Resources

Endowed Scholarships/Fellowships for Current College of Education Graduate Students

View Sample Application Questions for Endowed Scholarships/Fellowships (2024-25)

Endowed Scholarships/Fellowships for Current College of Education Graduate Students

More than 25 scholarships/fellowship are available in the College of Education for continuing graduate students whose primary major is in a College of Education MA, MS, EdS, EdD, or PhD program and who show promise of making significant contributions to the fields of education and kinesiology. Only students enrolled during the semester of the competition (spring) AND who will be enrolled when the award is disbursed (the subsequent fall) are invited to apply for an award. Note: Students in joint college programs, where the primary college is not Education, are not eligible for College of Education endowed scholarships (i.e. PRiME). Those students need to seek scholarships through their primary college.

You are required to solicit a recommendation from your advisor, Guidance Committee Chair, or Dissertation Director. Be prepared to enter their name and MSU e-mail address into the system. They will submit their recommendation through the system. We request that you ask your advisor to make a recommendation on your behalf prior to entering their information. Do not wait until the day before the system closes to submit your application. Give faculty the maximum amount of time possible to submit their recommendation. Your application will not be considered without a recommendation. Advisors, Guidance Committee Chairs, and Dissertation Directors will have until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, 2024 to complete required recommendations on behalf of their advisees.

Other departmental scholarships and fellowships may be available through department level competitions. Your program and/or department will notify you of their own competitions and submission requirements. To review what is available, you can review the other Current Student sections.

Recruitment (new student) fellowships and scholarships are not part of this competition and are listed in the Doctoral Recruitment section.

Below is a list of the available Scholarships and Fellowships and the criteria set by the donors to the endowment. Please review the three lists carefully before starting your scholarship application. Please apply only for the scholarships or fellowships for which you meet the criteria. In the system you will check the scholarships to which you wish to apply.

Please be familiar with whether additional application materials are required for a scholarship. If the scholarship application requires supplemental application materials, the supplemental questions will display in the system after checking the scholarship box, indicating your desire to apply. Your responses need to stay within character limitations. It is recommended that you prepare lengthy responses in Word, so that you can count characters, but then copy and paste into a text editor, such as NotePad, so that your formatting is retained. Finally, you will copy and paste your response from NotePad into the text box provided within the system. Unfortunately, this is the only way to maintain formatting.

Problems with the online system or scholarship/fellowship questions should be directed to the Academic and Student Affairs Office in Erickson Hall, by e-mail to cretenca@msu.edu, or by calling (517) 432-4864.

All-College Scholarships/Fellowship – Open to all

College of Education Alumni Fellowship

Recipients shall be outstanding graduate students selected on a basis of academic achievement and a strong desire to pursue a career in the field of education.

The Robert I. Boyd Scholarship in Education

Recipients must be enrolled in a graduate degree granting program in the College of Education.

Clifford E. Erickson Memorial Fund Scholarship

The recipient must be a graduate student earning a degree from the College of Education and one whom has been given recognition for either outstanding achievement or potential success in the field of education.

Dr. Kenneth Harding Graduate Student Endowed Scholarship

Must be a graduate student enrolled in the College of Education

All-College Restricted Scholarships/Fellowships

These scholarships/fellowships have specific eligibility criteria that must be met in order to be considered.

Anderson-Schwille Endowed Fellowship in International Education

Preference in awarding this scholarship will be given to a non-U.S. citizen/international student (student visa or permanent U.S. resident) in a College of Education graduate program. Recipients shall be selected on the basis of academic performance and potential; including, but not limited to, the willingness to work with persons from diverse ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. Among applicants who are similar in terms of academic performance and potential, financial need will be used as the determining factor.

Jere E. and Arlene Pintozzi Brophy Endowed Fellowship in Education (PhD Only)

Recipients shall be College of Education Ph.D. students whose research is focused on one or more of the following:

• Motivation to learn
• Social development that relates to academic learning and student engagement
• Classroom management that fosters student learning
• Curriculum and content that involves a pedagogy that enhances students’ motivation and investment in learning students’ goals and aspirations
• The use of evaluation systems that will enhance student motivation and learning
• How values translate into learning and motivation

Applicants will be required to address, in brief essay form, how their work is focused on one or more of the previously listed research topics. There is a 1500 character limit to the essay.

