Kalamazoo College Merit Scholarships

All students accepted to Kalamazoo are considered for merit-based scholarships. Awards range between $10,000 and $24,500 annually. These scholarships are based 60% on a student’s academic record and 40% on a student’s co-curricular record. Your application for admission acts as your scholarship application. Applications submitted by February 1st will receive priority consideration. Notification of awards will be mailed in conjunction with the admission decision.

Enlightened Leadership Awards

The Enlightened Leadership Awards are merit-based scholarships available to incoming, first-year students and are awarded through a separate, competitive application process. These awards, which are in addition to the merit-based scholarships described above, enhance and reflect the spirit, culture and values of our campus community. As a college with a rich history of excellence, we encourage qualified individuals to apply and share with us their own personal dedication and involvement in the following award areas:

• The Enlightened Leadership Award for Social Activism and Community Engagement
• The Enlightened Leadership Award for Creative Expression
• The Enlightened Leadership Award for International Activism
• The Enlightened Leadership Award for Sustainability and Environmental Activism

Important details:

• Submissions for these scholarships must be postmarked by February 1, 2013. For specific application information please click on the links above.
• Twenty scholarships will be awarded across the four areas in the amount of $20,000 ($5,000/year). These are renewable for all four years provided that the student completes the necessary involvement each year.
• Students are welcome to apply for more than one Enlightened Leadership scholarship, although only one will be awarded per student.
• There is no minimum GPA requirement to retain scholarship.
• All students are eligible to compete for the Enlightened Leadership Awards, even if they have received other scholarships from the College.
• Students are not required to major or minor in any specific discipline in order to be awarded one of these scholarships.
• All applicants must print out and complete the application cover page. All materials must be submitted together in order to be considered. Please mail your complete application packet to:
  Kalamazoo College Office of Admission
  1200 Academy Street
  Kalamazoo, MI 49006
• All applicants will be notified of the Enlightened Leadership Award results no later than April 1.

Social Justice Leadership Awards

The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership envisions and pursues a world in which every person’s life is equally valued, the opportunity to develop one’s full potential is available to every person, and resources are distributed equitably – locally, nationally, and globally.

Successful applicants for this scholarship will demonstrate a commitment to social justice and human rights work and will have the passion and interest to pursue this commitment as ACSJL Scholars throughout their time at Kalamazoo College. Students who demonstrate high financial need, students who are of the first generation in their families to attend college, and students of color are especially encouraged to apply.

Students interested in applying for this scholarship must provide the following information:

• Application cover page
• Resumé documenting relevant engagement in social justice and/or human rights work. Please indicate your level of involvement in each of your efforts, both in terms of your responsibilities and the amount of time you committed to your activities.
• An essay, consisting of no more than 500-750 words, in which you consider the vision of the Arcus Center above, draw upon your own experiences working for social justice and/or human rights, and answer the following questions:
• What is your vision of a socially just world? How have your past efforts been oriented toward realizing your envisioned world? How do you imagine your work unfolding in the future, either at Kalamazoo College or beyond?
• What particular strengths do you utilize in your efforts to pursue social justice and/or human rights? What challenges have you faced in your efforts?

• A letter of recommendation from someone who has been closely associated with your efforts to realize a world characterized by social justice and/or human rights. This could be a collaborator, advisor, program participant, close observer, etc. No parent recommendations.

Recipients of the Social Justice Leadership Award will meet with the Program Coordinator of the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership early in the Fall Quarter of their first year to discuss how the recipient will be involved in social justice endeavors during their time at Kalamazoo College. Recipients are expected to maintain connectivity to the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership during each year they are on campus.

Important details:

• The deadline for applying for this scholarship is February 1, 2013.
• One scholarship will be awarded in the amount of $20,000 ($5,000/year).
• There is no minimum GPA requirement to retain scholarship.
• All students are eligible to apply for the Social Justice Leadership Award, even if they have received other scholarships from the College. However, going forward, they will not be eligible for any additional scholarship support from the Arcus Center.
• Students are not required to major or minor in any specific discipline in order to be awarded this scholarship.
• All applicants must print out and complete the application cover page. All materials must be submitted together in order to be considered. Please mail your complete application packet to:
  Kalamazoo College Office of Admission
  1200 Academy Street
  Kalamazoo, MI 49006
• All applicants will be notified of the Social Justice Leadership Award results no later than April 1.

“K” Tradition Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to students who have achieved a high school grade point average of 3.0 or better and who have at least one grandparent, parent, step-parent or legal guardian classified as an alumna or alumnus of Kalamazoo College. The award is $500, renewable for a four-year period. The award is open to first-year, transfer and international applicants.

National Merit Scholarship

National Merit semifinalists who select Kalamazoo College as their first choice are eligible for $1,000 (up to $2,000 if demonstrating financial need).

Questions may be directed to admission@kzoo.edu or by calling (800)253.3602 or (269)337.7166.