: November 9, 2020 at 12:00 Noon*.
Pre-Applications are available from late September to early November annually.
- *Completion of SOP-PREP is required.
- Campus Endorsement is required.
- Application to this scholarship requires mandatory participation in the Explorer’s 11 (Fall/Winter) advising process, under the guidance of an SOP Primary Advisor.
The creation of the Foundation pays tribute to the vision, ideals, and leadership of Donald A. Strauss, and to his life-long commitment to public service and education. The Foundation promotes the value of public service in the education and preparation of our future leaders. In financing innovative student-generated projects which foster leadership skills, we encourage optimism and an enduring interest in public service.
A central part of the application package is an original proposal for a community or public service project to be carried out between the end of the sophomore or junior year and the spring of the following year; these proposals are a major focus of the selection process.
While the idea and implementation of the Strauss Public Service Project must originate with the student, partnership is allowed with organizations serving the public interest. These include national, international, regional, or local health organizations; environmental organizations; and non-profit organizations whose primary purpose is to help disadvantaged persons to access education and health care services, or to develop viable businesses.
Fields of Study
The Strauss Foundation places no limitations on the applicant’s field of study or major.
Fields of study which can lead to public service and a Strauss project include (but are not limited to) the sciences, both biological and physical, engineering, agriculture, environmental management, economics, political science, and the other social sciences, English, history, and the other liberal arts and humanities, fine arts, public health, public administration, business, government, and education.
Eligibility
Donald A. Strauss Scholarship applicants must be full-time enrolled undergraduate sophomores or juniors who have:
- Demonstrated interest in public service.
- Outstanding leadership potential.
- Developed effective communication skills that can be demonstrated
- The desire to “make a difference” in local, regional, national, or international communities.
- One or two years of full-time undergraduate study remaining until graduation.
- A GPA in the upper 1/3 of his or her class.
- Submitted an innovative, original, public service project proposal, to be completed between May of the current year and April of next academic year.
There are no citizenship restrictions.
Scholarship Benefits
The Strauss Foundation will award no fewer than ten and no more than fifteen $15,000 awards each year; these will be used to pay expenses of the public service project and for some tuition, fees, books, room and board.
- A minimum of $8,000 of this award should be used as a project grant to fund the student’s service project expenses.
- Up to $7,000 of this award can be used as a scholarship to be applied to the student’s educational support.
- The entire award of $15,000 may be used towards the project.
Recent Recipients & Alternates
Recent UCI recipients have had a demonstrated record of public and community service on and off campus, including one or more leadership roles, as well as a strong and feasible project proposal. Their projects represent a diverse array of academic and community service interests and have had a positive impact on various groups, from youth to seniors. Their projects have been conducted locally, in other parts of the state of California, and even internationally. Recipients present the results of their projects to the Donald A. Strauss Foundation Board in the Spring of the following year.
- In 2019, Woojin (Janet) Song received the Strauss Scholarship for “Promoting Digital Equity in Oakland: Wash and Learn and Youth Participatory Action Research.”
- In 2018, Anne-Marie Leiby was named an Alternate (waitlisted for funding) for “Limitless Leaps, a Program Cultivating Community and Empowerment Through Dance.”
- In 2017, Bhavesh Patel received the Strauss Scholarship for “Towards a Healthy Future: A Youth-Based Community-Wide Tobacco Intervention in Rural India.”
- In 2015, Anna Tran received the Strauss Scholarship for “Pay It Forward: Enhancing the Quality of Life of Seniors While Bringing Generations Together.”
- In 2014, Christine Pham received the Strauss Scholarship for “My Healthy Start: An After-School Program for Elementary Students.”
Competitiveness
As we typically have more applicants than nomination slots, achieving campus endorsement (nomination) for this award is extremely competitive. Applicants apply through their universities. Each participating institution will select up to 3 finalist applications for submission to the Foundation. Applications will not be accepted directly from candidates.
With regard to selection criteria, the Strauss Foundation emphasizes that the public service project proposal should be:
- Clearly focused on social change, public service, and/or social entrepreneurship.
- Projects must engage other students or local participants in public service, to generate a “multiplier effect.”