W. Patrick Dickson and Robin Kyburg Dickson Award for Research on Innovative Technologies in Learning (PhD only)

Recipients shall be Ph.D. students enrolled in a College of Education program whose research focuses on using educational technologies or web-based resources to enhance student learning in classrooms, online courses, or online learning environments outside the classroom. Preference will be given to students whose research explores innovative uses of technologies with specific measures of learning outcomes. Students receiving this award should be in their third year or beyond in the doctoral program.
Applicants will need to address in 1500 characters or less, how their work meets the criteria listed above for this scholarship.

Dykstra Family Research Endowment in Education (PhD only)

Recipients of the award shall be doctoral students in one of the College of Education’s Ph.D. programs conducting research on mild impairments. Preference will be given to applicants whose research facilitates greater understanding or awareness among K-12 educators of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder — Predominantly Inattentive Type.
Candidates must prepare a research project proposal that facilitates greater understanding or awareness among K-12 educators of ADHD (Inattentive Type). A budget must be included with the dissemination plan. In addition, candidates may be required to participate in an interview process with the selection committee. Recipients of this scholarship may apply for a renewal the following year, but there is a two-year maximum award limit. The award for a second year will be dependent upon whether the recipient shows measurable progress toward her/his goals, and an indication of how the funds spent in the second year will assist in the completion of the proposed work. In all cases, the selection committee shall determine if there is to be any extension of the award.

Hinman Graduate Fellowship

Recipients must be enrolled full-time in an education-related field of graduate study. They must be Michigan residents and preferably from the Lansing area.

The Michael B. Salwen and Okhee Lee-Salwen Endowed Scholarship in the College of Education

Recipients must be a student in the College of Education with financial need. The scholarship is renewable if the student remains in good standing with MSU and the College of Education.

Janice Marston Memorial Fund Scholarship

Applicants must be a demonstrably needy and academically worthy graduate student. They must complete financial need questions to be considered.
Applicants for this scholarship will be required to answer questions about household income, sources of income, rent/mortgage costs, number of children, education debt, extraordinary medical costs, and any other relevant financial information that has bearing on need. Additional information provided is limited to 1500 characters. It may be helpful to have a copy of your tax documents and/or FAFSA paperwork handy while completing the supplemental questions. International students may apply.

Gaylin Green Miller Endowed Scholarship in Education

Recipients should be admitted students in the College of Education in good academic standing. Recipients will be selected based on financial need with financial need being determined by the federal government according to its policies and procedures. Priority will be given to students with current or previous residency in southeast Michigan. Demonstration of how an applicant meets this requirement should be provided in the application system. Southeast Michigan is defined as south and east of the Greater Lansing Area to the state line.

Applicants for this scholarship will be required to answer questions about household income, sources of income, rent/mortgage costs, number of children, education debt, extraordinary medical costs, and any other relevant financial information that has bearing on need. It may be helpful to have a copy of your tax documents and/or FAFSA paperwork handy while completing the supplemental questions. Additional supplemental statements can also be added, with a maximum number of 1500 characters.

Donald H. Nickerson Scholarship in Cultural Diversity and Minority Concerns

For American ethnic minority graduate students in education. Preference will be given to candidates studying to improve teaching and learning of diverse learners and underserved populations in the United States.

Willa Norris Endowed Scholarship in Education

Applicants must be doctoral students in either the CITE or K-12 Administration programs actively seeking a Graduate Certificate in Urban Education.

Robert L. Ebel Endowed Scholarship

Recipients shall be selected on the basis of evidence of exceptional aptitude for doctoral study in education and a keen interest in addressing the problems of teaching and learning, as they can be improved through scholarly work on measurement, evaluation, and assessment policies and practices. The Recipient must be a full-time graduate student. Must have work experience as a research and teaching assistant during the period of the award and maintain a cumulative 3.5 grade point average.  Award is renewable.

Walker Hill Fellowship in Measurement and Evaluation

Recipients should be selected on the basis of evidence of exceptional aptitude for doctoral study in education and a keen interest in addressing the problems of teaching and learning as they can be improved through scholarly work on measurement evaluation and assessment policies and practices.  Awards are to be based on academic excellence.  Financial need may be considered in reaching award decisions.

