Honors takes scholarship applications
National and Utah State University scholarship deadlines must be planned for in advance.
David Lancy, director of the Honors Program, said, “We’re optimistic about the future for students applying for national scholarships at Utah State.”
Lancy said the Honors Program is working hard to get students to apply.
“It’s not that USU students are not qualified, it’s that USU students’ priorities are different from their competition,” he said. “Students at USU go on [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] missions for two years, get married and have children.”
These factors make education less of a priority for USU students, while competing students make education their No. 1 priority, Lancy said.
An exception is the most recent Barry M. Goldwater Scholar from USU, Jamie Jorgensen.
“[Jorgensen] went on a two-year mission, got married and has children and a good academic career,” Lancy said.
But Jorgensen is not common.
“When you look at who wins the national scholarships, the scholars are focused on education and summer internships and projects,” he said.
The Honors Program wants to focus more on freshmen to get education as a top priority, Lancy said.
About 10 students at USU apply for national scholarships throughout the year. Only a few actually get the scholarships.
National scholarships the Honors Program works with are the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, the Rhodes Scholarship Program, the Self-Graduate Fellowship and the Fulbright Program.
All scholarships require academic excellence, individual initiative, strong letters of recommendation, clear expression of goals, communication skills, guidance of a faculty mentor, well-prepared application and familiarity with the program.
Deadlines for most scholarships range from September to about February.
The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship was designed to alleviate shortage of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians and engineers.
To qualify for Goldwater, a candidate must be a junior or senior during the 2003-04 academic year.
Jamie Jorgensen, a senior majoring in physics and math, is a recipient of the Goldwater Scholarship.
A Goldwater candidate must have the commitment and potential to make a significant contribution in his field.
Jorgensen said, “[My contribution] will be significant research on quantum gravity.”
Jorgensen said she wants to get a doctorate degree in math and go on to be a professor.
A university representative must nominate candidates by Feb. 1, 2003.
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship is for students who plan to pursue a career in government or public service.
Candidates must want to change the ways government agencies, non-profit organizations or educational institutions serve the public.
Applications are due by early November.
The Rhodes Scholarship Program brings outstanding students from many countries around the world to study at the University of Oxford.
Thirty-two scholars are chosen. The program is designed to help scholars become leaders in their own countries, while familiarizing them with the values and culture of England.
A grade point average of 3.7 is needed to qualify. Application deadline has already passed, but every year it is Oct. 1.
The Self-Graduate Fellowship seeks students with exemplary intellect and a gritty determination to leave a noteworthy legacy to the world.
Candidates will receive $100,000 over four years for a graduate study program at the University of Kansas. Each fellow is paired up with one of the university’s most accomplished faculty.
Information for applying to the fellowship will be available in November.
The Fulbright Program is designed for professors doing teaching and research and for graduate students wanting to study in another country.
Application deadlines can be found at www.iie.org/fulbright.
USU offers its own scholarships. The Morse Honors Scholarship and USU Alumni Scholarships are examples.
The Morse Honors Scholarship was named and funded by Joe and Karen Morse. Joe Morse was formerly the director of the USU Honors Program, and Karen Morse was USU’s provost.
Criteria are based on Honors courses taken and planned, a thesis or project, university grade record, pattern of grades achieved and financial need.
The deadline for the Morse Honors Scholarship is March 10, 2003.
The Alumni Scholarship is in place to assist children and grandchildren of USU Alumni.
In order to be considered, the applicant must be living in an area with a chartered Aggie chapter, be an incoming freshman or transfer student and be a child or grandchild of a USU alumnus. Applications are due Feb. 1, 2003.
-lindseyp@cc.usu.edu