- It is not the intention of the Foundation to fund internship requirements, research, or the creation of a publication.
- Original, innovative, and timely.
- Include an idea, angle, or approach that has not been pursued widely and/or that addresses important current issues.
- If the project is an expansion of an existing program, there should be a clear demonstration of new features or major additional outreach or impact.
- Sustainable over time.
- The project should be sustained throughout the school year, not just one week or one summer.
- Applicants must include plans for recruiting and training future project leadership and provide a timeline for implementation.
- Connected to the applicant’s passion(s) and life experience(s).
- It should be clear to reviewers that you are the right person to lead this project and ensure its success.
Sophomores & Juniors: Morris K. Udall Undergraduate Scholarship
UCI Pre-Application Deadline: November 9, 2020 at 12:00 Noon*.
Pre-Applications are available from late September to early November annually.
- Completion of SOP-PREP is required.
- Campus Endorsement is required.
- Application to this scholarship requires mandatory participation in the Explorer's 11 (Fall/Winter) advising process, under the guidance of an SOP Primary Advisor.
The Udall Foundation awards scholarships to college sophomores and juniors for leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to Native American nations or to the environment. The Udall scholarship honors the legacies of Arizona Congressman Morris K. Udall and of U.S. Secretary of the Interior Stewart L. Udall, whose careers had a significant impact on Native American self-governance, health care, and the stewardship of public lands and natural resources.
Fields of Study
The Udall Foundation places no limitations on the applicant’s field of study or major.
Recent Udall Scholars have majored in environmental sciences and policy studies, agriculture, political science, natural resource management, sociology, anthropology, American Indian studies, tribal public policy, history, English, theater, landscape architecture, and public health, to name just a few areas.
Eligibility
There are three types of Udall Scholarships, Environment (for all undergraduates), and Native Health Care and Tribal Policy (restricted to Native American and Alaska Native tribe members). Each type has separate eligibility criteria as follows.
Environment
Applicants to the Environment category must be:
- A full-time undergraduate sophomore or junior, with one or two years of full-time undergraduate study remaining until graduation.
- A U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident.
- Interested in conservation, environmental stewardship, or environmental policy.
- Demonstrating commitment to the environment through participation in campus activities or service in the community.
- Working toward a career that will enable him/her to address environmental issues on a local, national, or global scale.
Native Health Care
Applicants to the Native Health category are Native Americans and Alaska Natives pursuing health-related careers. You must be:
- A full-time undergraduate sophomore or junior, with one or two years of full-time undergraduate study remaining until graduation.
- A U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident.
- A Native American or Alaska Native:
- You are enrolled in a state or federally recognized tribe or band;
- One or more of your parents or grandparents was an enrolled member of a state or federally recognized tribe or band;
- You are a permanent U.S. resident or U.S. citizen who is a member of the First Nations of Canada.
- Interested in improving health care practice and delivery in Indian country, or contributing to health care policy and research.
- Demonstrating commitment to Indian country through participation in cultural activities and service to the community.
- Working towards a career that will enable you to impact health care for your tribe or for Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
Tribal Policy
Applicants to the Tribal Policy category are Native Americans and Alaska Natives working on an array of policy issues in Indian country. You must be:
- A full-time undergraduate sophomore or junior, with one or two years of full-time undergraduate study remaining until graduation.
- A U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident.
- A Native American or Alaska Native:
- You are enrolled in a state or federally recognized tribe or band;
- One or more of your parents or grandparents was an enrolled member of a state or federally recognized tribe or band;
- You are a permanent U.S. resident or U.S. citizen who is a member of the First Nations of Canada.
- Demonstrating commitment to Indian country through participation in cultural activities and service to the community.
- Working toward a career that will enable you to make a difference for your tribe or for Native Americans and Alaska Natives.
Scholarship Benefits
The Udall Scholarship provides:
- Access to the Udall Alumni Network: an association of change-makers, working in Indian country and environmental fields, sharing innovative ideas, professional advice, and job and internship opportunities.
- Five days in Tucson, Arizona, at Scholar Orientation (annually in August): extending your professional network, meeting other scholars and alumni, and learning new skills.
- Up to $7,000 for eligible academic expenses.
