Frazier Thompson Scholarship
The Frazier Thompson Scholarship (FTS), named after the first African American to graduate from the University of Notre Dame, offers non-need-based grants in the amounts, frequency and categories established by the Black Alumni to Notre Dame undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who meet the requirements as established by the Black Alumni. Specifically, the FTS shall provide these grants to a diverse group of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who have helped to achieve the primary objective of the fund which is to enhance the experience of the African American student body. The recipients of FTS grants will have been selected for their interest in and support for the African Diaspora through demonstrated interaction which has been intellectually, socially and spiritually fruitful. All applicants must submit a resume that documents the student’s interest in and support for the African Diaspora through interaction which is intellectually, socially and spiritually fruitful (the “African Diaspora resume”). These efforts may have been spent on campus, including active participation in one or more of the black affinity groups in which membership is open to all members of the Notre Dame student body, in the Michiana community, in a domestic African American community, the African continent, the Caribbean islands or Central or South America.
Study Abroad Award
The Study Abroad Award is intended to increase enrollment of undergraduate students with a sound African Diaspora resume in Notre Dame-affiliated as well as third party summer and/or academic year study-abroad opportunities. Undergraduate students may apply for non-need based scholarships up to $4000, to be used for educational experiences beyond the standard study abroad program cost of attendance determined by the Office of Financial Aid; provided, however, that this award, whether considered alone or in combination with other aid, may not exceed the student’s total cost of attendance. To be eligible, applicants must be undergraduate students (rising sophomores through rising seniors). Undergraduate students are required to demonstrate that the award will be used to fund educational programs or research that they will participate in or conduct while abroad. Students who receive the Study Abroad Award would be expected to provide, within one month following the conclusion of the study abroad term, a written report to the BA of ND, by way of the Director of MSPS, explaining how their time and studies spent abroad impacted their interest in and/or support for the African Diaspora.
Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed monthly with the cycle ending on the last day of each month.
Apply to the Study Abroad Award
Undergraduate and Graduate Research Award
The Undergraduate and Graduate Research Award is intended to foster research by undergraduate and graduate students with a sound African Diaspora resume. Such students may apply for non-need based scholarships up to $6000; provided, however, that this award, whether considered alone or in combination with other aid, may not exceed the student’s total cost of attendance. To be eligible, applicants must be undergraduate students (sophomores through seniors) and graduate students who have completed their first year may be eligible, as set forth below. Undergraduate and graduate students are required to demonstrate that the award will be used to fund research either in progress, or that they plan to conduct. Students who receive a Research Award would be expected to provide, within one month following the conclusion of the term, titles to any publications (if applicable) or executive summaries (or other appropriate description, e.g., posters, etc.) of their research to the BA of ND. All sponsored research funded in whole or in part under this award should include an appropriate acknowledgment of the funding source.
Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed monthly with the cycle ending on the last day of each month.
Apply to the Undergraduate and Graduate Research Award.
Professional Development Assistance Award
The Professional Development Assistance Award is intended to provide awards to support professional development endeavors of current undergraduate, graduate, and professional students with a sound African Diaspora resume. Such endeavors may include, but are not limited to: attendance at or travel to/from professional conferences; standardized test preparation courses (e.g., MCAT, LSAT, GRE, but not licensure examinations such as the Bar Exam); and for graduate and/or professional school application fees. Such students may apply for non-need based awards up to $1000. To be eligible, applicants must be undergraduate, graduate, or professional students. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students are required to demonstrate that the award will be used to fund professional development activities in which they will participate. Applications for an FTS Professional Development Assistance Award must be approved and/or verified by a University official, which may include the Director of MSPS, a member of the faculty, or the student’s advisor. Subject to the discretion of the Director of MSPS, students who receive a Professional Development Assistance Award for a professional conference may be required to provide, within one month following the conclusion of the conference, a written report summarizing the student’s experience at the conference. Students who receive a Professional Development Assistance Award to assist with standardized test preparation courses will not be expected to provide such a report.
Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and are reviewed monthly with the cycle ending on the last day of each month.
Apply to the Professional Development Assistance Award.
Diversity Exemplar Scholarship
This merit-based, service and leadership scholarship is designed to recognize and support key leaders working to empower, serve and lead African-American communities. This one-year non-renewable scholarship of up to $5,000 (amount to be determined by the Office of Financial Aid) is open to current sophomores and juniors from any school, college, or major within the University.
Students can self-nominate and are required to upload their African Diaspora resume and official transcript for the Diversity Exemplar Scholarship. Applicants are required to submit one recommendation which should be sent to msps@nd.edu. Faculty, staff, and peers who nominate students are encouraged to work with the student-nominee to complete the nomination forms by using the link above.
Deadline: The application process is closed and will reopen in December 2024.
Community Empowerment Scholarship
This one-year scholarship of up to $5,000 (amount to be determined by the Office of Financial Aid) is open to current sophomores and juniors from any school, college, or major within the University. This scholarship is intended to reduce the student loan or work-study component of the student’s financial aid package. Its aim is to support, encourage and empower students with a passion for positively impacting the African-American diaspora.
Students can self-nominate and are required to upload their African Diaspora resume and official transcript for the community empowerment scholarship. Applicants are required to submit one recommendation which should be sent to msps@nd.edu. Faculty, staff, and peers who nominate students are encouraged to work with the student-nominee to complete the nomination forms by using the link above.
Deadline: The application process is closed and will reopen in December 2024.