As a result of socioeconomic status and other structural barriers, many students struggle to finance their education. Most research shows that there is a definitive connection to retention, graduation and financial support. SDES attempts to provide incentives such as grants, fellowships and scholarships to help facilitate improved retention and graduation rates for students. The information on this site is valid for Fall 2023.
To apply for an incoming freshman scholarship, please apply here.
Deadline: May 15, 2023
Students will be notified no later than June 2, 2023.
The Batra McKnight Scholarship was established by Phyllis I. Batra. Phyllis was employed at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater within the Academic Support Services Programs starting in 1984.
This scholarship shall be made only to students enrolled or enrolling at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Priority consideration should be given to students from southeastern Wisconsin county schools, with special attention to those participating in TRIO or DPI Pre-College programs.
Eligibility Requirements
Estimated Amount: $400
To apply, click here.
Questions? Contact Samantha Fett at fettsm27@uww.edu.
This scholarship is being made possible by Chancellor Jack Miller. The scholarship shall be made to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
This scholarship will support a student who actively participated in the Pre-College programs (Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, and Pre-College Camps)
Eligibility Requirements
Estimated Amount: $800
To apply, click here.
The Jabez Scholarship was established by Dr. Tiffany M. Prather, an alum of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and former director of Pre-College Summer Camps at UW-Whitewater.
This scholarship shall be made to students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Priority consideration should be given to students who were from the Milwaukee Public Schools and TRIO or DPI Pre-College participants. Priority consideration is also given to Education majors.
Eligibility Requirements
Estimated Amount: $400
To apply, click here.
Questions? Contact Samantha Fett at fettsm27@uww.edu.
The McGregory-Gibson Scholarship was established by Richard C. McGregory Jr., MBA, UW-Whitewater, 1992.
The scholarship shall be made only to students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Priority consideration should be given to students from: 1. Trio or DPI Pre-College participants from Beloit, Wisconsin or other Wisconsin urban school districts. 2. Urban schools in Rockford, IL, Gary, IN, or Chicago, IL.
Eligibility Requirements
Estimated Amount: $450
To apply, click here.
Questions? Contact Samantha Fett at fettsm27@uww.edu.
The Paul T. Spraggins, Jr. Scholarship was established by Academic Support Services, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, in recognition of Mr. Spraggins' outstanding administrative services to Pre-College students during his work at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
This scholarship shall be made only to students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. Priority consideration should be given to students who were TRIO or DPI Pre-College participants from Wisconsin urban school districts.
Eligibility Requirements
Estimated Amount: $350
To apply, click here.
Questions? Contact Samantha Fett at fettsm27@uww.edu.
The Pulliam and Dunlap Scholarship was established by Roger L. Pulliam, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Support Services, starting in 1989, at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
This scholarship shall be made only to students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Priority consideration should be given to students from: 1. Urban schools: Northwest Indiana (Gary, Merrillville, East Chicago, etc.); 2. Chicago, IL; 3. TRIO or DPI Pre-College participants from Wisconsin urban school districts.
Eligibility Requirements
Estimated Amount: $450
To apply, click here.
Questions? Contact Samantha Fett at fettsm27@uww.edu.
This scholarship was established by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Lambda Alpha Chapter at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and its alumnae members in 2010.
This scholarship shall be made to full-time students for their freshman year only. Priority consideration will be given to students from urban high schools in Wisconsin, the greater Chicago, IL area, and participants in the TRIO or DPI Pre-College Programs.
Eligibility Requirements:
Estimated Amount: $500
To apply, click here.
Questions? Contact Samantha Fett at fettsm27@uww.edu.
The King/Chávez Scholars Program is designed to attract exceptional undergraduate students to UW-Whitewater. The K/C program provides students with a comprehensive first year experience through participation in a residential Learning Community, connected courses and exposure to High Impact Educational Practices. Initiated at UW-Whitewater in the fall of 1997, the K/C program has a long history of producing leaders on campus and beyond as alum. It also reflects the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's commitment to upholding the ideals and expectations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chávez.
Apply here: https://uwwhitewater.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Pk0WgMUiSTamVM
TO LEARN MORE, PLEASE EMAIL: KCScholars@uww.edu
To apply for a returning student scholarship, please apply here.
Deadline: February 22, 2023
Students will be notified no later than April 1, 2023.
Elizabeth Stephens Ogunsola, Ed.D., joined the staff at UW-Whitewater in 1989. In 2006 she was appointed as Assistant to the Chancellor for Affirmative Action & Diversity, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater retiring in 2016.
This scholarship is to provide encouragement and financial support to first-generation and minority students who are actively pursuing personal success through advanced academic achievement. Priority consideration will be given to students who were TRIO or DPI Pre-College participants from Wisconsin urban school districts.
Eligibility Requirements
Estimated Amount: $400
To apply, click here.
Questions? Contact Samantha Fett at fettsm27@uww.edu.
This scholarship was established by Nicole Bronson Henley in honor of her maternal grandmother.
This scholarship shall be made to African American first generation UW-Whitewater students with demonstrated financial need, a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA and enrolled in a TRIO program. Priority consideration will be given to those also enrolled in the College of Business and Economics.
Eligibility Requirements
Estimated Amount: $500
To apply, click here.
Questions? Contact Samantha Fett at fettsm27@uww.edu.
