Presidential Scholarship

Inspired by a series of conversations with Chancellor Cheryl Hyman (IIT, CS 1996) of the City Colleges of Chicago and the presidents of the City Colleges of Chicago, in 2010 Illinois Institute of Technology announced a major new scholarship and educational outreach initiative — the Presidential Scholarship. Through this initiative, IIT is determined to substantially redefine the pipeline initiatives within the fields of science and psychology, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as well as business and architecture — hereafter referred to as STEM+ fields — and to significantly engage students at every level throughout the educational community from K-12 through the community colleges to four-year institutions. Collaborating institutions and organizations are committed to serve as a catalyst to support students toward their goals to conduct undergraduate research and earn advanced professional and academic degrees in STEM+ fields.

IIT has been recognized by Community College Times for its close partnership with the City Colleges of Chicago through the Presidential Scholarship. The October 27th, 2011 article can be found here.

Scholarship Information

Students who are granted an official nomination by their institution's President and admitted to IIT are considered by IIT's scholarship committee for the Presidential Scholarship. Recipients of the Presidential Scholarship receive:

• $23,500 annual tuition scholarship award
• $5,000 annual housing scholarship award to support on-campus residence at the university

Presidential Scholars are asked to maintain a commitment to STEM+ community outreach each academic year that engage and bridge their home and sending communities with the communities at the university, in the IIT/Bronzeville neighborhood, and the city of Chicago. Additionally, recipients of the Presidential Scholarship must maintain full-time enrollment and make satisfactory academic progress.

How to Apply

In addition to meeting all stated deadlines and eligibility requirements (see below), students interested in applying for the Presidential Scholarship must:

• Complete an IIT application for admission
• Download and complete the Presidential Scholarship Form:
  • Domestic institutions
    International institutions
• Submit the completed Presidential Scholarship Form (with the required essay and an unofficial transcript from your nominating institution) to your college's Dean of Instruction or other designated liaison (see list below) to request an official nomination from the President or Designated Nominating Official (depending on the organizational structure) of your college
  • PLEASE NOTE: Only Presidential Scholarship Forms that are signed by the President/Principal or designated nominating official of the eligible institution and submitted to IIT will be considered for the Presidential Scholarship, unless partnership specifies otherwise.
• Submit your Presidential Scholarship application (including the Presidential Scholarship Form, with the official nominating signature from the President of your qualified institution; essay, and unofficial transcript) to:

  Illinois Institute of Technology
  Office of Undergraduate Admission
  10 West 33rd Street
  Perlstein Hall, Room 101
  Chicago, IL 60616
  
  Phone: 312.567.3025, or, if you are out of state, at 800.448.2329
  
  admission@iit.edu

Deadlines

Presidential Scholarship applications received after the May 15th deadline are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and consideration cannot be guaranteed as scholarships are limited.

Student Eligibility

Applicants are eligible to be considered for the Presidential Scholarship if they:

• Have completed (or will complete) their Associate's Degree at the eligible nominating institution from which that student is directly transferring*
• Have attained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 on an 4.0 scale at the nominating institution, or are a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and are in good academic standing at the college at time of nomination
• Have proven intellectual and academic achievement of a high standard, as well as a clear and demonstrated interest in one or more of the following academic fields of study: Science, Psychology, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Business, or Architecture
• PLEASE NOTE: A nominated student who receives the Presidential Scholarship is no longer eligible for the Transfer and/or PTK Scholarship. If a student earns multiple Illinois Institute of Technology merit scholarships throughout the admission process, the university will award the highest merit award for which the student is qualified, but will not combine multiple awards. Total institutional scholarships and/or tuition benefits may not exceed tuition.

* Requirement for the Associate's Degree can be waived by the nominating institution.

Participating Colleges and Organizations

Selected institutions are eligible to make nominations for the Presidential Scholars Program. Students interested in this scholarship opportunity must attend a participating institution. (The list of participating schools is reviewed and revised from time to time. Please contact Jerry Doyle, Vice Provost for Student Access, Success and Diversity Initiatives, at doyle@iit.edu or 773.505.5473, or Dr. L. Pettis Patton at lpatton@iit.edu or 312.590.0521, if you would like to discuss possible partnerships.)

City Colleges of Chicago (Chicago, Illinois)

National Partners

Chicago State University* (Chicago, Illinois)

*Office of Engineering Studies only

Program Coordinator, Office of Engineering Studies: Marnie Boyd

College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, Illinois)

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs: Glenda Gallisath, Ph.D.

College of Lake County (Grayslake, Illinois)

Vice President of Student Development: Karen Hlavin

Elgin Community College (Elgin, Illinois)

Scholarship Coordinator, Job Locator and Developer: Chris Lawrence

Illinois Central College (East Peoria, Illinois)

Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs: Margaret A. Swanson, PhD

Kankakee Community College (Kankakee, Illinois)

Vice President of Instructional and Student Success: Dennis Sorensen

Miami Dade College (Miami, Florida)

Dean, The Honors College: Dr. Alexandria Holloway

Moraine Valley Community College (Palos Hills, IL)

Dean of Enrollment Services: Severo Balason

Morton College (Cicero, Illinois)

Coordinator of Cohort Programming, Transfer Services Office: Marlena Avalos-Thompson

New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, New Mexico)

Student Success Program Manager: Louise Blazquez

Northern Virginia Community College (Annandale, Virginia)

Professor of Psychology: Dr. Darlene VanEvery

Oakton Community College (Des Plaines, Illinois)

Coordinator Center for Promoting STEM: Gloria Liu

Prairie State College (Chicago Heights, Illinois)

Veterans and Scholarship Advisor: Carissa Davis

South Suburban College (South Holland, Illinois)

Vice President — Student Development: Songie Milhouse

Tidewater Community College (Norfolk, Virginia)

Registrar: Kellie Sorey, PhD

Triton College (River Grove, Illinois)

Coordinator, Architecture Program: JoBeth Halpin

Coordinator, Engineering Technology: Antigone Sharris

Waubonsee Community College (Sugar Grove, Illinois)

Counselor: David Barreto

Western Illinois University* (Macomb, Illinois)

*Physics program only

Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs: Ronald Williams

Professor of Physics: James Rabchuk

William R. Harper College (Palatine, Illinois)

Transfer Information Specialist: Agnes Szemborski

International Partners

INTI Nilai University College (Nilai, Malaysia)

Ms. Sri Suryani Razali

INTI University College, Subang Jaya campus (Nilai, Malaysia)

Ms. Terrie Teoh

Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (Castries, St. Lucia)

Principal: Dr. Beverley Anne Lansiquot

Sunway University College (Malaysia)

Ms. Joanne Chu

Dr. Ravi

T.A. Marryshow Community College (Grenada, West Indies)

Principal, Senior Management Team: Dr. Jeffrey Britton

Taylor's University College (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Ms. Kelly L. Ng

STEM+ Community Outreach Component

Recipients of the Presidential Scholarship are asked to participate in civic and outreach activities which engage and bridge their home and sending communities with the communities at the university, in the IIT/Bronzeville neighborhood, and throughout the city of Chicago.

• As an example, a recipient of this award might explore ways in which to share her story with her former elementary school, high school, community college, and other organizations to serve as a role-model for others. Students often serve as tutors/mentors or help to develop STEM+ academic programming at a school or community-based organization.
• Recipients of the Presidential Scholarship frequently will visit their sending community college to provide talks/workshops on the transition to a four-year university.
• In addition, recipients of this award are encouraged to visit their secondary and elementary schools 2-3 times per year to provide age-appropriate talks to students and teachers about STEM+ fields at the university.