Scholarships, Grants, Prizes and Awards

Apply for the Wesleyan Black Alumni Council Memorial Prize Summer Stipend

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****DEADLINE EXTENDED TO SUNDAY, APRIL 10TH****

In April 1986, the Wesleyan Black Alumni Council (WBAC) established a memorial fund to honor late alumni of African descent. The memorial honors the memory and spirit of Bruce D. Hall ’77, James “Donnie” Rochester ’74, and Dwight L. Greene ’70 through a summer experience grant to support students interested in projects or research pertaining to the African American experience. Stipends are typically $5,000.

APPLICATION

A student who wishes to apply for the Wesleyan Black Alumni Council Memorial Prize must submit an application that includes all of the following:

  1. A personal statement sharing your motivation for and interest in the proposed project. This statement must also include information about your preparation for the proposed project (for example, coursework or extracurricular projects that have helped you to develop the skills or background knowledge you need to engage this work).
    (limit: 500 words)

  2. A description of your project, including your research question or project aim, some background information on the topic, and the specific approach, structure, and/or methodology you will use in your project. Please be sure to include information on dates and time commitment. (limit: 750 words)

  3. An itemized budget that describes how the stipend will be used.

  4. The name of a faculty mentor with whom you have discussed your research proposal, or the name of a professional connected with your project.

  5. An unofficial academic history.

The application documents must be submitted through this form by the extended deadline of Sunday, April 10th.

IMPORTANT NOTES

  • Research involving participants who could be individually identified, audio or video recordings of participants, sensitive data, vulnerable populations, or the observation of behavioral tasks in a laboratory setting will require IRB approval. If you are not sure whether your research requires IRB approval, please consult with your faculty mentor and/or the Wesleyan Institutional Review Board.

  • As we work to support as many students as possible in their summer plans, recipients of other summer funding and/or students engaging in full-pay internships or jobs are not eligible to receive the WBAC Memorial Prize. A student will not be permitted to accept another award that meets their full summer funding need (e.g., a Wesleyan Summer Grant) or full-time paid summer internship in conjunction with the WBAC Prize. A student may, however, use proposals that were submitted for other funding to apply for the WBAC Prize. And a student may combine partial awards to meet full need. The student will be expected to inform all funding bodies if multiple awards have been offered so that students on waitlists on either side might be awarded.

In addition to the funding provided by the WBAC Memorial Prize, recipients are traditionally highlighted during the annual Dwight L. Greene Symposium during Homecoming/ Family Weekend, and typically present their project at the Alumni and Students of Color Reception. Should this traditional format not be possible, prize recipients will present their projects in another way, as determined by the prize organizers.

By submitting your application materials, you agree to allow the Office for Equity & Inclusion to use these documents — in whole or in part — for archival, promotion, or assessment purposes. 

If you have any questions about this summer grant, please contact April Ruiz, Dean for Academic Equity, Inclusion, & Success: aruiz01@wesleyan.edu. 

The Wesleyan Black Alumni Council Memorial Prize Selection Committee looks forward to reading your application!

Peter Morgenstern-Clarren ’03 Social Justice Employee Recognition Award 

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Nominations are now being accepted for the Peter Morgenstern-Clarren ’03 Employee Recognition Award. Eligible Wesleyan employees include custodians, dining staff, grounds crew, and building maintenance staff (e.g., electricians, plumbers). The award is to honor and thank the people whose everyday work is central to student life at Wesleyan. Nominators may submit only one person for consideration; you are welcome to nominate yourself. The winner(s) will receive an award of $2,500.

The Peter Morgenstern-Clarren ’03 Employee Recognition Award was created in memory of Peter Morgenstern-Clarren, who pursued social justice as a student at Wesleyan.  His activism included securing benefits for Wesleyan custodial staff, participating in the United Student and Labor Action Coalition, and contributing his leadership to the campus chapter of Amnesty International.  We are grateful to Dr. Hadley Morgenstern-Clarren and The Honorable Pat Morgenstern-Clarren for their generosity in sponsoring this award that honors their son’s activism for the public good and his care for the staff community at the university.

