Scholarships

For Entering Students

Ramaker Scholarship

The Ramaker Scholarship provides $1,000 a year for four years for an entering student. These are the qualities that we are looking for in an applicant:

 

• Students who have an interest in majoring or minoring in history  
• Students who can demonstrate academic achievement
• Students who have leadership potential

DEADLINE

March 22, 2023, and announcement by April 14, 2023

Application

The application for this scholarship includes the following:

• An essay of no more than one page that outlines your future goals and how the study of history might help you achieve them.
• A copy of an essay that demonstrates your research, writing and analytical skills. Ideally, this would be an essay from a history class, but we will accept other essays as well.

 

Submit online 

Hope College thanks Mildred Kemme and Roy and Penny Lumsden for their generosity in funding the Ramaker Scholarship.

For Current Hope Students

Summer and Academic Year Research Scholarships

These scholarships are designed to help support a student who is engaged in individual or collaborative research with a member of the history department faculty. They are more likely to be awarded to a rising junior or senior. Contact the chairperson of the department, Professor Jeanne Petit, for further information.

History Department Student Research Scholarship

Hope College thanks the estate of Janet Mulder for establishing this scholarship, which funds history student research.

Blockstacker History Student Scholarship

Hope College is grateful to Jeff Bates, co-founder of Blockstacker, for providing this scholarship, which emphasizes using technology in the application of history.

Pagenkopf History Research Scholarship

Hope College thanks Kristin and Michael Pagenkopf for their generosity in funding these summer and academic year research scholarships.

Michael B. Petrovich Memorial Scholarship

A scholarship to aid students who plan to spend a semester or year studying abroad and who will spend all or part of the study period in Eastern Europe, including Russia and the states of the former Soviet Union (first preference) or Western Europe (second preference).

The recipient will be chosen according to the following criteria:

• Academic achievement
• Place of study and travel
• Financial need

Interested students should fill out the application form and submit it to the Department of History, which administers the scholarship.

Deadline

April 15 for a program starting next fall semester and October 15 for a program starting next spring semester

The Ronald and Sandra Cady Mulder International Studies Scholarship

A scholarship for students majoring in history, languages or international studies with financial need who have shown an appreciation for diversity and other cultures. This scholarship will allow students to participate in an academic semester or year-long program at Lithuanian Christian College International University (LCCIU) in Klaipeda, Lithuania (first preference), in Eastern Europe (second preference) or Western Europe (third preference). This scholarship was established by Ronald and Sandra Mulder as part of their commitment to Christian higher education in a global context. The recipient will be chosen according to the following criteria

• Cultural interest
• Financial need
• Active participation in local church and community

Students must select an official Hope-approved program and should have already submitted the required Hope College Off-Campus Study Application to the Fried International Center. Applications and information about these programs are available at the Fried International Center.

Students applying for the Mulder Scholarship should obtain the scholarship application form from the Fried International Center or the Department of History, which administers the scholarship.

Deadline

April 15 for a program starting the following fall semester and October 15 for a program starting the following spring or summer semester

Nationally Competitive Scholarships

FOR CURRENT SOPHOMORES OR JUNIORS

Boren Awards for International Study

The Boren Awards for International Study support students who are U.S. citizens, high school graduates and enrolled at colleges and universities in the United States. They are to support study abroad in Africa, Asia, Eastern and Central Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Middle East. (The Boren Awards will NOT support study abroad in Western Europe, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.) Boren Scholars must study a foreign language during their study abroad; check the Boren website for preferred languages. Note that you must finish your study abroad before you graduate; you may not hold this grant after graduation. See the Boren Scholarship website. You should also contact the Hope College advisor, Amy Otis-DeGrauw.

Deadline
The online application is released in late August, and the final application is due in early February.

The Goldwater Scholarship

While directed at students intending to pursue careers in mathematics, engineering or the natural sciences, this scholarship may be of interest to students with a double major including history, or to history minors with a major in the natural sciences, math or engineering. The fellowships provide up to $7,500 annually, to go toward tuition, fees, room and board, and books. Sophomore winners are funded for two years as long as they maintain sufficient standards. Seniors are funded for one year. Students may not apply independently, but must be nominated by the college. You may find more information on the Goldwater webpage. If you're interested in a nomination, consult with Hope College’s faculty representative, Dean Moses Lee.

Deadline
January of the sophomore or junior year

The Udall Scholarship

The Udall scholarship is for sophomores or juniors who intend to pursue careers in environmental public policy, or for Native American/Alaskan Native students who intend to pursue careers in health care or tribal policy. The scholarship covers eligible expenses for tuition, fees, books, and room and board to a maximum of $5,000 for one academic year. College endorsement is required for each candidate. About 75 awards are made annually. Find information on the website or contact peterson@hope.edu.

