Academic Awards and Fellowships

Central is a place where, as a high-achieving student, you will receive personal attention. You will work one-on-one with advisors and mentors to set and achieve goals, and your extraordinary achievements are recognized.

Every year, Central students receive stipends and fellowships to conduct research on campus and off; to teach, work and study abroad; to participate in specialized workshops; and to attend graduate programs in anything from accounting to zoology. Grants are available at every level, from freshman to senior year, and both Central students and alumni may apply for awards of all kinds. Central Students have won some of the nation’s most prestigious scholarships and awards for academic achievement and leadership. In 2020 Central students Katelyn Wang ’21 and Elizabeth Sheldon ’21 brought home a Goldwater Scholarship and a Udall Scholarship, respectively.

Jeremy Burke, pre-health advisor and career services specialist, is available to assist you in deciding which grants are right for you and in completing the application process. Check the campus calendar for workshops and information sessions, too.

Beyond Central

Recent Award and Fellowship Winners

  • Jessica Riebkes ’13, REU grant for summer research and senior thesis
  • Kathryn Manternach ’14, REU grant for summer research and senior thesis
  • Gregory Teets ’13, Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship to Malaysia
  • Jana (Stallman) Olsen '10, NSF Gradate Research Fellowship at Rice University
  • Lindsay Kelderhouse '08, Clare Boothe Luce Fellowship at Purdue University
  • Adam Duerfeldt '05, Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship at the University of Kansas, NCAA Postgraduate Fellowship
Central College student

Explore the World!

Opportunities include:

  • Research in labs in Germany and France
  • Teaching English in nearly any country in the world
  • Studying at the most renowned universities in the U.K.

Academic Awards and Fellowships

Freshman through Juniors

  • Boren Scholarship
    Helps fund study languages in less-commonly chosen locations, critical to US interests. Boren scholarship recipients commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation. Particularly relevant for Central students interested in the programs in Oman or China.
  • Freeman Asia Scholarship
    Offers scholarships for U.S. undergraduates with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. Students must have at least one semester of study remaining after the completion of their study abroad.
  • Fulbright Wales Summer Institute
    Funds travel to and attendance at a six-week summer cultural and academic program for US students at three internationally renowned Welsh universities. Focused theme proposed each year. Must have at least 2 years of undergraduate study left to complete.
  • Gilman Scholarship
    Supports undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
  • Goldwater Scholarship
    Provides funds for current sophomores or juniors interested in a research career in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering.
  • National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Grant
    Sponsors scientific research experiences on-site at selected host institutions.
  • Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE)
    Supports research fellowships for undergraduates to work with graduate students in labs in Germany; no German language requirement. Must have completed at least 2 years of undergraduate study, but may not have completed the degree before the internship begins.
  • Truman Scholarship
    For current juniors with excellent academic records and level of community engagement who intend to pursue a career in public service
  • Udall Scholarship
    Awards scholarships to college sophomores and juniors for leadership, public service, and commitment to issues related to American Indian nations or to the environment.
  • Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest
    Juniors or Seniors compete for a monetary award by writing a 3,000-4,000 word essay on the theme of ethics.

Central College Celebrates Two Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Grantees

Central is thrilled to recognize two Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant awardees for 2022-23..

Seniors and Post-Graduates

  • John L. Carey Scholarship in Accounting
    Supports liberal arts students in pursuing post-graduate degrees in accounting.
  • Carnegie Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship Program in Education
    Places students interested in improving the quality of education in the U.S. an intensive, 2-year program with full funding. Fellows work with mentors at the Carnegie Foundation on projects related to education.
  • Davis-Putter Scholarship
    This need-based scholarship supports students currently actively involved in social justice issues.
  • Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program
    Offers recent college graduates with an interest in ending hunger a training program with both community-based organizations and non-profits or government agencies.
  • Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship & Fulbright Research Grants
    Supports students as they teach English or conduct research abroad for one year. Specific grant details depend on the country chosen.
  • Knowles Science Teaching Fellowship
    Offers financial and professional support for beginning high school science and math teachers.
  • Lily Graduate Fellows Program
    Supports students interested in becoming teacher-scholars at church-affiliated colleges and universities in the United States. Stipend offered for first three years of graduate school.
  • Madison Memorial Fellowship
    Funds graduate study leading to a Masters degree. Offered to applicants planning to become teachers of history, government, or social studies at the secondary school level. Fellowship applicants compete only against other applicants from their state of legal residence.
  • Marshall Scholarship
    Supports U.S. students of high ability who wish to study for a graduate degree in the United Kingdom. Any subject may be studied.
  • Mitchell Scholarship Program
    Funds one academic year of postgraduate study in any discipline offered by institutions of higher learning in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
  • Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Undergraduate Fellowship
    For rising seniors or students seeking admission to a two-year Masters degree program: offers support for tuition and fees in preparation for a career with the Foreign Service.
  • Rhodes Scholarship
    Scholars are chosen for two years of graduate study at the University of Oxford, with the possibility of renewal for a third year. All educational costs are paid. Awarded to exceptional students, outstanding in academic and other areas.
  • Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship
    Offers 6- to 9-month fellowships in Washington D.C. in areas related to peace and security; for students with strong interest in activism and advocacy on these issues.

 

The Central Difference

Personalized Help

Central’s pre-health advisor and career services specialist, Jeremy Burke, is dedicated to helping you find the right opportunities at the right time.

Award Workshops

Information sessions and workshops at Central guide you as you take the first steps in finding graduate programs or applying for scholarships. Check for updates on the Central Calendar!

Honors

The Emerging Scholars Program and the Honors Director connect you with opportunities for in-depth study and mentors, helping you become a top candidate for awards.

Mentoring

Central faculty identify high-performing students each year, offering personal guidance as you apply for grants and consider graduate programs.


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