Scholarships and Awards

There are a number of scholarships available annually through the Center for Continuing Studies to eligible BGS students.

Scholarships are awarded through a competitive process. All scholarship awards will be credited to student accounts for the following fall semester; cash awards are not given. Although the application deadline for many scholarships is at the end of April, you are advised to check each scholarship description for complete information. You must provide all application materials in order to be considered.

• BGS Scholarships
• The Gall/Roper Scholarship and Norris Memorial Award
• Class of 1944 Scholarship
• Morrison Scholarship
• Alexinia Baldwin Altrusa Scholarship
• The Class of 1945 Scholarship
• Application Materials
• Questions/Contacts

BGS Scholarships

The BGS scholarship application process is easy and self-nominations are encouraged. The deadline for all BGS scholarships and awards is the last Friday in April, with the exception of the Morrison Scholarship, where the deadline is the first Monday in March. The award decisions will be made in June.

The Galvin G. Gall/ Elizabeth K. Roper Scholarship and The Robert B. Norris Memorial Award

Click here for a printable BGS scholarship application form
Click here for a printable nomination form

These $500-$1,000 scholarships honor Dr. Robert B. Norris and Galvin G. Gall and Elizabeth K. Roper, all former deans of what is now the Center for Continuing Studies. Dr. Norris, UConn's first dean of Continuing Education, established Continuing Education for Women, a BGS forerunner sustained by Dean Roper. Dr. Gall built upon these pioneering efforts when he developed the BGS program in 1977. The Gall/Roper Scholarship and Norris Memorial Award are based on three criteria:

1. Academic achievements as an adult learner. Applicants and nominees must have completed 15 UConn credits in the BGS program, have a divisional grade point average of 3.0 or better and must currently be registered for credit courses at UConn.
   
   
2. Potential for professional and personal achievement. The application process includes submission of an essay of no more than 250 words by the applicant and two recommendations from UConn faculty or professional staff members other than BGS advisors. If a student is nominated by a faculty or staff member, one additional recommendation is required.
   
   
3. Financial circumstances. Finanial need will be considered as a criterion, although it is not the determining factor in the selection process.

Click here for a printable BGS scholarship application form
Click here for a printable nomination form

This $500 scholarship was established by the Class of 1944 to assist a student who has faced a significant interruption in his or her college education, to honor their own classmates, whose educations were interrupted by World War II.

The Class of 1944 Scholarship is based on four criteria:

1. Evidence of a significant interruption in the candidate's formal education.
   
   
2. Academic achievement as an adult learner. Applicants and nominees must have completed 15 UConn credits in the BGS program, have a divisional grade point average of 3.0 or better and must currently be registered for credit courses at UConn.
   
   
3. Potential for professional and personal achievement. The application process includes submission of an essay of no more than 250 words by the applicant and two recommendations from UConn faculty or professional staff members other than BGS advisors. If a student is nominated by a faculty or staff member, one additional recommendation is required.
   
   
4. Financial circumstances. Finanial need will be considered as a criterion, although it is not the determining factor in the selection process.

The Morrison Scholarship

Click here for a printable BGS scholarship application form
Click here for a printable nomination form

Marsha Morrison achieved a lifelong goal when she earned a BGS degree from UConn Stamford in 1995, 40 years after she had first taken college-level courses. To express her gratitude she established a scholarship fund to support female students returning to school. This year there are three $725 scholarships available.

The Morrison Scholarship is based on four criteria:

1. Enrollment as a student in the Bachelor of General Studies program; preference is given to female students enrolled at the Stamford campus.
   
   
2. Satisfactory academic status.
   
   
3. Pursuit of career advancement opportunities which will be facilitated by the completion of the Bachelor of General Studies program.
   
   
4. Demonstrated motivation, determination, persistence, and focus.

The application process includes the submission of an essay of no more than 250 words by the applicant and two recommendations from UConn faculty or professional staff members other than BGS advisors. If a student is nominated by a faculty or staff member, one additional recommendation is required.

Financial need will be considered but is not a determining factor in the selection process.

NOTE:  Deadline for the Morrison scholarship is the first Monday in March.

Alexinia Baldwin Altrusa Scholarship

Click here for a printable BGS scholarship application form
Click here for a printable nomination form

Established by the volunteer organization Altrusa International, this $1,000 scholarship honors Dr. Alexinia Baldwin, Professor, Curriculum & Instruction, and former president of Altrusa International. It recognizes outstanding academic achievement and community service in women, based on five criteria:

1. Connecticut residency. Applicants and nominees must be females who reside in Northeastern Connecticut.
   
   
2. Community service. Applicants and nominees must have a record of community service.
   
   
3. Academic achievements as an adult learner. Applicants and nominees must have completed at least one semester in the BGS program, with good academic standing.
   
   
4. Financial circumstances. Financial need will be considered as a criterion, although it is not the determining factor in the selection process.

The Class of 1945 Scholarship

Click here for a printable BGS scholarship application form
Click here for a printable nomination form

This scholarship was established by the Class of 1945 to assist a student who has faced a significant interruption in his or her college education, to honor their own classmates, whose educations were interrupted by World War II.  Two $500 scholarships are available.

The Class of 1945 Scholarship is based on four criteria:

1. Evidence of a significant interruption in the candidate's formal education.
   
2. Academic achievement as an adult learner. Applicants and nominees must have completed 15 UConn credits in the BGS program, have a divisional grade point average of 3.0 or better and must currently be registered for credit courses at UConn.
   
3. Potential for professional and personal achievement. The application process includes submission of an essay of no more than 250 words by the applicant and two recommendations from UConn faculty or professional staff members other than BGS advisors. If a student is nominated by a faculty or staff member, one additional recommendation is required.
   
4. Financial circumstances. Financial need will be considered as a criterion, although it is not the determining factor in the selection process.

Application Materials

Applications are available in PDF format through the links in the scholarship descriptions. You will need Adobe Acrobat reader to download/view these forms. It is available free for download at adobe.com.

Applicants for a BGS scholarship must fill out the scholarship application, plus fill out the the Nomination/Recommendation form for each scholarship. Links to these forms appear with the scholarship descriptions.

If you prefer, you may contact Eileen Marshall at 860-486-5939 or Eileen.Marshall@UConn.edu for application materials.

You must provide all application materials to be considered.

All applications and nominations must be completed and submitted by the due date specified for each scholarship :

University of Connecticut
Center for Continuing Studies
Director's Office
Attn: Eileen Marshall
One Bishop Circle Unit 4056
Storrs, CT 06269-4056

Scholarship selections will be made by the Center for Continuing Studies Advisory Board and the CCS scholarship committee.

Questions/Contact Information

With questions, or for an application, contact your BGS advisor, call 860-486-5939, or send an email to: Eileen.Marshall@UConn.edu

The application process is easy and self-nominations are encouraged.