Scholarships
The University of San Diego Alumni Association scholarships for students are made possible by the generous support of alumni donors. Alumni gifts, no matter the amount, enrich the student experience by providing much-needed financial assistance. These scholarships were created by alumni and students who had the vision to support the University's future growth and success. In an effort to connect current students with alumni supporters, opportunities to attend various alumni events are available to scholarship recipients throughout the year.
We recommend that you PRINT these instructions to help you through the application process:
- Click here to apply
- Deadline to apply: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 4 p.m.
- Carefully review the scholarship criteria outlined below. Do you meet the qualifications?
- You are required to submit one or more essays with your application. Review the essay requirements below and prepare your essay(s) before starting the online application. In the online application, you will be asked to upload your essay(s) as a Word document.
- Be prepared before starting the online application. In the online application, you will be asked to share the following information. Please have this information ready before starting the application.
- ON-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES - Please list any on-campus activities (i.e., clubs, organizations, athletics, volunteerism, etc.) that you have been involved in at USD. List organization name, dates of involvement and leadership positions. 150 word maximum.
- COMMUNITY SERVICE - Please list any community service (volunteerism, community involvement, etc.) you participated in while attending USD. List organization/project name, dates of involvement and role. 150 word maximum.
- HONORS AND AWARDS - Please list any honors/awards that you have received while attending USD. Include the date(s) received and a brief description. Do not include scholarship or financial aid information. 50 word maximum.
- Complete the online application, upload your essay(s), and click “Submit” by Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 4 p.m.
- Questions: Office of Alumni Relations, (619) 260-4819, Degheri Alumni Center Room 137, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Notification: Senior Class Legacy scholarship recipients will be notified and awarded by May 1, 2012. All other scholarship recipients will be notified by August 15, 2012 and awarded for academic year 2012-2013. Approximately 15 scholarships will be distributed and awards range from $1,000 to $2,500.
Scholarship Criteria and Essay Requirements:
Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund
Therese Whitcomb ‘53 Scholarship
Kyle O’Connell Memorial Scholarship
Daniel L. Burkett III Memorial Scholarship
Senior Class Legacy Scholarship
Senior Class Legacy Scholarship
The Senior Class Legacy scholarship program began in 1989 with three seniors who had the vision to leave a legacy. Sam Attisha ‘89, David Reiling ‘89 and Kerry O’Heany Reiling ‘89 created this scholarship program, by students for students, to ensure that the USD experience would be available for future students. The original vision of the scholarship, and part of the current criteria, is that it would be given to students who have financial need and are making a lasting impact on the University.
Criteria:
- Must be a current freshman, sophomore, junior or senior in good standing for the 2011-2012 academic year.
- Cumulative G.P.A. of 3.0 or above.
- Applicant demonstrates that he/she has left a legacy through campus involvement that will impact future students at USD.
- Consideration will be given to students with financial need.
Required Essay:
- Please attach an essay, containing 400-500 words, describing how you have left a legacy through your campus involvement that will impact future students at USD.
Have you made your Senior Class Legacy gift yet? Support your Senior Class Legacy now by clicking here.
Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund
The USD Alumni Endowed Scholarship Fund was created in 2006 by USD alumni to provide much-needed scholarships for students. This scholarship fund is a way for alumni to give back and ensure continued access and affordability of a USD education for qualified and deserving students. Nearly 90 percent of the gifts to this fund are $250 and under, demonstrating that every gift makes a difference in the lives of students. Because this fund was created by alumni, additional consideration is given for legacy students who have family relatives who are USD alumni.
Criteria:
- Must be a current USD student who will be a sophomore, junior, senior, or returning graduate student for the 2012-2013 academic year and is currently in good standing at USD.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
- Demonstrated exceptional involvement and service to USD and/or the community.
- Consideration will be given to students with financial need.
- Additional consideration will be given for legacy students who have family relatives who are USD alumni.
Required Essay:
- Please attach an essay, containing 750 words or less, about your demonstrated involvement and service to USD and/or the community and how you can use that involvement and service to stay engaged and involved with the University as an alumnus.
