Message from Barry D. Friedman to the NGCSU faculty-staff listserv on September 11, 2007:     

Dear Colleagues,

            Last year, on August 25, I shared information with you about various award competitions.  I wish to update this information here, and remind you about some fine scholarship and fellowship programs for which some of your outstanding students may qualify.  Let me recommend that you print this message and tack it to your office bulletin board for reference throughout the year.  (Alternatively, this information will be available at a Web page at http://www.NGCSU.edu/bdf/bfried/schol.htm .)

            Please be aware that some of these programs require that the applicant be a U. S. citizen or, as a possible alternative, a U. S. national.  International students should review the criteria to determine whether they are eligible.

1. BRITISH MARSHALL SCHOLARSHIPS

            This 54-year-old program gives American students the opportunity to study for two or three years at any university in the United Kingdom and to earn a British university degree.  Each scholarship is worth approximately 20,000 British pounds per year (including University fees, cost-of-living expenses, annual book grant, thesis grant, research and daily travel grants, fares to and from the United States and, where applicable, a contribution towards the support of a dependent spouse).  A 3.7 GPA is required.  To qualify for the scholarship in this year's competition, the student must have received his or her bachelor's degree no earlier than April 2005.  At least 40 new Marshall Scholarships are awarded annually.  Application forms are available on-line at http://marshallscholarship.org .  Applications must be submitted on-line by October 4, 2007; transcripts must be received via regular mail by the same date.

2. BARRY M. GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIP AND EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION PROGRAM

            The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation supports this program which was established by the U. S. Congress in 1986 in honor of Goldwater, “who served his country for 56 years as a soldier and statesman, including 30 years of service in the U. S. Senate.”  Its purpose is “to provide a continuing source of highly qualified scientists, mathematicians, and engineers by awarding scholarships to college students who intend to pursue careers in these fields.”  In the spring of 2008, the foundation will award undergraduate scholarships to as many as 300 “Barry M. Goldwater Scholars” for use in the 2008-2009 academic year.  “The awards will be made on the basis of merit to two groups of students‑‑those who will be college juniors and those who will be college seniors in the 2008-2009 academic year‑‑who have outstanding potential and intend to pursue careers in mathematics, the natural sciences, or engineering.”  Each scholarship pays for tuition, fees, books, and room and board, to a maximum of $7500.  Junior-level scholarship recipients are eligible for up to two years of support; senior-level scholarship recipients are eligible for one year of support.  Applications are accepted from only a full-time matriculated sophomore or junior who is pursuing a degree at an accredited institution of higher education during the 2007‑2008 academic year and who is a U. S. citizen or national or a permanent resident.  Sophomore nominees can expect to receive a maximum of two years of support.  An applicant must have at least a “B” average and be in the upper one-fourth of his or her class to compete.

            Nomination materials are available now at the foundation’s Web site at http://www.act.org/goldwater ; click on the link that says, “2008 Goldwater Scholarship Application.”  Institutions must submit nominations so that they are received by January 31, 2008; therefore, students should plan to submit all of their materials and to contact me by January 21 so that I may carry out the university’s involvement in the application process.  More information is available at the foundation's Web site.

3. JAMES MADISON MEMORIAL FELLOWSHIP FOUNDATION JUNIOR AND SENIOR FELLOWSHIPS

            The James Madison Memorial Fellow Foundation seeks applicants who are committed to teaching American history, American government, and/or social studies full time in grades 7-12.  Only U. S. citizens and U. S. nationals are eligible.  The Foundation offers two levels of fellowships:  (1) “Junior Fellowships” to students who are about to complete, or have recently completed, their undergraduate course of study and intend to pursue full-time graduate work.  (2) “Senior Fellowships” to experienced teachers who want to pursue graduate studies on a part-time basis in the evenings and during summer sessions.  Fellows must pursue an M.A., M.A.T., or M.Ed. degree with an emphasis on American history, government, political science, or other relevant concentration.  A Fellow's program must include at least 12 semester credits of constitutional study; the Fellow will earn six of these credits at Georgetown University Foundation's month-long Summer Institute on the U. S. Constitution, “The Foundations of American Constitutionalism,” held at Georgetown University in Washington, D. C.  The award provides up to $12,000 per academic year to a maximum total of $24,000.

            Information is available at http://www.jamesmadison.com .  The E-mail address is madison@act.org .  The telephone number is (800) 525-6928.  The deadline for requesting an application is February 15 of each year.  Completed applications must be received no later than March 1 of each year.