To nominate a staff member (you may nominate yourself) for this award, please submit a letter or essay that explains how the nominee contributes positively to student life at Wesleyan. If possible, please share specific examples. Please be sure to include the nominee’s name and job on campus. The document you submit should be no longer than 500 words, and may be much shorter.

Submit nominations to inclusion@wesleyan.edu by 5:00pm ET on Thursday, March 31, 2022.
** Please use the subject line “Employee award nomination” **

If you have any questions, please contact April Ruiz, Dean for Academic Equity, Inclusion, & Success at aruiz01@wesleyan.edu

The Peter Morgenstern-Clarren ’03 Student Social Justice Award

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The Peter Morgenstern-Clarren ‘03 Social Justice Award was created in memory of Peter Morgenstern-Clarren, who pursued social justice while a student at Wesleyan.  His activism included securing benefits for Wesleyan custodial staff, participating in the United Student and Labor Action Committee, and contributing his leadership to the campus chapter of Amnesty International.  We are grateful to Dr. Hadley Morgenstern-Clarren and The Honorable Pat Morgenstern-Clarren for their generosity in sponsoring this award honoring their son’s activism for the public good.

A committee will select up to two sophomores or juniors who best embody the pursuit of social justice. The winner will receive an award of $2,500.

Any sophomore or junior in good standing may apply by submitting the following:

  • An essay (no more than 1000 words) that describes in detail a social justice effort that sought to make a community more equitable, and your specific contributions to that work.
  • Any statements or materials associated with the work that demonstrate its impact. This might include copies of an event program, a link to an article written about the project, or a written testimony from someone directly involved with the work (excluding family and close friends).
  • A letter of support from a faculty or administrator familiar with your dedication to social justice, or from a community leader who is familiar with your specific work.

All items must be submitted electronically to this application form by 5:00pm ET on Monday, April 4, 2022.

While letters of support will be submitted directly from letter-writers, and therefore separate from the applicant’s own materials, these must also be submitted by the deadline using this recommendation form.

NOTE: By submitting your application materials, you agree to allow the Office for Equity & Inclusion to use these documents — in whole or in part — for archival, promotion, or assessment purposes.

If you have any questions, or if you have any issues with the submission forms, please contact April Ruiz, Dean for Academic Equity, Inclusion, & Success:  aruiz01@wesleyan.edu.

Davenport Study Grants

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Davenport Study Grants support student research and other student scholarly projects in public affairs.  Grants are awarded to sophomores and juniors who have “demonstrated intellectual and moral excellence and a concern for public affairs” and “who by their personal qualities and vocational and scholarly intentions give greatest promise of leadership in the public service.”

Please see the Davenport website for application information.

All Davenport Scholars will receive between $500 and $3000 depending on the scope of their project, that can be used beginning this summer.  Please note that a separately submitted letter from the faculty member who will supervise the project, carefully assessing its merit and the ability of the applicant to carry it out successfully, must be submitted with the application.

Applications will be judged by a faculty committee composed of representatives of social science departments and programs. Criteria for judging applications include: the relevance of the project to public affairs; the scholarly value of the proposed research; the clarity and suitability of the project design; the feasibility of the proposed project; the applicant’s past academic record; the evaluation submitted by the faculty member; and the realism of the proposed budget. Senior thesis projects will receive priority.

All materials including faculty recommendations must be submitted electronically to Davenport Student Grants (davenport@wesleyan.edu), by midnight, Sunday, March 27, 2022.

Please direct questions to Marie McKenna, Allbritton AA (mmckenna01@wesleyan.edu) or Katja Kolcio, Allbritton Center Director (kkolcio@wesleyan.edu).

These funds are made available through a gift to Wesleyan University from the Surdna Foundation in honor of Frederick Morgan Davenport, Wesleyan University Class of 1889, and Edith Jefferson Andrus Davenport, Wesleyan University, Class of 1897.

