WPU Alumni Association scholarships available; application made easy

Jennifer Urban
Co-Editor

With the cost of tuition about to increase, now is a good time for students to take advantage of opportunities to obtain scholarships.

The WPU Alumni Association and the University Foundation offer dozens of scholarships to students from many different financial and academic backgrounds.

The deadline for applications is May 5, but the upcoming deadline should not prevent students from applying. For many of the scholarships, the application can be filled out entirely on line at the scholarships section of the university website.

According to Judith Linder of the Alumni Relations, this is the first year all scholarships from both the University Foundation and the Alumi Association are being offered at the same time and place.

"Previously, each organization offered scholarships on two separate cycles" she said. "This is the first time we're working together. Hopefully, more people will apply because its easier."

To be eligible for scholarships, undergraduate students must have completed a full-time academic year prior to application. Transcripts from previous schools must be attached to application if student has not yet completed two semesters at WPU.

Some scholarships that are based on financial need require students to complete a FAF (financial aid form) and delivered in a labeled envelope to the Alumni Relations office.

All Alumni scholarships require students to complete a one or two page creative essay, which is done online as part of the application. It asks students to respond to the question "What does my William Paterson education mean to me?"

"We're not looking for the perfect answer to this question," Linder said. "but it's a way for us to understand how well students can communicate. It's an opportunity for the committee to get a sense of who the student is."

After the May 5 deadline passes, the Alumni Association Scholarship Committee begins the review process. Final decisions will be made in June in order to reflect the awards on student's bills when they are processed in July.

All paper submissions must be delivered to Alumni Relations offices in Hobart Manor. However, because the offices are relocating to North Haledon soon, they may also be delivered to the Office of Institutional Advancement on the second floor of Hobart Manor.

Last year, 28 academic scholarships were awarded, each amounting to $1,250. In addition, 12 campus/ community service scholarships were awarded, at $500 each. According to Linder, this value is determined by the number of eligible applicants, and may increase this year to $750.

"This is an important part of what the Alumni Association does," Linder said. "Alumni donate to the annual fund and it comes back to the students as scholarships."

April 10 , 2003 Issue