UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN River Falls

Scholarship Information

UWRF has many scholarships available to our students, located on the UW-River Falls Scholarship system site. (Click here to access.) Just sign in, fill out a general application, and browse through available scholarships. There are many general scholarships, as well as scholarships specific to your major that you can apply for. We at CDIB, wanted to emphasize the scholarships available through this system that focus more on diverse identities and/or financial-need.

Advanced Opportunity Program (AOP)

The Advance Opportunity Program (AOP) Fellowship is provided by the State of Wisconsin and intended to provide financial support for minority and disadvantaged graduate students allowing them to focus attention on their graduate studies and to complete their degrees in a timely fashion.

There are several ways to qualify:

1. You are a member of one or more of the following minority groups traditionally under-represented in graduate school: Black/African-American; Hispanic or Latino/a; American Indian or Alaskan Native; or Southeast Asian of Vietnam, Cambodian, or Laotian descent who entered in the US after 1975.
2. You are from a family that received any type of public assistance, including eligibility for school lunch program.
3. You are a first-generation college student.
4. You participated in TRIO pre-college or undergraduate programs for students, such as Upward Bound, Talen Search, Student Support Services, McNair, etc.
5. You have not had the expectation and encouragement to pursue post-graduate education as a viable option.

You must also fill out a 2018-2019 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), enroll in at least three credits per semester, and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for graduate students.

Ann M. Lydecker Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship supports an entering junior or senior student with any major at UW- River Falls.
Student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
Must have demonstrated financial need
Must have demonstrated leadership abilities and involvement in campus student activities, community organizations and/or civic organizations
An emphasis will be placed on formal leadership positions held on campus.

Preference given to a woman.

Annette Harrison and Robert R. Pionke Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship supports an undergraduate, female student over 25 years of age

Student must demonstrates financial need, aptitude, a potential for professional achievement and excellence, as well as a commitment to attain a degree from UW- River Falls.

This is to be a single yearly award as long as an acceptable candidate is available. If, in a given year, the committee considers two candidates to be equally qualified, it will be acceptable to divide the award between these two candidates.

Annie Gough Robbins Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship supports a female nontraditional student, 25 years of age or older.

Student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and be in good academic standing

Beyond these minimum requirements the scholarship shall be based solely on financial need.

Carrie Semenok Unity Scholarship

For students who promote diversity on the UWRF campus domestically or internationally.

David and Mildred Lydecker Scholarship

This scholarship supports an entering sophomore or junior student.

Student must be over 25 years of age
Must have dependents in the home between the ages of 0 and 15 years
Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
Must have demonstrated financial need

Diversity Success Scholarship

This scholarship supports ethnically diverse or economically disadvantaged incoming freshmen.

Student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA
Must have demonstrated leadership ability through community service, employment, extracurricular or other activities

This is a one-time award and preference will be given (but not limited to) participants from college access programs

Dr. Vanetta (Judy) Ogland Scholarship

This scholarship supports a nontraditional student, over the age of 25 at the time of application, who has completed at least one semester at UWRF.

Student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25
Must have a history of participation in extra-curricular activities (may include church, committee, and school), with identified course of study or career goals.
Application should be accompanied by the names and addressed of at least three (3) references (pastor, teachers, employers, or others who are well acquainted with the applicant) who will be contacted by the committee.

Preference will be given to women who are the major source of income for the family and who have children to support.

Donald A. and Jo M. Page Scholarship

This scholarship supports an entering sophomore, junior or senior with any major at UWRF.

Student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0

Evidence of volunteer participation, community service activities, and/or personal service to an under privileged individual would aid in the selection of the successful applicant.

Jack and Ann Agnew Scholarship

This scholarship supports full-time entering junior or senior students.

Student must have at least two semesters remaining at UW-RF with a commitment to attain a degree from UW-RF
Student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
Student should have demonstrated leadership abilities and involvement in campus student activities, community organizations and/or civic and service organizations

Preference is given to nontraditional students.

John G. Wirsig, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship supports undergraduate or graduate students who have experienced a break of at least three years in pursuing higher education.
Based upon academic performance, commitment to obtaining a degree at UW-River Falls and financial need, applicants must complete the essay detailing his/her qualifications.

Lawton Undergraduate Minority Retention Grant

The Lawton Undergraduate Minority Retention Grant is funded by the State of Wisconsin and provides financial assistance to designated under represented minority undergraduate students to improve opportunity for retention and graduation and to reduce the reliance on student loans.

To be eligible, you must be:

A resident of the state of Wisconsin;
A member of one of the following minority groups (as shown in your eSIS information) who are under represented in higher education: African-American, Latino/a, Native American Indian or from a designated Southeast Asian minority group (Cambodian, Hmong, Laotian or Vietnamese) and who entered the United States after 1975;
Not have received your first bachelor’s degree;
Will be at sophomore, junior or senior standing by the beginning of next Fall Semester;
Have establish and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or better;
Not be on academic or financial aid warning, probation or suspension status;
And enroll for a full-time academic credit load (12 or more credit hours) each semester in which you receive the grant; and
Demonstrate financial need as evidenced by the results of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming academic year by May 1.

There are additional requirements to maintain this grant. Click here for more specific information about the Lawton Grant.

River Falls Tuesday Club Scholarship

This scholarship supports a non-traditional student at UWRF of any major.

Student must be at least 22 years old
Must have experienced an interruption of a year or more in their academic pursuits
Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
Must be at least half-time (carrying 6 credits or more credits) in any discipline.
An essay is required for this scholarship detailing the student’s interruption in their academic pursuits.

Preference will be given to a female student.

Robert B. Bailey, III Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship supports students who are active participants in the Black Student Union.

Shawn Michael Taylor Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship supports a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior student pursuing a degree at UWRF.

Student must plan to continue his/her education at UWRF
Student must demonstrate above average scholarship, evidenced by an overall minimum GPA of 3.00
Student must actively participate in extracurricular activities in school
Student must demonstrate good citizenship in the community through participation in church and/or civic affairs
The general application must indicate their future educational plans, general interest, extracurricular activities and career goals.

University Women's Club Scholarship

This scholarship supports an entering senior student with any major.

Student must have a minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA
Must submit an essay explaining their demonstrated scholarship, leadership, and character qualities as well as their financial need.

Preference will be given to a female student.

Yung Kim Dutton Diversity Scholarship

The scholarship supports either an undergraduate or graduate student in any major.

Student must be a motivated Asian American, Southeast Asian or Pacific Islander, Black/African American, Hispanic, or Native North American
Must be a full-time student in good academic standing

There are plenty of other general and more specific scholarships located on the UW-River Falls Scholarship System. Application Deadlines vary depending on the scholarship, but many are due within the first half of the Spring Semester for the following school year.