St. Ambrose University

National Science Foundation S-STEM Scholarship


Awards     Awards Criteria     Procedure for Applying

Using funds provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF), St. Ambrose University and the Eastern Iowa Community College District have initiated a program to increase the number of graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Need-based scholarships will be awarded to academically promising students pursuing a degree in a STEM discipline, with preference given to those students majoring in biology or chemistry. Additional preference will be given to applicants who are members of an underrepresented race, gender or group that is in some way underserved.

Awards

Each fall, SAU will award scholarships worth up to $10,000 per year per student toward tuiton for incoming freshmen, transfer, and current SAU students. Scholarships are renewable each year as long as the recipient continues to meet the qualifying criteria. The S-STEM scholarship program will continue until the spring semester of 2013, and then will be subject to renewal by the National Science Foundation.

Award Criteria

For an incoming freshman student to receive a scholarship, the student must:

• Be enrolled as a full-time student at SAU
• Demonstrate financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA)
• Have a minimum cumulative ACT of 21
• Have a minimum high school cumulative GPA of 3.0
• Have a declared STEM major

For a current SAU or transfer student to receive a scholarship, the student must:

• Be enrolled as a full-time student at SAU
• Demonstrate financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA)
• Have a minimum cumulative SAU or previous college GPA of 3.0
• Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA or higher in all required math and science courses
• Have a declared STEM major

Procedure for Applying

  • To be considered, a student must submit the following application materials:

    • A completed SAU S-STEM Scholarship application form (pdf)
    • A completed Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA) form
    • An official high school transcript (incoming freshmen only)
    • ACT scores (incoming freshmen only)
    • An official SAU transcript (current SAU students only) - Current SAU students who have not yet completed their first semester should include SAU midterm grades.
    • An official college transcript from previous college (transfer students only)
    • A short essay (500 words or less) discussing the student’s personal, academic and professional goals.
    • A signed and dated letter of recommendation written by a math or science instructor addressing the student’s ability to succeed in school and in particular, the student’s ability to succeed in a STEM discipline.

The SAU S-STEM Scholarship selection committee will review all completed applications and select the recipients who best meet the award criteria. All scholarship recipients will be sent a personal letter of notification.

All application materials must be received or postmarked by April 1, 2009 and sent to: Matthew D. Halfhill, St. Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust, Davenport, Iowa 52803