In 2021, the Udall Foundation anticipates awarding 55 scholarships of up to $7,000 each.
Recent Recipients & Alternates
- In 2005, Sara Huber (Civil Engineering) received an Honorable Mention.
- In 1997, Jennifer Janis (Environmental Analysis & Design) received a Udall Scholarship.
Competitiveness
In 2019, the Udall Foundation awarded scholarships to 55 sophomores and juniors from 50 colleges and universities, selected from 443 candidates at 227 colleges and universities.
According to David Schug, Udall Faculty Representative at the University of Illinois, “Your interest in the environment or Native American affairs has to be more than a cursory interest; the reviewers are looking for students who are going to make a career (the next 30 to 40 years) in their field of study.”
The motto for the Udall Foundation is “Civility, Integrity, Consensus.” Your narrative of leadership should clearly illustrate your fit with these values. Udall Scholarship reviewers look for students who can motivate others, bring people together, take initiative, and implement practical solutions. You should be able to provide examples that show you working with others, mediating conflicts, or identifying solutions to problems.
Juniors: Harry S. Truman Scholarship for Public Service
UCI Pre-Application Deadline: November 9, 2020 at 12:00 Noon*.
Pre-Applications are available from late September to early November annually.
- *Completion of SOP-PREP is required.
- Campus Endorsement is required.
- Application to this scholarship requires mandatory participation in the Explorer’s 11 (Fall/Winter) advising process, under the guidance of an SOP Primary Advisor
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation—the federal memorial to our thirty-third President—awards merit-based scholarships to college students who plan to pursue careers in government or elsewhere in public service. Truman Scholars receive up to $30,000 for graduate or professional school, participate in leadership development activities, and have special opportunities for internships and employment with the federal government.
The Foundation defines public service as employment in government at any level, uniformed services, public-interest organizations, nongovernmental research and/or educational organizations, public and private schools, and public service-oriented nonprofit organizations.
Fields of Study
The Truman Foundation places no limitations on the applicant’s field of study or major, as long as you can relate your academic interests to particular public service career objectives.
Many recipients major in economics, political science, or history, and law or public policy are common fields of intended graduate study. However, students in a wide range of majors may be strong candidates because a wide variety of disciplines prepare students for careers in public service. Students majoring in such fields as chemistry, engineering, environmental studies, foreign languages, mathematics, and computer sciences (among others) are encouraged to apply.
The Foundation has supported Truman Scholars in many fields of study, from agriculture, biology, engineering, technology, medicine, and environmental management, to fields such as economics, education, government, history, international relations, law, political science, public administration, nonprofit management, public health, and public policy.
Eligibility
Each nominee for the Truman Scholarship must be:
- a full-time junior-level student at a four-year institution pursuing a bachelor's degree during the 2020-2021 academic year. 'Junior' here means a student who plans to continue full-time undergraduate study and who expects to receive a baccalaureate degree between December 2021 and August 2022, or a student in his or her third year of collegiate study who expects to graduate during the 2020-2021 academic year;
- nominated by the Truman Scholarship Faculty Representative at his or her institution;
- in the upper quarter of his or her class; and
- a United States citizen or a United States national from American Samoa. Resident aliens (green card holders) are not eligible.
A good candidate for the Truman Scholarship meets the above eligibility requirements and also:
- has an extensive record of public and community service;
- has outstanding leadership potential and communication skills; and
- is committed to a career in government or elsewhere in public service, as defined by the Foundation.
The scholarship does not stipulate a minimum GPA. However, to be competitive, SOP advisors recommend that applicants achieve at least a 3.7 GPA and demonstrate a strong record of noteworthy accomplishment, professional competence, and dedication to ambitious career goals in public service and governance, nonprofit leadership, or education. Relevant qualifications may include 1 or more years of leadership or founding roles in extracurricular or service organizations; extensive volunteer service experience; formal participation in political campaigns or sustained activism for causes; military service; and/or significant work experience/internships relevant to the stated career goals.
Scholarship Benefits
The Foundation provides:
- Up to $30,000 toward a public service-related graduate degree.