Therese Whitcomb ‘53 Scholarship
This scholarship is named in honor of the first graduate from the San Diego College for Women, Therese Truitt Whitcomb ’53. Alumni continually express their gratitude to the University for the excellent academic, spiritual, physical and emotional development that USD provided. Many of the alumni recognize that if financial assistance was not available they would not have been able to attend USD. For this reason, USD alumni created this scholarship so that future students will have the opportunity to attend USD. The scholarship rewards students who have demonstrated exceptional service to the University and community.
Criteria:
- Must be a current USD student who will be sophomore, junior, senior or returning graduate student for the 2012-2013 academic year and is currently in good standing at USD.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
- Demonstrated exceptional involvement and service to USD and/or the community.
- Consideration will be given to students with financial need.
- Consideration will be given to students who have transferred to USD or had family relatives attend USD.
Required Essay:
- Please attach an essay, containing 750 words or less, about your demonstrated involvement and service to USD and the community.
Kyle O’Connell Memorial Scholarship
The Kyle O’Connell Memorial Scholarship was created in honor of Kyle O’Connell, the son of Michael ’87 and Julie ’88 (Belfiore) O’Connell. On February 6, 2005, Kyle passed away just shy of his 10th birthday. Kyle’s brave fight against brain cancer inspired a group of USD alumni to create this scholarship. The purpose of this scholarship is to inspire students through Kyle’s story of courage, determination and spirit to find a cure for cancer, to provide comfort and hope for patients and their families who are struggling with terminal illness and to become advocates motivating others to become active in the fight against this deadly disease. It will benefit undergraduate junior or senior students and/or graduate students enrolled in the study of healing arts including nursing, marriage and family therapy and the sciences.
Criteria:
- Must be a current USD student who will be a junior, senior or returning graduate student in the 2012-2013 academic year and is currently in good standing at USD.
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
- Must demonstrate a passion for their chosen area of study and describe in an essay how they will use their education to do one or a combination of the following:
- Discover new treatments and/or improve current treatments and ultimately find a cure for cancer
- Provide comfort and hope for patients and their families who are struggling with terminal illness
- Become an advocate to motivate others to become active in the fight against this deadly disease
- Enrolled in the study of healing arts including nursing, marriage and family therapy, or the sciences.
Required Essays:
- Please attach an essay, containing 500 words or less, about why you chose your academic major.
- Please attach an essay, containing 500 words or less, describing how you will use your education to do one or a combination of the following: find a cure for cancer; provide comfort and hope for patients and their families who are struggling with terminal illness; become an advocate to motivate others to become active in the fight against this deadly disease.
Daniel L. Burkett III Memorial Scholarship
The Daniel L. Burkett III Memorial Scholarship was established to honor the late USD alumnus, Danny Burkett ’06. While at USD, Danny was a member of the prestigious Alcala Club, Omnicron Delta Epsilon International Economics Honor Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity. Danny graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Business Economics and in 2006 received the award of Academic Excellence in Business Economics. While a member of Delta Tau Delta he helped establish the Bleed Purple Foundation, an organization that provides financial assistance to students facing cancer, and co-chaired Philanthropy Week, a Greek Community event held to raise money for charity. His magnetic personality and involvement in the USD community allowed him to touch the lives of many people. This scholarship recognizes students who have demonstrated exceptional involvement in USD Greek Life and service to the community.
Criteria:
- Must be a current USD student who will be sophomore, junior or senior for the 2012-2013 academic year and is currently in good standing at USD.
- Grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
- Be an active member of and in good standing with a social Greek Life organization.
- Demonstrated exceptional involvement and service to USD and/or the community.
- Special considerations will be given to students of Alcalá Club and Omnicron Delta Epsilon.
- Special consideration will be given to students with financial need.
Required Essay:
- Please attach an essay, containing 750 words or less, about how you were able to benefit the life of somebody else through any personal life experiences, your involvement in USD Greek Life, and/or other campus involvement or community service.
*All things are weighed, but significance is given to the essays.