Deadline
Mid-February

FOR CURRENT JUNIORS

The Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship

This provides up to $50,000 annually to cover tuition, mandatory fees, living stipend, books and travel for students in their senior year of college and first year of graduate school in a two-year masters program. The fellowship is directed toward students who plan a career in the Foreign Service of the United States. There are also summer internships connected with the fellowship. Acceptance of the fellowship carries an obligation of three years’ service in the Foreign Service.

Deadline
Early February of your junior year

The Harry S. Truman Scholarship

Intended for students who plan careers in public service. Applicants must be college juniors. The scholarship provides a $30,000 scholarship, $3,000 of which is payable in the senior year of college. The balance is payable for graduate studies in a field related to public service. Criteria include community service and government involvement, leadership, academic performance, analytical ability and writing skills, suitability of the candidate’s program for a career in public service and the likelihood that the candidate will make a difference in public service. Candidates must be nominated by the college. You may find more information on the Harry S. Truman Scholarship webpage. If you are interested in a nomination, consult with the campus representative, Professor Jeanne Petit.

Deadlines
Applications are due in very early February of the junior year.

The Rhodes Scholarship

Rhodes Scholarships fund two-year graduate programs at Oxford University. They are tenable in any field of study. Applicants must present very strong academic records, evidence of leadership ability, and participation in athletics (or another activity which provides evidence of “physical vigor”). An official nomination from Hope College is required. Check the Rhodes website and contact the Hope College Rhodes Scholarship Representative, Professor David Cunningham. Visit the Hope Rhodes Scholarship webpage.

Deadline
Applications are due very early in the fall semester of the senior year, so interested students must begin the application process in the spring of their junior year.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship funds students for one to three years of graduate study at Cambridge University. Scholarships are awarded in any field of study, and are intended to "create a network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others." The Gates Cambridge Scholarship does not require institutional nomination, but you can obtain assistance with your application through Professor David Cunningham. Further information is available on the Gates Cambridge Scholarship webpage. You may also find information on the Hope Gates website.

The Marshall Scholarship

The Marshall Scholarship funds students for one- or two-year masters degree programs at British universities. Unlike the Rhodes Scholarship, which is limited to Oxford, and the Gates Scholarship, which is limited to Cambridge, the Marshall may be used at any British university. Fellowships may be awarded for any subject areas. An official nomination from Hope College is required. Check the Marshall Scholarship website and contact the Hope College Marshall Scholarship Representative, Professor David Cunningham. Hope College Marshall Scholarship webpage.

Deadline
Applications are due very early in the fall semester of the senior year, so interested students must begin the application process in the spring of their junior year.

Fulbright Fellowships

Fulbright full grants provide travel, health insurance and living expenses for one academic year for U.S. citizens with a B.A. degree or its equivalent to pursue study in a foreign country. Candidates must propose a specific project and must generally demonstrate proficiency in the language of the host country. English Teaching Assistantships (ETAs) are also available in many countries. For ETA Fulbrights, some countries require knowledge of the local language, but many others (especially countries whose language is not often taught in American schools) do not. Enrolled students must apply through the Hope College Fulbright advisors, Professor David Cunningham and Professor Janis Gibbs. More information is available on the Fulbright website and on the Hope Fulbright website.

Deadline
Deadlines are very early in the fall semester of the senior year. Interested students should begin the application process in the spring of their junior years.

FOR CURRENT SENIORS

Because many fellowships have deadlines early in the senior year, juniors should prepare early if they intend to apply for any of the fellowships listed below. Discuss your graduate school plans and your applications with your advisors and mentors well in advance.

Lenore Annenberg Teaching Fellowship

This fellowship is intended for students committed to teaching. It provides a $30,000 one-year fellowship to support students in the completion of a yearlong master’s program at one of four of the nation’s top teacher education programs — Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Virginia and the University of Washington. In exchange, the candidates must agree to teach for three years in high-need secondary schools. During these first three years in the classroom, Fellows receive intensive onsite mentoring and support. Further details are available at the Annenberg Fellowship website.

Davies-Jackson Scholarship

This scholarship provides full support for two years of graduate study at St. John's College in the University of Cambridge, England. Fields supported include archaeology and anthropology, classics, economics, English, history, modern and medieval languages, and music. Only one of these scholarships is awarded annually, and only students from selected private colleges (including Hope) are eligible to apply. Applications require an essay explaining why you wish to pursue a proposed course of study at Cambridge. Visit the website or email cunningham@hope.edu for more information.

