Recommend a Candidate
Do you have a student who is doing extraordinary work – inside or outside the classroom? Many students disqualify themselves for distinguished scholarships and lose out on opportunities. Faculty and staff are key to identifying exceptional students and encouraging them to explore their potential. Please refer students who have some of these characteristics:
- Students who are curious about the world and the issues we all face; students capable of transformative thinking.
- Specific career goals or plans.
- Demonstrate leadership in or outside the classroom.
- Volunteer or service experience.
- Strong academic credentials.
- Passionate about affecting change on an issue or problem.
- Excellent communication skills – writing and speaking ability.
- Willingness and ability to devote the time needed to prepare a competitive application.
Letters of Reference
Letters of recommendation are very important elements to the application package especially for highly competitive awards. Students should ask faculty and/or one or two months in advance of the application deadline and supply the scholarship criteria and procedure for submitting the reference as well as their CV or other relevant information. The references will be used by the committee as evidence of leadership, character, and scholarship as well as possibilities of future achievement.
Here are some guidelines to preparing a reference or what may be of particularly interest to a reviewer:
- Discuss why you think the applicant is extraordinary; what have they done and how does it stand out among other high achieving students?
- Why do you believe the applicant has remarkable potential? How is this supported by their academic or service record?
- How will the scholarship or fellowship help the applicant realize this potential?
- Be specific as possible, use examples of the student’s academic or co-curricular achievements.
- Provide both the basis for your knowledge of the student as well as the larger context to evaluate.
- Be realistic, candid, but positive.
- Weak letters tend to be vague, generic, summarize the CV or are not positive.
Students can be directed to Academic Advisor Ricky Guerra for support and guidance during their application process.