4. GEORGE J. MITCHELL SCHOLARSHIPS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND

            The US-Ireland Alliance will select the seventh group of Mitchell Scholars this year.  The US-Ireland Alliance sponsors a competitive, national scholarship for graduate study by American citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 at institutions of higher learning on the island of Ireland.  Named to honor the former U. S. senator's pivotal contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process, the George J. Mitchell Scholarships are intended to familiarize and connect the next generation of American leadership with the island of Ireland.  These scholarships support one year of graduate study in any discipline offered at an institution of higher learning in Ireland or Northern Ireland.  (Institutions at which Mitchell Scholars have studied include Trinity College Dublin; University College Cork; University College Dublin; University College Galway; University College Maynooth; University of Limerick; Dublin City University; The Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland; and the University of Ulster.)  Scholars must be enrolled in a degree or certificate program (usually a master’s-degree program) offered at the institution.  The Mitchell Scholarship provides tuition, housing, a $12,000 living-expenses stipend, and international travel.  Normally, 12 scholarships are awarded each year.  Mitchell Scholars must exhibit superior levels of academic achievement, leadership and community service.

            The online application for the 2008‑2009 awards is now available ( http://www.us-irelandalliance.org/scholarships.html ).  The application and all recommendations must be submitted online.  The deadline for all required materials to be received is October 5, 2007.  No mailed or late applications or recommendations are accepted, although certain required documents (U. S. citizenship, transcripts, and photos) must be sent by mail to the Mitchell Scholarship office.  Candidates are urged to read the instructions carefully before completing the application and also to review the FAQs on this page for useful background on the selection process.  Applicants also should ensure that their recommenders understand the process as well as the deadline requirement.

            Twenty finalists will be invited to the interviews by the Mitchell Scholarship Selection Committee on November 17, 2007, in Washington, D. C.  Some candidates may be asked to come to Washington (at US-Ireland Alliance expense) for preliminary interviews before determination of the 20 finalists to be considered by the Selection Committee.

            For any technical questions concerning the online application, please send an E‑mail message to mitchellsupport@us-irelandalliance.org .  Questions about the Mitchell Scholarships should be addressed to the director, Mary Lou Hartman, at (703) 841-5843 or by E-mail at hartman@us-irelandalliance.org .

5. RHODES SCHOLARSHIPS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

            Americans have been designated as Rhodes Scholars since 1904.  Thirty-two Americans are selected each year.  “In most years, a Rhodes Scholar is selected from an institution which has not formerly supplied a successful applicant.”

            Eligibility requirements include intellectual distinction in addition to some combination of literary and scholastic attainments; success in sports; integrity, compassion, and courage; and good moral character.

            Students may pursue a bachelor's degree at the University of Oxford or, if they are already college graduates, they may obtain "Senior Status" which carries an exemption from all examinations at Oxford prior to the "Final Honour Schools" (for the B.A. degree) which may be taken after two years' residence.  Another probably optimal option is to pursue an M.Phil., M.Sc., M.Litt., or D.Phil. degree.

            Rhodes Scholars are elected for two years of study at the University of Oxford, with the possibility of renewal for a third year.  Rhodes Scholars who are elected in November 2007 will enter the University of Oxford in October 2008.  “The value of a Rhodes Scholarship consists of a direct payment to the Scholar’s college of all tuition fees (such as matriculation, tuition, laboratory fees, and certain other set charges), plus a maintenance stipend of not less than 11,000 British pounds per annum paid directly to the Scholar in installments during the term of the Scholarship.  The sum provided should be sufficient to enable a Scholar to meet necessary expenses for term time and vacations, but those who can afford to supplement it to a modest extent from their own resources are advised to do so.  The Rhodes Trustees will assist successful applicants with their travel expenses to and from Oxford.”

            Eligibility is limited to U. S. citizens whose dates of birth fall on or after October 1, 1983, and before October 1, 1989.  An applicant must have achieved academic standing sufficiently advanced to ensure completion of a bachelor’s degree before October 1, 2008.

            Applications must be postmarked by October 1, 2007.  Information is available at http://www.rhodesscholar.org .

Undoubtedly, we have some number of students who are viable candidates for these awards.  It is unfortunate if we do not bring these opportunities to their attention, and support their aspirations appropriately.  These can be life-changing experiences and/or can create credentials that will propel a student's entry into his or her field of advanced study. 

I have a limited number of leaflets for some of these programs.  Let me know if you are trying to match one of your students with one of these programs, and I'll gladly tell you whether I have any circulars available. 

Please contact me if I can be helpful.  Best regards.

                Faithfully,
                            Barry