- Truman Scholars Leadership Week. This event, held at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, introduces new Scholars to the services provided by the Foundation and the many pathways to public service. Scholars participate in seminars and workshops with distinguished Truman alumni and other public service leaders, a group exercise about policy implementation, a graduate school and career fair with representatives from the schools and programs most attended by Truman Scholars, and community service events in the Kansas City area; this event is required of all Scholars.
- Summer Institute. Immediately after college graduation, Scholars have the opportunity to participate in an eight-week Summer Institute in Washington, DC. The Foundation helps to arrange internships with government agencies and nonprofit organizations, seminars and workshops, meetings with Washington policymakers and Truman alumni, and opportunities for community building among Scholars.
- Truman-Albright and Other Fellows Program. After Summer Institute, Scholars may elect to stay in Washington, DC, for a full year in the Truman-Albright Fellows Program; Truman-Albright Fellows are placed in public service jobs while participating in workshops, seminars, and mentoring opportunities. Additional fellowship opportunities, outlined on the Truman website, are available for Scholars as they move through the early stages of their careers in public service.
The award may be used only for tuition, fees, books, room and board, or other specifically approved expenses. Payments from the Foundation may be received to supplement, but not to duplicate, benefits from the educational institution or from other foundations, institutions, or organizations. The combined benefits from all sources may not exceed the costs of tuition, fees, books, and room and board as prescribed by the institution.
Scholars may defer, for up to four years, Foundation support for their graduate studies after completion of their undergraduate studies. Scholars in graduate study programs supported by other means and Scholars in the Armed Forces may request additional years of deferral.
Service Requirement
Scholars are required to work in public service for three of the seven years following completion of a Foundation-funded graduate degree program as a condition of receiving funding. Scholars who are not employed in public service for a total of three years, or who fail to provide proof to the Foundation of such employment, will be required to repay any funds received along with interest. The Foundation will have an appeals process for those Scholars in special circumstances.
The Foundation may withhold or terminate a scholarship due to unsatisfactory academic performance or failure, as judged by the Foundation, to prepare specifically for a career in public service.
Recent Recipients & Finalists
Each UCI undergraduate who has pursued the Truman Scholarship has had a unique profile of practical, sustained engagement in group leadership. However, there are some common trends, such as participation in student government through the Associated Students of UCI and in off-campus internship experiences related to the student’s intended career field, often, but not always, undertaken through the UCDC or UC Sacramento programs.
UCI Truman Scholars have also typically been affiliated with a leadership development program, such as the Campuswide Honors Collegium or the Student Achievement Guided by Experience (SAGE) program. Finally, while some may have been considered “well-rounded” individuals, each Truman Scholar’s service and leadership activities were generally concentrated on a particular issue or topic about which they were very passionate, allowing the student to articulate a narrative of intentional action and progressive success.
- In 2015, Daniela Estrada (Political Science) received a Truman Scholarship, and Julian Bugarin (Political Science and History) was declared a Finalist.
- In 2014, Sanaa Khan (International Studies) was declared a Finalist.
- In 2012, Felipe Hernandez (Political Science and Music Performance) received a Truman Scholarship.
- In 2006, Mukul Kumar (History) received a Truman Scholarship.
- In 2005, Vanessa Zuabi (Political Science and International Studies) was declared a Finalist.
- In 2004, Jacqueline Chattopadhyay (Economics and Political Science) received a Truman Scholarship.
Competitiveness
Candidates must first be nominated by the Truman Faculty Representative at their institution. Each accredited four-year institution may nominate up to four students for the 2021 awards. Four-year institutions may also nominate three additional students who completed academic work at another institution.
Semifinalists are selected nationally from university nominations, and are interviewed by Regional Review Panels composed of scholars and public officials. Each Panel recommends two people per state, plus up to six candidates for Scholars-at-Large.
According to the Executive Director of the Truman Foundation, applicants selected for interview “show a long history of involvement in what the program seeks to reward (public service and government activities), have exerted leadership, have fine academic achievements, reveal some unique and interesting (preferably memorable) aspects about themselves and their experiences, provide a graduate school proposal that makes sense, prepare a carefully thought out and well-researched public policy analysis,” write well, and have strong letters of reference.