Grace Hoffer Endowed Fund for Graduate Students in the College of Education

Recipient(s) shall be admitted students in the College of Education at the graduate level. The recipient(s) shall be selected according to the College of Education’s procedures for selecting fellowship recipients, which include a written statement and letters of recommendation.

Shirley J. Miske Expendable Fund for International Graduate Students in Education

Recipients shall be selected on the basis of being an international graduate student in a doctoral program in the College of Education who is in their third or fourth year and is focusing their work on international education issues. This award can be renewable for one year if the student continues to meet the scholarship criteria.

Departmental Restricted Scholarships/Fellowships

These scholarships are restricted to students in specific departments, levels and/or programs.

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Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education

Robert Craig Fellowship in Psychological Studies in Education (PhD only)

Recipients must be doctoral students in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education.

Elaine Tripi Endowed Scholarship in Rehabilitation Counseling (MA only)

Eligible recipients must be seeking a Master of Arts degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. Preference will be given to an applicant who is a veteran of one of the United States Armed Services.

Michael and Kathryn Bosco Research Fellowship in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism (PhD only)

Applicants must be admitted students in the Special Education doctoral program. The recipient must be conducting research in the area of autism and agree to complete and disseminate an annual review of their progress to the Bosco family. Recipients may reapply annually. Applicants will be required to submit a brief statement summarizing their research work in the area of autism.

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Educational Administration

Clyde M. Campbell Endowed Fellowship (All EAD PhD and EdD programs)

Recipients of this fellowship shall be admitted doctoral candidates in the Department of Educational Administration who have completed at least six semester hours of graduate level course work in Educational Administration at Michigan State University. Recipients must have experience serving as a practitioner in K-12 school administration and/or higher educational administration and have demonstrated experience and appreciation for the role of the community in educational leadership. Recipients also shall have read widely and been educated broadly in education as well as in the liberal arts, social sciences, or physical sciences.

Sheldon Cherney Endowed Scholarship in Graduate Studies in Education Overseas (HALE PhD only)

Recipients shall be admitted students in the Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE) Ph.D. program. Applicant must have research interest in international education.

Keith Goldhammer Endowed Scholarship in Educational Administration (All EAD PhD and EdD programs)

The purpose of the scholarship is to support a doctoral student of exceptional ability to pursue improved practice and new understanding of educational administration and leadership. The recipient shall be in the process of completing his/her residency year and have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.75. The recipient should be a full-time student with at least five years of successful experience in public school administration; however, the full-time and administrative experience is not an absolute requirement for selection, if the applicant possesses compensating qualities. The award may be used for tuition, living expenses, or educational expenses while enrolled in coursework or working on a dissertation.
This award is intended to encourage doctoral students who have demonstrated the capacity to achieve educational and professional goals, the motivation to achieve these goals, and the initiative to seek opportunities to further their progress. The scholarship is intended to support such students during their required residency.

Casmer F. Heilman Endowed Fellowship (Open to All HALE and K-12 students)

Recipients shall be admitted students in the Department of Educational Administration, at the M.A., Ed.D. or Ph.D. level in either a HALE or K-12 Administration program. The recipient’s research work must be focused on work-based or work-related learning; including, but not limited to, a focus on issues surrounding school to work or career preparation, and education, training, retraining, and career transitions in business and industry.
Applicants should prepare a written statement of two to three pages about the focus of their work or interests and submit two letters of recommendation from persons familiar with their work. The essay can be copied and pasted into the scholarship system and both recommendations must be completed online through the system.

Dr. Jacqueline D. Taylor and Family Graduate Research Grant (HALE PhD only)

Applicants for this award shall be candidates for a Ph.D. degree in the HALE program, whose research focuses on global perspectives or issues of international education.
The award is renewable for a second year, if the student illustrates measurable progress toward her or his goals and an indication of how the funds spent in the second year will assist in the completion of the proposed work. A committee will determine renewability.
Students applying for this award will submit a proposal describing the scope of work they would like to accomplish including anticipated outcomes. A report at the conclusion of the project is a requirement.
Applicants will need to address in 1500 characters or less, how their work meets the criteria listed above for this scholarship. They must also submit a budget using 6500 characters or less.