Apply for the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program

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The MMUF is a national program supporting underrepresented students as they work toward applying to graduate school in a range of fields in the humanities and social sciences. The program provides summer and academic year funding, mentorship and training, and a community of students of similar backgrounds who are all striving toward the same goals.

To learn more…

Applications are due Wednesday, February 23

Wesleyan Black Alumni Council Memorial Prize Summer Stipend

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In April 1986, the Wesleyan Black Alumni Council (WBAC) established a memorial fund to honor late alumni of African descent. The memorial honors the memory and spirit of Bruce D. Hall ’77, James “Donnie” Rochester ’74, and Dwight L. Greene ’70 through a summer experience grant to support students interested in projects or research pertaining to the African American experience. The maximum stipend is $4,000.

APPLICATION

A student who wishes to apply for the Wesleyan Black Alumni Council Memorial Prize must submit an application that includes all of the following:

  1. A personal statement sharing your motivation, interest, and preparation for the proposed project, and the relationship of these to the African American experience. You might include information about coursework you’ve completed or extracurricular projects that have been meaningful to you. (limit: 500 words)

  2. A description of your project, including your research question or project aim, some background information on the topic, and the specific approach, structure, and/or methodology you will use in your project. Please include information on dates and time commitment. (limit: 750 words)

  3. An itemized budget that describes how the stipend will be used.

  4. The name of a faculty mentor with whom you have discussed your research proposal, or the name of a professional connected with your project.

  5. An unofficial academic history.

The application documents must be submitted through this form by Wednesday, April 14, 2021 at 5:00pm ET.

IMPORTANT NOTES

  • Research involving participants who could be individually identified, audio or video recordings of participants, sensitive data, vulnerable populations, or the observation of behavioral tasks in a laboratory setting will require IRB approval. If you are not sure whether your research requires IRB approval, please consult with your faculty mentor and/or the Wesleyan Institutional Review Board.

  • As we work to support as many students as possible in their summer plans, recipients of other summer funding and/or students engaging in full-pay internships or jobs are not eligible to receive the WBAC Memorial Prize. A student will not be permitted to accept another award or paid summer internship in conjunction with the WBAC Prize. A student may, however, use proposals that were submitted for other funding to apply for the WBAC Prize. The student will be expected to inform all funding bodies if multiple awards have been offered so that students on waitlists on either side might be awarded.

In addition to the funding provided by the WBAC Memorial Prize, the recipient will be highlighted during the annual Dwight L. Greene Symposium during Homecoming/ Family Weekend, and they will present their project at the Alumni and Students of Color Reception.

By submitting your application materials, you agree to allow the Office for Equity & Inclusion to use these documents — in whole or in part — for archival, promotion, or assessment purposes.

If you have any questions about this summer grant, please contact April Ruiz, Dean for Academic Equity, Inclusion, & Success: aruiz01@wesleyan.edu.

The Wesleyan Black Alumni Council Memorial Prize Selection Committee looks forward to reading your application!

Looking for funding for your unpaid or low-paid summer experience?

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The 2021 Wesleyan Summer Grants Program will be accepting applications from February 8th – February 26th, 11:59pm.

Wesleyan Summer Grants are funding resources awarded through the Gordon Career Center which allow students to pursue no- or low-paid career-related summer experiences such as internships, faculty-mentored research, language study, volunteer work, field study, and academic programs.

The Gordon Career Center will be holding three virtual information sessions which will cover funding opportunities, eligibility and requirements, navigating the application process, and what makes a strong application. All sessions will conclude with a Q&A. Please click the event links below to register.

February 3, 3pm EST
February 9, 5pm EST
February 18, 11am EST

The list of available grants and the application can be accessed on AcademicWorks through WesPortal. For more information about the application process, please visit the Gordon Career Center website.

Don’t know where to begin or need help with your application? Schedule an appointment to meet with a career advisor.