Scholarships & Awards

Myrna Fader's office in Student Services, 11^th floor East is where you can find out about the Charlotte W. Newcombe, Fulbright, and Siff scholarships, etc., pick up helpful information and perhaps schedule an appointment with Myrna Fader. Her Undergraduate & Graduate Grants Guide details a variety of scholarships (not TAP, etc.) for which you may be eligible. Ms. Fader also produces a Planning for Graduate School booklet, which is available in her office.

Students should also periodically consult the Hunter Gatherer for interesting scholarship and internship opportunities.

If you intend to go on to graduate school, do not forget to file an application for a Scholarship and Welfare Fund Senior Scholarship for Graduate Study by the deadline (usually in February) of the academic year in which you plan to graduate. This scholarship for first-year graduate study may be used anywhere and is independent of anything your graduate institution may give you. Apply for it even if you are going to take a year off. The scholarship may be deferred for two years.

The Scholarship and Welfare Fund of the Alumni Association also provides small scholarships for excellent undergraduate students. Apply through the Office of Student Services. (Deadline is May 1^st.) In addition, they award a small number of larger scholarships to Thomas Hunter Honors Program students recommended to them by members of the Council on Honors.

Members of the Thomas Hunter Honors Program intending to graduate in January or June who are majoring in one of the humanities or arts, or history, and who plan to go on to graduate school, should tell our office by September of their intention to graduate, so we will think of them when we are asked to nominate students for certain fellowships, the deadline for which occurs in the early fall. Outstanding students contemplating applying for special scholarships for graduate studies (e.g., Javits, NSF, Jack Kent Cooke) should see the Chair or an advisor, as well as Myrna Fader early in their junior year (at the 60-70 credit point) for assistance during the application process.

All certified Thomas Hunter Honors Program students are eligible to apply for several special scholarships reserved for THHP students. If you expect to receive certification in a given semester, you are also encouraged to apply then. In addition to an outstanding academic record at Hunter, the other criteria for the scholarships are:

1. Transcript showing intellectual commitment to the interdisciplinary principles of the Thomas Hunter Honor Program
2. Financial need

If you should find yourself in real financial difficulty, see the Chair or speak to an advisor.

THHP is offering a number of exciting funding opportunities for students in our program. A generous donation from an anonymous source allows us to maximize our students’ learning experiences. Applications are accepted each semester; deadlines are April 1 for Spring semester and  November 1 for Fall semester. Students should indicate which of the following options (see Funding Categories) they would like to be considered for funding.

Any student registered in the Program is eligible to apply. Funds are awarded based on academic merit, but some financial aid restrictions may apply, especially for TAP and Excelsior students. For example, all students are required to submit a FAFSA; unfortunately, undocumented students are not eligible for awards; if there is a balance due on tuition, then the award (or portion) might go towards paying it; all reimbursements will need copies of receipts. Check with the Program Coordinator in the THHP office if you have specific questions about eligibility.

For applications, please email thhp@hunter.cuny.edu.

1. Study Abroad (one semester/summer/winter) (max $4500)
2. Elizabeth Beaujour Matching Scholarship (for students who have already obtained outside funding, we will match funds to cover the full cost) (max. $4000)
3. Internships (if a student receives an unpaid internship, we supplement this with a grant) (max. $3000)
4. Conference Participation (delivery of paper, poster., etc.) (max. $2000)
5. Conference Attendance (some funding could be made available to students who wish to attend but not present at a conference) (max. $500)
6. Travel for Research (visiting archives or libraries, sites, museums, etc. for a bona fide research project) (max. $2000)
7. Research Expenses (books, printing, equipment, etc.) (max. $500)
8. Art Project Production Expenses (costumes, instruments, etc.) (max. $500)
9. Discretionary (upon a reference letter from student's mentor and agreement of a THHP advisor; e.g., membership fees such as Phi Beta Kappa) (max. TBD)
10. Emergency Aid (upon request with supporting documents that demonstrate financial need) (max. TBD)

For applications, please email thhp@hunter.cuny.edu.

As a general rule, please be aware that any monies that THHP would like to give to our students must be vetted by Financial Aid before the funds can be disbursed. Unfortunately, if there is a tuition balance then any amount we award must first go toward that balance, and the total cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance. We advise you not to spend money expecting reimbursement unless you've received notice that the proposed award has been approved in Financial Aid.

Do I need to be currently enrolled as a member of THHP in order to apply for funds?
Yes, only current THHP students are eligible.

Is there a deadline to apply?
No, applications are judged on a rolling basis, so apply anytime.

Can I use these funds to pay my tuition?
No, these funds are not intended to pay your tuition.

Can I use these funds, for example, to pay for a summer class?
No, but you can apply in category I or J to help with cost of living if you need it.

I have food insecurity. Can I apply for funds to help pay for rent and food?
Yes. Use category J.

I am already in a study abroad program this term. Can I apply for the funds retroactively?
Yes.

I am currently volunteering as a medical scribe. Does that count as an unpaid internship?
Yes.

At what rate should I calculate my unpaid internship?
$16/hr.

I have an outstanding balance at the Bursar's office. Can I still apply for funding?
Yes, you can still apply but be advised that your award won't be disbursed until your balance is paid in full.

How long does it take to receive funds after I have been awarded?
It often takes several weeks (or even months) to get reimbursed or credited with these funds, so make sure to plan ahead.

Can I apply for more than one category more than once per academic year?
No. Each student is only allowed to receive one THHP award per academic year. Apply for the award that will help you the most.

What is an example of a Beaujour Matching Scholarship?
If you received another award from Hunter or an outside organization (e.g., Gilman, Fulbright, Salk scholarship) but still need money to cover the full cost, we will match funding. Costs that are matched will be for expenses other than tuition.

I recently lost my TAP through no fault of my own. Can I apply to THHP to cover those lost funds?
Yes, use category J.

Now in its twelfth year, this prize is named in memory of the late Professor John Potter, a long-time Co-Chair of the Program. This prize is granted for outstanding work in literature. You are nominated by either a faculty member or an advisor in the Thomas Hunter Honors Program.

Presented by the Class of 1944, this prize is awarded in recognition of the best paper written for an honors colloquium. If you are particularly proud of a paper which you wrote for a colloquium, please submit a photocopy of the graded paper to the Honors Program office. The winner will be chosen by an interdisciplinary panel of the Council on Honors.

Deadline: TBA

This prize, also awarded by the Class of 1944, will be awarded retroactively to help reimburse costs incurred in preparation for MCATs, LSATs and Subject GRE exams, or to defray the costs of multiple applications to Law School or Medical Schools or PhD programs. Members of the Honors Program who have incurred such expenses should submit a brief letter explaining your graduate plans, the expenses incurred, and a brief description of your financial need. You will need to submit documentation of your expenditures, such as copies of receipts or canceled checks, along with your letter. If you have already been accepted by mid-March to any of the places to which you applied, please tell us that as well. The prize will be awarded by a committee of the Council on Honors.

Deadline: TBA