This award is made by the family of the late John W. Ebbott, Helenville, Wisconsin. Mr. Ebbott was a graduate of UW-Whitewater and was the recipient of a distinguished alumni service award in 1956.
This scholarship shall be made to undergraduate students of Mexican or Puerto Rican heritage enrolled at UW-Whitewater who have displayed academic achievement and leadership ability and who have been active in promoting the interests of these minority groups.
Eligibility:
Estimated Amount: $600
To apply, click here.
Questions? Contact Samantha Fett at fettsm27@uww.edu.
This scholarship was established by Markus J. Watts. He is a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is a committed activist in the field of education, community development, and youth advocacy. Watts started his career at the University of Wisconsin Whitewater, Office of PreCollege Programs as an academic counselor. His community and civic activities have included; The Helen Bader Foundation's Homework First Initiative, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Gamma Tau Boule, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Inc. (Acorn Society), and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Life Member).
This scholarship shall be made only to support students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, from the cities of Milwaukee, Kenosha, or Racine.
Eligibility Requirements
Estimated Amount: $450
To apply, click here.
Questions? Contact Samantha Fett at fettsm27@uww.edu.
This scholarship was established by Ramon Ortiz, former Executive Director of PreCollege Programs (2010-2017), University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
This scholarship shall be made only to undergraduate students of Latino Heritage enrolled at the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater who have displayed academic achievement and leadership ability and who have been active in promoting the interest of the Latino Heritage. Priority consideration will be given to first generation/low income students who encountered language barriers in the course of their K-12 experience.
Eligibility Requirements
Estimated Amount: $400
To apply, click here.
Questions? Contact Samantha Fett at fettsm27@uww.edu.
This scholarship was established by Stephanie Johnson, Cornel Pearson, Monae Hughes, Mark Hughes Jr., Makayla Hughes, Essence Truth, Dy'Quan Gipson, Otis White III, Christian Braverman, Brian Diggs, Langston Charles, Jalen Whipple, Devin Lewis, Maxwell Dodd, Devante Simmons, and various others inspired to give.
The Purcell Alex Pearson Achievement Scholarship is a fund created to honor the life and legacy of the exceptional young man, Purcell Alex Pearson. The scholarship seeks recipients who uphold selflessness, humility, charisma, determination, and an unwavering drive for excellence. Its purpose is to amplify Purcell’s passion for community development by granting opportunities to first-generation college students and/or to students who demonstrate financial need.
Eligibility Requirements:
Estimated Amount: $1500
To apply, please log into your WINs account and select the Scholarship tile.
Questions? Contact Samantha Fett at fettsm27@uww.edu.
This fund was established by friends and loved ones in honor and memory of Dr. Roger Pulliam, a champion of equity and inclusion at UW-Whitewater. Dr. Pulliam was the first in his family to graduate high school. He joined the faculty at UW-Whitewater in 1989 and worked in various roles until 2018. During his tenure, he served as assistant vice chancellor of academic support services, director of advancement, and, most recently, interim chief diversity officer.
This scholarship shall be made to promising students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to support equal access to higher education.
Eligibility Requirements:
Estimated Amount: $1400
To apply, please log into your WINS account and select the Scholarship tile.
Questions? Contact Samantha Fett at fettsm27@uww.edu.
The scholarship was established by students, faculty, staff, and alumni of UW-Whitewater as well as Zeta Iota Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha, who have been generous donors of their time, leadership, and resources to UW-Whitewater.
This scholarship shall be made only to students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater who are from the inner city. Inner city would be defined as a racially, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse community such as Milwaukee, Chicago, Rockford, Beloit, Racine, Janesville, Kenosha, Madison, etc.
Eligibility Requirements:
Estimated Amount: $500
To apply, click here.
Questions? Contact Samantha Fett at fettsm27@uww.edu.
Lawton Undergraduate Minority Retention Grant
The Lawton Undergraduate Minority Retention Grant is housed within the Office of Student Diversity, Engagement and Success. These grants provide funds to undergraduate minority students who are at least sophomore status. Applicants must be African-American, Latino, Native American or Southeast Asian students. Southeast Asian students must be of Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian or Hmong heritage. Students must file a FAFSA so financial need can be determined.
Qualifying minorities must be U.S. citizens and Wisconsin residents who are enrolled full time and making satisfactory academic progress. Students who demonstrate financial need must have a grade point average of 2.0 or better. This grant is limited to 8 semesters and provides between $1,500 and $2,500, depending on the applicant’s grade point average.
Contact the Lawton Grant Coordinator at lawtongrant@uww.edu, 262-472-4656, or stop by 211 McCutchan Hall for applications or additional information.
Applications for the Advanced Opportunity Program Grant (AOP) 2023-2024 are no longer being accepted. Please check back January 2024 for the 2024-2025 school year application.
The Advanced Opportunity Grant is awarded to graduate students that are members of traditionally underrepresented minority groups (African American, Hispanic, American Indian/Alaskan Native or statutorily designated Southeast Asian) or non-minority, financially disadvantaged students. Both Wisconsin residents and non-residents are eligible. Full-time and part-time graduate students are eligible to apply. The Advanced Opportunity Grant Program has served approximately 40 students annually.
If you have any questions, please email Samantha Cortes.