Scholarships for Incoming Freshmen

CHSBS Alumni Fund Award

Criteria: Scholarship awarded annually to three incoming freshmen students who indicate a desire to major in one of the academic departments within the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences.

• Incoming freshmen
• Minimum 3.4 high school GPA and ACT score of 25 or higher
• Must submit a two-page essay that lists qualifications and intended major and letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or counselor

Deadline: March 29, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Award Amount: Minimum of $1,000
View application form

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Michael R. and Carol Reno Scholarship for Academic Excellence

Background: This endowment is funded through gifts from Michael R. and Carol Reno. Michael received a bachelor's degree from CMU in 1973 and a master's degree from CMU in 1980. He is the president of IXL Glass Company.

Criteria: Scholarship awarded annually to one incoming freshman student who plans to attend CMU and indicates a desire to major in one of the academic departments within the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The scholarship is renewable.

• Incoming freshman
• Primary resident of the state of Michigan
• Preference for a minimum 3.5 GPA and/or composite ACT of 24 or higher
• Must submit one letter of recommendation from a high school teacher or counselor
• Must submit a one or two-page essay that describes the discipline in CHSBS that the applicant plans to major in and why the applicant is deserving of this scholarship

Deadline: March 29, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Award Amount: $2,000
View application form

Scholarships for Continuing Students
(Students with majors & minors in CHSBS programs)

Gabriel Chien Memorial Scholarship

Background: The Gabriel Chien Memorial Fund was created to honor the memory of Gabriel Chien, a former history professor in the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences. The award encourages students to look at the world from a global and historical perspective, which was Dr. Chien's lifelong commitment.

Criteria: Scholarship awarded annually to one student who demonstrates an interest in global and historical perspectives through a written essay.

• Applicant must submit a written essay that focuses on an aspect of Chinese culture, Sino-American relations, or a comparative study of China
• Preference given to students enrolled in a department within the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Paper should be no longer than 10 pages

Deadline: May 17, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Award Amount: $1,000
View application form

Julie L. and John A. Frary Annual Award

Background: An international experience is an invaluable part of a student's education and will provide an international perspective which cannot be fully recreated within the classroom. To promote international study, Julie and John Frary have created an annual award to assist students with costs related to study abroad. Julie Frary is a CMU alumnae who majored in Sociology and minored in Psychology.

Criteria: Award given annually to an Honors Program student enrolled in the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences who is planning to spend a semester studying abroad.

• Student must be in good standing with the Honors Program
• Applicant must submit a written essay providing a brief autobiography, a description of educational goals and professional or career aspirations, and a list of study abroad objectives
• Applicant must submit a letter of recommendation from a CMU faculty member
• Preference given to students with financial need as determined by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
• Funding must be approved through the Office of International Education

Deadline: February 28, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Award Amount: $1,000
View application form

Michael “Gio” Giordano Helping Professions Award

Background: Michael Giordano established this award to recognize the impact and importance of his educational experience at CMU. Mr. Giordano devoted over 40 years to educational pursuit; he earned his B.S. in 1971, MBA in 1974, and MA in 2010. He credits his earlier degrees as helping him to earn a comfortable living, while his MA in Counseling allowed him to join one of the helping professions.

Mr. Giordano believes that working in the counseling field has changed him forever and that careers in these areas often reap intrinsic, rather than financial, rewards. Mr. Giordano created this award to share some of the resources he gained during his years in the business world to provide for those who pursue the goal of helping others.

Criteria: Once fully endowed, this award will be given to a full-time undergraduate student who has achieved a minimum of junior status with a major in social work, professional counseling, or clinical psychology.

Deadline: This new endowment is not yet available to award. Applications will be accepted in Spring 2015.
Award Amount: $2,000
We apologize for the confusion. This new award had been mentioned in Facebook posts in March 2013, but it is not yet available to award. 

The Honorable Fred M. and Lynne M. Mester Family Endowment

Background: This endowment was established to recognize 1959 CMU graduate Judge Fred Mester's legacy as a respected friend, colleague, and mentor.  Judge Mester's distinguished judicial career spans more than 26 years with the Oakland County Circuit Court. He also is a former prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney's Office.  As a chief of the Civil Division, prior to his judicial career, Judge Mester served in the Military as a Captain in the United Sates Army.

