Undergraduate Scholarships in African Studies

The African Studies Program of the UW-Madison is pleased to announce the 2014 UW-Madison African Studies Undergraduate Scholarships, a one-time scholarship program for UW-Madison undergraduate students who are working toward an African Studies certificate or who have completed the requirements for the African Studies certificate. Eligibility is limited to current African Studies certificate students enrolled full time (at least 12 credits) at the UW-Madison Spring Semester 2014 or studying abroad in Africa during Spring Semester 2014.

The purpose of these scholarships is to encourage serious study of Africa by UW-Madison undergraduates, particularly the study of an African language. The review committee will look especially favorably on applications from students who plan to start or continue studying an African language in summer 2014 or during the 2014-15 academic year. However, plans to study an African language are not strictly required as a condition for a scholarship.

Students may apply their scholarships to:

• tuition and fees in summer 2014 (whether for a language course or some other course at Wisconsin or elsewhere), OR

• to tuition and fees during the 2014-15 academic year, OR

• to living expenses in Madison, OR

• to the cost of a study abroad program or a formal educational trip or internship trip to Africa during summer 2014 or the 2015-15 academic year.

Scholarships are not intended to support personal (informal) educational or internship travel.

All scholarships will be for $1,000 and will be awarded in March, 2014. We anticipate granting about 10 scholarships.

 To apply

Write a two-page (maximum) single-spaced essay that describes the following:

(a) your personal and educational history,

(b) your engagement with Africa and African studies — how you came to be interested in Africa and to pursue the certificate;

(c) your particular academic interests in Africa and any course or courses on Africa that have been especially helpful in developing your interests and knowledge;

(d) ideas about a career;

(e) if applicable, your plans to launch or continue study of an African language at the UW-Madison while an undergraduate student (or to otherwise develop greater fluency in an African language while an undergraduate student); and

(f) if applicable, your plans to study abroad in Africa or to undertake a formal educational trip to Africa while an undergraduate student (be as specific as possible about the program you will be participating in and its dates, if known).

 The application

1. A cover sheet (which you will make) labeled 2014 UW-Madison African Studies Undergraduate Scholarship Application, which includes:

• your name and contact information (permanent and current mailing address, email address, telephone number;

• your current major field or fields;

• any certificates — including African Studies — completed or in progress; and

• the name and contact information of one UW-Madison faculty member, instructor, or teaching assistant whom we might (but will not necessarily) ask for a reference. You should tell this person you are listing him or her.

2. The application essay described above

3. All UW and other college transcripts (unofficial transcripts are fine)

Instructions

The entire application, including the transcripts, should be stapled neatly together (staple in the upper left corner) and turned in at the African Studies Program office, 205 Ingraham Hall. If you are currently off campus and must submit remotely, send all parts of your application in a single pdf file attached to an email message to director@africa.webhosting.cals.wisc.edu before the deadline. The subject of your email should be “Undergraduate African Studies Scholarship Application.” Only submit electronically if you are spending the current semester off campus.

Deadline

3:00 PM on Monday, February 10th, 2014.