In 2019, the Foundation selected 62 Truman Scholars from among 840 applications forwarded by over 346 colleges and universities. Scholars were chosen by 16 selection panels on the basis of leadership potential, intellectual ability, and the likelihood of “making a difference.” Each panel typically included a university president, a federal judge, a distinguished public servant, and a past Truman Scholarship winner.
In 2021, one scholarship will be available to a qualified resident nominee in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and, considered as a single entity, the Islands: Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. (Residency is generally determined by home address for school registration, family's primary residence, and voter registration.) The Foundation may select up to 15 at-large Scholars in 2021.
Trailblazers 10: April Deadlines
Juniors & Graduating Seniors: Knight-Hennessy Scholarship at Stanford University
UCI Pre-Application Deadline: April 12, 2021 at 12:00 Noon*.
Pre-Applications are available from late February to early April annually.
- Campus Endorsement is available but not required.
- Students may apply directly to the program on their own.
- SOP optional advising services are provided on a space-available basis during the Trailblazer's 10 (Spring/Summer) advising process.
- *Completion of SOP-PREP is required.
The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program cultivates a diverse, multidisciplinary community of emerging leaders from around the world and guides them to collaborate, innovate, and communicate as they prepare to address the complex challenges facing society.
Knight-Hennessy Scholars become part of a supportive family of fellow scholars. Through the King Global Leadership Program, scholars will broaden knowledge, develop skills, and strengthen character; this platform provides a collection of community experiences, workshops, meetings with leaders, domestic and global study trips, and personal development opportunities. Knight-Hennessy Scholars also receive funding for graduate study at Stanford University.
Addressing some of the most important problems that the world faces today around the environment, healthcare, education, inequality, and social justice requires leadership with multidisciplinary and multicultural understanding. As a Knight-Hennessy Scholar, you will develop both the depth and range of subject expertise to confront the intractable challenges and opportunities of the future. You will be part of a unique community of change agents from a diverse range of backgrounds. This is a community that will support and motivate you at Stanford and beyond.
Fields of Study
Knight-Hennessy places no restrictions on academic field of study or career aspirations. All Knight-Hennessy Scholars have to apply to and be accepted by a graduate program at Stanford at the same time they apply to Knight-Hennessy Scholars. Your graduate program will be your primary affiliation, and the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program will provide you with access to an additional community and opportunities tailored to scholars.
You are eligible to apply to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program if you are applying to enroll in a full-time graduate program(s) at Stanford (for example, but not limited to, DMA, JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MPP, MS, or PhD) or if you plan on pursuing one of Stanford’s many joint- and dual- graduate degree options (for example, but not limited to, MD+PhD, JD+MA, MBA+MS). You should check each graduate program's website for a sense of what it seeks in candidates. You must meet the requirements for admission to your home graduate program.
Knight-Hennessy gives priority to applicants who will spend at least two years at Stanford. We do not believe one year is sufficient to form the community we envision and benefit from the leadership platform we are developing.
In the 2018 and 2019 cohorts, 40% of Scholars were pursuing PhD degrees, 37% were pursuing professional degrees (i.e. Business, Law, Medicine), and 23% were pursuing master’s degrees(i.e. MPP, MA, MS). Scholarships were awarded for completion of 53 degree programs at Stanford’s Schools, including Humanities and Sciences (27%), Engineering (22%), Medicine (16%), Law (15%), Business (12%), Education (6%), and Earth Sciences (2%).
Eligibility
SOP advises currently enrolled juniors (intending to graduate next academic year); graduating seniors (in the current academic year); and recent alumni (who graduated within the most recent academic year). If you are still in college studying for your first bachelor’s degree, you are eligible to apply as long as you will complete your first bachelor’s degree before you enroll as a graduate student at Stanford. If you hold a previous degree, please consult the Eligibility section on the Knight-Hennessy Scholars website for more information.
There are no citizenship restrictions. The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program expects that over time about one-third of Scholars will be from the U.S., and about two thirds will be from countries outside the U.S. Those numbers will fluctuate from year to year, since the goal is to admit the world’s very best students, regardless of location. Undocumented students are eligible to apply for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, but must meet eligibility for the graduate program, including any work requirements. For more information, please visit undocumented.stanford.edu.