F. James and Elizabeth M. Votruba Higher Education Leadership Enrichment Fund (HALE PhD Only)

This award is open to any doctoral student in good standing in the HALE program planning to pursue a career in higher education administration. The award will go to a single student to support research and/or career enrichment activities not associated with their dissertation. The intent of the award is to enrich the recipient’s understanding of higher education leadership and the role of colleges and universities in the broader society. This fund will provide opportunity for students to engage in activity that they would otherwise not be able to do and that enhances the overall quality of their graduate experience. Applicants will apply for the award outlining their expected career path, the proposed research and/or career enrichment activities, how the funds will be used, how the activity integrates with other aspects of the student’s program of study, and how the proposed activity reflects the overall mission and goal of the HALE program.
Applicants will need to address in 1500 characters or less, how their work meets the criteria listed above for this scholarship. They must also submit a budget using 6500 characters or less.
Recipients will be expected to share the outcomes of their award experiences with HALE students and faculty via a brown bag talk, presentation at a HALE graduate student event, and/or through written executive summary.

Donald W. Maine Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Higher Education Administration

The recipient shall be a full-time student admitted in the College of Education pursuing a doctoral degree in higher education administration.

Dr. Robert N. Coffey, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Recipients shall be enrolled in a Ph.D. program in the Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education program with preference for students pursuing a career in higher education. Preference will also be given to Ph.D. students who have an interest in international education, either through their research or other demonstrated activities.

Paul L. Dressel Expendable Scholarship in the College of Education

Graduate students enrolled in the Department of Education Administration, pursuing an advanced degree in HALE who have financial need will be considered for this award.

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Kinesiology

Kinesiology Endowed Scholarship

Applicants must be full-time graduate students in a Kinesiology program. Recipient(s) shall be selected on the basis of scholarship and leadership in the following general areas:

• Academic Achievement
  • Cumulative GPA
  • Graduate course credits completed
  • Progress toward the degree
• Teaching Achievement
  • Teaching competence
  • Course/Program development
  • Presentations related to teaching
  • Publications related to teaching
• Research Achievement
  • Involvement in research projects
  • Involvement in research proposal writing
  • Presentations of research findings
  • Publications of research results
• Professional Leadership/Service
  • Membership in professional organizations
  • Service to professional organizations
  • Leadership in professional organizations
  • Service to schools, agencies, etc.
• Service to the Department, College and/or University
  • Service in student organizations
  • Leadership in student organizations
  • Participation on faculty/staff committees
  • Participation on guidance committees
  • Voluntary service to professors/department
  • Voluntary service to students (mentoring, tutoring, etc.)

Applicants will need to provide the following supplemental application materials through the online application system:

1. A description, up to 3500 characters, illustrating how they satisfy the award criteria
2. A list of lecture-type courses taught, including course number (i.e. KIN250)
3. A list of basic instructional courses (activity classes) taught, including course number (i.e. KIN101A)
4. In 5000 characters or less, describe your most significant accomplishments in teaching in greater detail. Include all accomplishments related to teaching in your resume, such as course/program development, awards related to teaching, presentations related to teaching, publications related to teaching, and teaching evaluations (i.e. SIRS form summary)
5. In 5000 characters or less, describe any grant proposals that you have authored or co-authored. Indicate the title of the project, authors, date, funding agency, and dollar amount requested. Also describe scholarly significance of the project.
6. In 2000 characters or less, present additional evidence that is not already covered in this application (optional)
7. In addition, applicants must upload the following documents to the system:
   1. Resume
   2. One exemplary product related to teaching (i.e. exemplary syllabus)
   3. One exemplary product related to research (i.e. copy of publication)

William W. Heusner Endowed Graduate Fellowship in Kinesiology (Exercise Physiology students only)

Recipients shall be admitted graduate-level students pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in the Department of Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology.

Henry J. and Betty Montoye Endowed Scholarship (PhD only)

Recipients shall be admitted students in the Department of Kinesiology at the Ph.D. level and shall be selected on the basis of their research interests in one or more of the following areas: Adapted Physical Activity, Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, Growth and Motor Development, Psychosocial Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity.