Deadline
Mid-November

Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellowship for Minorities

Three-year $20,000 annual awards (plus $2,000 to the college in lieu of tuition and fees) for ethnic minority students at or near the beginning of their graduate work in all fields. These fellowships are designed to increase the presence of under-represented minorities on the nation's college and university faculties. About 60 are awarded annually. More information.

Deadline
Early November of the senior year.

Harvey Fellowship

A $16,000 stipend for graduate work at any top-rated Ph.D. program, renewable for two additional years. Law students may also apply. Provides financial support to Christian graduate students with a unique vision to influence society through their field and who are pursuing graduate studies at premier institutions in their discipline in the United States or abroad. All recipients must affirm and sign the Lausanne Covenant, or must provide a written explanation of how their understanding and belief differ from the covenant. Further information is available on the Harvey Fellows website.

Deadline
Open August 1, and due by Nov. 1

Javits Fellowship

In the Javits Fellowship program, administered by the federal government, over 40 fellowships of up to $43,000 are awarded annually to students in humanities, arts and social sciences for pursuing a doctoral or MFA degree. Fellowship is renewable for up to four years.

Deadline
Early October

James Madison Fellowship

Two-year James Madison Fellowship awards of up to $24,000 are granted to U.S. citizens who aspire to be secondary school teachers of American history, American government and social studies. Awards are intended to support master's level graduate study of the roots, principles, framing and development of the U.S. Constitution. Students may study for an M.A., an MAT, or an MEd. Recipients must agree to teach full time in a secondary school for at least one year per year of fellowship support. At least one award is available annually in each state. This award is funded by the James Madison Foundation, an independent arm of the executive branch of the federal government. Call 1.800.525.6928 or email johnson@hope.edu for more info.

Deadline
March 1

Mitchell Scholarship

The Mitchell Scholarship supports a year of graduate study in Ireland or Northern Ireland. Prospective Scholars apply directly to the US-Ireland Alliance that administers the Mitchell Scholarship program. There are no restrictions as to academic field of study. Applicants are evaluated on the basis of academic excellence, leadership and a commitment to public service and community. Scholars receive tuition, room, support for travel to and within Ireland and a stipend to cover other necessary expenses for the term of study. 12 awards are made annually. An institutional endorsement from Hope College is required.

Deadline
Applications are due in early October.

Boren Fellowships

Boren Fellowships, funded by the National Security Education Program, provide awards of up to $12,000 for domestic study and between $12,000 and $24,000 to support overseas study for U.S. graduate students who will pursue study involving one of 40 languages and 75 geographic areas deemed critical to national security. (This means a maximum of $30,000 over two years, and a maximum of two years’ support.) Recipients of these fellowships must fulfill a service obligation by working for the federal government in a position with national security responsibilities for at least one year.

Deadline
Very early February

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships

The NSF awards around 900 three-year fellowships of $15,000 per year (plus $10,500 to the university) for study that leads to an advanced degree in the history of science, as well as in mathematical, physical, medical and biological sciences and engineering. Visit their website for more info.

Deadline
November

OAS Scholarships for Academic Studies

The Organization of American States offers students from member countries scholarships to support one or two years of study in either masters or doctoral graduate programs to be undertaken in any of the member countries. The OAS Scholarship may not be used for medical studies or for the study of languages. The fellowship provides round-trip air travel, monthly subsistence allowance, tuition and fees, an allowance for books and study materials, and health insurance. For more info, visit their website.

Deadline
January 15

Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships

The Rotary Foundation gives 1,000 awards of up to $25,000 to study or train for one academic year in another country where Rotary Clubs are located. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the language of the host country. Initial application must be made through a local Rotary Club in the community where the applicant has legal or permanent residence.

Deadline
Deadlines vary from March to June; contact your local Rotary Club or The Rotary Foundation for details. In Holland, the deadline is in March; call 392.7186 for an application form.

Soros Fellowship for New Americans

The Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans fund up to 30 students each year in support of up to two years of graduate study in the United States for resident alien, naturalized U.S. citizens or children of two parents who are both naturalized citizens. The applicant must either have a bachelor's degree or be in her/his final year of undergraduate study. Each year the Fellow receives a maintenance grant of $20,000 and a tuition grant of one-half the tuition cost of the U.S. graduate program attended by the Fellow. A Fellow may pursue a graduate degree in any professional field (e.g., engineering, medicine, law or social work) or scholarly discipline in the humanities, social sciences, sciences, and fine and performing arts.

Deadline
November 1