News and Progress

MU to offer 10 $10,000 scholarships and one full ride scholarship

Scholarships will attract Missouri's high-ability students

Aug. 21, 2006

University of Missouri-Columbia officials hope to attract more top scholars from Missouri to MU by creating 10 new $10,000 scholarships and one full-ride scholarship.

In fall 2007, the Mizzou Scholars Award will be given to 11 first-time college students from Missouri who earned at least a 33 composite ACT score or an SAT score of 1460 with strong high school academic records. The scholarships are renewable for four years if recipients maintain a 3.25 cumulative GPA and complete at least 30 credit hours per academic year.

The full-ride scholarship will include payment for tuition, room and board, and textbooks. It will be funded by the Chancellor’s Fund for Excellence, which is supported by unrestricted donations from MU alumni and friends. The exact amount of this full-ride scholarship will be based on the estimated cost for a Missouri resident to attend MU. In addition to academic criteria, financial need also will be considered in awarding the full-ride scholarship.

The other 10 scholarships will be in the amount of $10,000 and are funded from savings realized from a reallocation of administrative costs. The number of these scholarships will increase by 10 each year until 40 scholarships will be awarded in 2010.

“Mizzou offers a very rich learning environment with wonderful opportunities for high-ability students,” said Ann Korschgen, vice provost for enrollment management. “These scholarships are an effort to encourage these students to apply to and attend MU.”

To apply, a student must submit the general MU scholarship application by December 1. A member of a scholarship committee, which includes representatives from the offices of admissions and financial aid, the Honors College, the Alumni Association and the Academic Affairs Committee of the Faculty Council, will send letters to qualified applicants. This letter will include information about the scholarship and request students to complete an essay. Members of the scholarship committee, in conjunction with faculty members, will review scholarship applicant files and essays. Each file will be reviewed by two readers independently and the scores averaged for determination of interview eligibility. Committee members will choose 50 finalists on the basis of leadership, community service, civic engagement, special talent, overcoming adversity, special interests, work experiences, supporting diversity and academic interests. Students selected to receive the full-ride scholarships will show exceptional merit and financial need.

These 50 finalists will be interviewed and evaluated not only on the above-mentioned factors, but also on their potential to contribute to society and their ability to represent the university well. The students will be ranked, and scholarship offers will be mailed to the top 11.

The 11 recipients will have lunch with the chancellor and will meet with leaders of campus service units to learn about opportunities for engagement in campus or community life.