The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program does not stipulate a minimum GPA. However, to be competitive, applicants should have at least a 3.7 GPA, and for many Stanford graduate programs, a 3.9+ GPA and significantly above-average test scores (such as GRE, MCAT, LSAT or GMAT) will also be necessary to achieve admissions. Applicants must also be able to demonstrate professional competence and dedication to the field of study through leadership or founding roles in academic or service organizations, entrepreneurial ventures, publications or performances, and/or significant work experience/internships related to the major.
Scholarship Benefits
Through the King Global Leadership Program (KGLP) you will build on your graduate degree program to expand knowledge, develop skills, and strengthen character. As a Knight-Hennessy Scholar, you will learn to communicate, collaborate, and innovate with your fellow scholars from other disciplines. We believe these relationships — breaking down traditional academic silos — will be essential to your ability to discover new solutions that will advance humanity. The elements of KGLP will hone your capacity for collaborative leadership. You will gain a better understanding of yourself and others, allowing you to influence and lead better.
Denning House is not a residence but serves as your convening hub, enabling our community of scholars to share ideas and experiences. The building is a dedicated space for ongoing interaction with each other, distinguished visitors, and, eventually, program alumni. The building, located in the heart of campus overlooking Lake Lagunita, features small-group spaces, a lounge (with snacks), classrooms, meeting, lecture and discussion rooms, and a dining space that can accommodate one class of scholars – up to 100 people – when we gather for regular dinners.
Scholarship: During each of the first three years of graduate study, Knight-Hennessy Scholars receive:
- a fellowship applied directly to cover tuition and associated fees, for any graduate degree(s) at Stanford to which you are admitted at the time you are selected as a scholar;
- a stipend for living and academic expenses (such as room and board, books, academic supplies, instructional materials, local transportation, and reasonable personal expenses);
- a travel grant intended to cover an economy-class ticket for one annual trip to and from Stanford.
- If your degree program exceeds three years — such as an MD or PhD program, or a Stanford dual- or joint-degree program — then your Stanford home department(s) will fund the remainder of your education to the extent consistent with its standard funding commitment for that program. (This means, for example, that your program may fund you for one additional year for some PhDs and three additional years for others.)
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars also may access supplemental funds to support academic enrichment (e.g., conference travel). Moreover, if you engage in optional research projects during the summer, the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program may provide summer funding, through separate application. In addition, Knight-Hennessy Scholars pursuing positive impact through social ventures may be eligible to apply for seed funding.
Competitiveness
In 2020, 76 Knight-Hennessy Scholars were selected from 6,171 applications. The primary selection criteria used to evaluate applicants were independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset.
Knight-Hennessy is a fantastic, if highly competitive, opportunity for students whose ambitious career goals are a good fit with Stanford’s graduate majors and who seek to actively collaborate with an interdisciplinary, international cohort of scholars to work on major global problems.
We should note as well that Stanford’s doctoral programs typically fully fund at least three years for their students, regardless of whether you receive the Knight-Hennessy scholarship. Students who are applying for Ph.D. programs at Stanford and want to become Knight-Hennessy Scholars should demonstrate excellence in research, as well as be able to demonstrate the capacity for positive social change in the practical sense, beyond knowledge-building contributions that have indirect social impacts.
Juniors & Graduating Seniors: Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans
UCI Pre-Application Deadline: April 12, 2021 at 12:00 Noon*.
Pre-Applications are available from late February to early April annually.
- Campus Endorsement is not available.
- Students may apply directly to the program on their own.
- SOP optional advising services are provided on a space-available basis during the Trailblazer's 10 (Spring/Summer) advising process.
- *Completion of SOP-PREP is required.
The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans is a $90,000 merit-based fellowship exclusively for immigrants and children of immigrants who are pursuing graduate school in the United States. Paul and Daisy Soros, Hungarian immigrants and American philanthropists, created the program as a way to give back to the country that had afforded their family such great opportunities.
Mr. and Mrs. Soros decided on a fellowship program because it allowed them to assist young New Americans at critical points in their educations, which they felt was an unmet need. They also wished to call attention to the extensive and diverse contributions of New Americans to the quality of life in the United States.
