ABOUT THE FRANK M. SNOWDEN JR. UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
The Committee on Diversity in the Profession of the Society for Classical Studies (SCS) invites applications from undergraduate students from historically underrepresented groups across North America for scholarships to be awarded for Summer 2024. Applicants must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree-granting program at the time of their application. The purpose of the scholarships is to further students’ study of classics or classical archaeology with opportunities not available during the school year. Eligible proposals might include (but are not limited to) participation in classical summer programs or field schools in the Mediterranean or language training at institutions in the U.S., Canada, or Europe. Students interested in pursuing public engagement projects should apply to the Ancient World, Modern Communities program. The Snowden Scholarships are not intended to fund coursework at applicants' own universities or colleges, and such requests will be funded only in very rare instances.
The maximum amount of each Frank M. Snowden Jr. Scholarship will be $4,500.
The SCS began awarding the Minority Scholarship in Classics and Classical Archaeology in 1994; since 2010, the society has been able to award at least two scholarships per year. Recently, SCS has awarded three to five scholarships each year. A list of previous recipients and reports on their scholarship activities are available on the SCS website (https://classicalstudies.org/awards-and-fellowships/snowden-scholarship…).
In early 2020, the scholarships were renamed as the Frank M. Snowden Jr. Undergraduate Scholarships in honor of the renowned Black classicist and long-time chair of the Classics Department at Howard University. You can learn more about Professor Snowden and the decision to rename the scholarships here.
ELIGIBILITY
Those eligible are members of historically underrepresented ethnic and racial groups in the United States and Canada, for example, students who are of African descent, Latinx, Asian or Asian American, Pacific Islander, and of indigenous descent (Native American, Inuit, Canadian First Peoples.)
SELECTION CRITERIA
Candidates will be judged on the basis of (a) their academic qualifications, including demonstrated ability in fields that prepare a student for further study in Classics or archaeology, (b) the quality of their proposal, and (c) financial need. The application must be supported by two letters of recommendation. At least one letter of recommendation must include a statement indicating that the applicant is an appropriate candidate for the purposes of this scholarship.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS AND DEADLINES
The receipt deadline for applications is January 20, 2024 at 9 P.M. EST; results will be announced in spring 2024. All application materials should be sent as e-mail attachments to the Executive Director of the SCS, Dr. Helen Cullyer, at helen.cullyer@nyu.edu. Applications must include:
(1) the application form for 2022 (fillable pdf). PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS FORM WILL BE REVISED FOR THE UPCOMING CYCLE.
(2) a letter describing your career goals and plans for summer 2024, with a prioritized list of programs to which you will apply. How would the proposed program help you achieve your future goals? Examples include, but are not limited to, completing a major or minor in Classics; preparing for post-baccalaureate work or graduate study; preparing to teach at the K-12 level or to enter a profession related to Classics or archaeology in, for example, museums, libraries, or publishing.
(3) two letters of recommendation from faculty members or other professionals who have worked with you during the past two years. Letters of recommendation should indicate how the candidate meets the criteria for the award; and both letter-writers should submit their letters directly to the Executive Director (helen.cullyer@nyu.edu) as e-mail attachments;
(4) a one-page summary of the projected or actual budget (e.g., airfare, tuition, program expenses, accommodation expenses, income replacement, etc.);
(5) a transcript of current undergraduate work. This should be either a secure (locked) transcript provided to you by your institution or an electronic version of your current transcript submitted by your department chair.
FUNDING SOURCES
Awards are made possible by member donations and raffle proceeds. Members of the SCS are encouraged to support this important activity through contributions and through participation in the Committee's raffle of books and gift certificates donated by exhibitors at the annual meeting. We are grateful to the exhibitors who have supported the raffle for many years. At least one award is made possible by very generous gifts to the SCS's Endowment for Classics Research and Teaching from the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation and the Friends of Michael Putnam. These gifts were made in response to the Society's From Gatekeeper to Gateway Campaign and were eligible for matching funds from a challenge grant the SCS received from the National Endowment for the Humanities.