This endowment also honors Judge Mester's wife, Lynne, a 1959 CMU graduate holding a degree in Education with a major in Social Studies and minors in Biology and English. 

Criteria: This award provides scholarship support to full-time CMU undergraduate students with a major or minor in the following departments: English Language and Literature; Political Science; and Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work. In addition, ROTC cadets, regardless of area of study, are eligible.  This scholarship may be renewed for up to one year.

• Student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Recipient will have a history of active involvement in community service with leadership qualities, holding leadership positions at the local or state community level. 
• Recipient must have financial need as determined by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
• Applicants must submit a one to two page essay describing educational goals, professional or career aspirations and how the scholarship would be of benefit. A description of community service activities should also be included.
• Applicants must submit two letters of support/recommendation. At least one must be from a CMU faculty member. If possible, a letter from a service organization should be submitted.

Deadline: March 29, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Award Amount: $1,000
View application form

G. William Quine Scholarship

Background: This scholarship was established in 1982 by CMU alumnus G. William Quine, '57.

Criteria: Earnings from the endowment will be awarded annually to a Michigan resident student pursuing the liberal arts curriculum without regard to financial need or academic standing. The recipient must be a full-time student. The scholarship is renewable and is limited to $500 per recipient.

• A full time student pursuing a liberal arts curriculum.
• The applicants primary residence must be in Michigan.
• Applicants must submit a one or two-page narrative describing their career plans, biographical information (size of family, hometown, etc.), hobbies or outside interests, and volunteerism history. In addition, the applicants must state why they are deserving of this scholarship and how it would impact their educational experience.

Deadline: March 29, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Award Amount: $500
View application form

Shapiro Prize in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Background: This endowment is funded through gifts from Dr. E. Gary and Myra Shapiro. Dr. Shapiro has dedicated more than 30 years of service to Central Michigan University and currently serves as interim executive vice president/provost. He has been a CMU sociology professor since 1978 and an administrator since 1989, including serving as director of institutional research; assistant vice provost of institutional research and planning; interim registrar (1994-1995); and associate dean of arts and sciences. He became the first dean of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral sciences in July 1997. He also served as interim provost in 2007.

Criteria: Prize awarded to the student who has written the best social or behavioral science research paper based upon empirical data during the year. The award is not renewable.

• Undergraduate students
• Topic of the paper may be in the areas of any of the disciplines located within the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences

Deadline: May 17, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Award Amount: $500
View application form

Student Paper Competition

Criteria: Award presented annually for papers written for CHSBS classes (300 level and above) during the previous academic year.

• Undergraduate and graduate students
• Applicants can submit research papers, essays, creative works, theoretical papers, reviews of research, or papers presented at professional conferences

Deadline: May 17, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Award Amount: Undergraduate winners $500; Graduate winners $750
View application form

Student Study Abroad Grant 

Background: An international experience is an invaluable part of a student's education and will provide an international perspective which cannot be fully recreated within the classroom. To promote international study, the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences has created a small fund to assist students with costs related to study abroad.

Criteria:

• Full-time matriculated CMU undergraduate or graduate student at the time of application
• Approved through the Office of International Education
• Minimum GPA of 2.8 for undergraduate students or 3.3 for graduate student
• U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• At the time of study abroad, undergraduate students must reach sophomore standing or above with a signed major or minor in the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences. Graduate students must complete a minimum of one semester of study within a College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences' program.

Deadline: Ongoing. Requests will be reviewed and applicants notified via e-mail in 2 to 3 weeks.
Award Amount: Varies (dependent upon the amount of funding available)
View application form

John E. Warriner Scholarship

Background: The John E. Warriner Scholarship was established through an estate gift from the late Dr. John E. Warriner. John was the author of Warriner's Handbook of English and a six volume series titled English Grammar and Composition. He was the son of Eugene C. Warriner, former CMU president.

Criteria: Several scholarships awarded annually to students majoring in economics, English, foreign languages, history, journalism, philosophy, political science, religion, speech or sociology.

• Junior or senior standing or be granted regular admission to graduate school for the upcoming fall semester
• Minimum 3.25 GPA
• Based on financial need
• Applicants must submit a one or two-page narrative describing educational goals, professional or career aspirations and how the scholarship would be of benefit.
• Applicants must submit two letters of support/recommendation. At least one must be from a CMU faculty member.

Deadline: March 29, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Award Amount: Minimum of $3,000
View application form