Jason D’Amelio Graduate Impact Fund

Preference shall be given to master’s level students within the Athletic Training program working clinically with MSU football and/or wrestling.

Henry Montoye Family Graduate Award

Recipients shall be enrolled in the Department of Kinesiology at the MS or PhD level with  a  concentration  in  Exercise  Physiology.  Funds  may  be  used  but  not  limited  to expenses   related   to   travel,   research,   supplies,   and   professional   development.  Recipients will be required to submit a proposal summarizing intended use of funds including a proposed budget not to exceed $1,000.

Teacher Education

Teacher Education Endowed Fellowship (PhD Only)

Recipient will be a continuing doctoral student who is judged to have been making a distinguished contribution to scholarship and the profession.

Graduate Scholarships and Fellowships Available Outside of the Online Graduate Endowed Scholarship System- All-College Competed Scholarships

The Marianne Amarel Fellowship for the Scholarship of Teaching (PhD only)

Recipients must be current doctoral students from across the College of Education, interested in the scholarship of teaching at the K-12 level or in higher education. The fellowship is intended to help the awardee establish – and pursue – a line of inquiry concerning the scholarship of teaching in K-12, teacher education, or higher education. The awardee can choose to study his/her own teaching or that of other teachers and their students. The fellowship is for one year, but a recipient may reapply for a renewal. It provides the grantee with a 25% research assistantship (which can be combine with another 25% appointment, if student is offered one) and up to $1000 in support for travel and research expenses per academic year. A student must withdraw from the Amarel Fellowship in the event that they receive another fellowship that provides for at least 25% assistantship. Every third year this scholarship will be used for a lectureship.
Applicants will be required to submit a personal statement providing information on the development of their interests in the scholarship of teaching and for learning (2500 word maximum); a research plan for one year of study (2500 word maximum); a current resume/vita; two letters of recommendation from University faculty; and one writing sample (i.e. conference paper, course paper, published chapter/article, etc.). The scholarship competition will be announced via MSU e-mail to enrolled students. The application cycle begins in March with applications due in April.

Departmental Scholarships with No Application Process

Educational Administration

The Department of Educational Administration offers one fellowship, which is awarded on a competitive basis with no application process.

Walter F. and Mary Jane Johnson Dissertation Research Award (HALE PhD only)

The Walter F. and Mary Jane Johnson Dissertation Research Award is given annually to a doctoral student in HALE who has prepared the best doctoral dissertation proposal as determined by a panel of reviewers.  The award of at least $500 is to be used by the student toward the completion of the proposed research.

The award is intended to encourage excellent research by doctoral students and to assist with completion of the doctoral degree. Students must have successfully completed their comprehensive examination to be considered.  The award will be made annually, late in the spring semester, and announced by the department in conjunction with other departmental awards.

External Funding Sources

Graduate School Fellowships for Travel, Research Enhancement, and Emergencies

Each year there are limited funds available to provide financial support to Ph.D. students for Travel and Research needs. Please read the Graduate School criteria carefully before applying. When routing the funding request forms through the College, please be aware that Dr. Michael Sedlak, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, signs all funding request forms for the College’s Dean. If your funding request form requires a “Dean’s” signature, please deliver the form to Associate Dean Sedlak in room 205 Erickson Hall after securing all other College signatures (Student, Advisor, Program Coordinator, and/or Department Chair). These fellowships are reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis by the Graduate School.
Grad School Fellowships

Other Graduate School Funding Opportunities

The Mildred B. Erickson Fellowship (U.S. Citizens only)

This fellowship provides financial support for non-traditional domestic students who have experienced intruption in their degree studies for a significant amount of time and can demonstrate financial need. It covers some tuition and may include a book or educational allowance. Students may receive awards for no more than three semesters.

Office of Research Administration (ORA)

ORA supports graduate students in the College of Education, through education, for those seeking grants and external fellowships. ORA staff are available to discuss funding opportunities; assist in conceptualizing, writing, and revising a grant proposal; or assist in preparing a competitive budget request. ORA sends monthly newsletters and hosts workshops on a variety of topics. Visit the ORA Graduate Student Support page for more information and to sign up for ORA funding alerts: https://education.msu.edu/research/administration/grad/