Fields of Study
Each Soros Fellowship supports one to two years of graduate study in any field and in any advanced degree-granting program in the United States. Ineligible programs: Online programs, executive graduate programs, joint bachelors/master's programs in which both degrees are awarded simultaneously, certificate programs, post-baccalaureate programs, graduate programs that are not in the United States, and graduate programs that are not fully accredited.
Paul & Daisy Soros Fellows have pursued careers in medicine, science, law, policy, technology, business, government, non-profits, the arts, academia, and, in many cases, they have built their career across several sectors.
Eligibility
New American Status: To be eligible, your birth parents must have both been born outside of the US as non-US citizens, and both parents must not have been eligible for US citizenship at the time of their births.* In addition, one of the following must be true of you on the national application deadline:
- Born in the US: You are a US citizen by birth and both of your parents were born abroad as non-US citizens.
- Born abroad:
- Naturalized Citizen: You have been naturalized as a US citizen either on your own or as a minor child under the application of one of your parents.
- Adopted: You were born outside of the US or one of its territories and were subsequently adopted by American parents and were awarded US citizenship because of your adoption.
- Green Card: You are in possession of a valid green card.
- Refugee & Asylee: You have been granted asylum or refugee status in the US.
- If None of the Other Categories Above Apply: Graduated from High School and College in the US: If none of the other categories apply to you and you were born abroad but graduated from both high school and college in the US (this includes current and past DACA recipients).
- * If you were raised by only one of your birth parents, the following must be true:
- The parent who raised you must have been born abroad as a non-US citizen.
- Your second birth parent was not part of your life growing up and you have no contact with them.
Academic Standing: SOP advises currently enrolled juniors (intending to graduate next academic year); graduating seniors (in the current academic year); and recent alumni (who graduated within the most recent academic year). If you are still in college studying for your first bachelor’s degree, you are eligible to apply as long as you will complete your first bachelor’s degree before you enroll as a graduate student
Age: All students must be aged 30 or younger as of the national application deadline.
Scholarship Benefits
Each award is for up to a total of $90,000, including $25,000 in stipend support per year and 50 percent of required tuition and fees, up to $20,000 per year, for one to two years. The first year of Fellowship funding cannot be deferred.
Over the two years of the Fellowship, Fellows are required to attend the annual Fall Conference in New York City, which is fully paid for by the program. The Fall Conference takes place over a weekend in late October and is an opportunity for the new Fellows to get to know one another and the Fellowship staff, alumni, and community, celebrate, and examine the New American experience.
In addition, the director or deputy director of the Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships will visit each Fellow on their respective campus during the first fall semester of their Fellowship. The Fellowship funding should allow Fellows to focus on their studies full-time, which is why Fellows are not able to work full-time during their graduate program.
Most importantly, new Fellows join a strong community of current and past Fellows who all share the New American experience. An alumni association, The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellows Association (PDSFA), actively engages current and past Fellows in events held across the country. Each Fellow attends two weekend conferences of Fellows. The great majority continue to be involved with the program through regional dinners and service in the selection process for later classes.
Recent Recipients & Alternates
UCI has had five recipients of the Soros Fellowship:
- Mohamad Abedi, Biomedical Engineering (2015 Scholar);
- Carolina Gabriela Jauregi, English & Comparative Literature (2007 Scholar);
- Dora Castaneda Rodriguez, Biological Sciences (2006 Scholar);
- Erick Ruiz Miranda, Biology (2002 Scholar);
- Mia Ching Lee, History (2000 Scholar).
Competitiveness
The program draws more than 2,200 applications annually for just 30 fellowships.
Selection is based on merit – the specific selection criteria emphasize creativity, originality, initiative and sustained accomplishment. The rigorous selection process is focused on identifying the most promising New Americans who are poised to make significant contributions to the nation through their work. There should be a clear connection between the proposed graduate degree program and your long-term, ambitious career goals. In addition, the selection team looks for a commitment to the United States’ fundamental principles and ideals.
Questions about the campus advising and endorsement (nomination) process may be directed to the Scholarship Opportunities Program at sklrship@uci.edu or 949-824-0189.
SOP is able to advise competitive UCI undergraduate candidates only.