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Established by alumnus David Weisblat ’75 in memory of his parents, the Abraham and Janice Weisblat scholarship provides need-based financial aid to an outstanding Commonwealth Honors College student who exemplifies stellar academic and extracurricular success.

University of Massachusetts Amherst Commonwealth Honors College members in their first, second or third year of study who are majoring in Hotel Management or Communications are eligible to apply for the Andy Moes Scholarship. 

University of Massachusetts Amherst Commonwealth Honors College students who are pursuing creative endeavors in the arts and humanities or in social sciences are eligible to apply for the Annaliese Bischoff Honors Scholarship. Preference will be given to first generation college students and/or those with financial need as determined by the Financial Aid Office.

This scholarship was endowed by a long time UMass Amherst and Commonwealth Honors College Professor and consists of a one-time award that is applied directly toward the student’s tuition and fees. Selection is based on a combination of financial need and academic achievement.

The ASPIRE Community Scholarship was established by a Class of 1983 graduate of UMass Amherst.  The intent is to award a first generation college student with outstanding academic potential and financial need the opportunity to pursue a career in medicine or medical research.  This scholarship is a four-year award that supports an incoming first-year Commonwealth Honors College student.

Members of the Bettez and Simanis families established this scholarship in honor of their parents and grandparents, Marie-Jeanne and Albert Bettez and Joseph and Elizabeth Simanis. The Bettez-Simanis Scholarship provides access for a Commonwealth Honors College student who is the child of one or more immigrants, and honors the generosity the donors benefited from by offering support to the next generation of immigrant families. 

Established in honor of former UMass Amherst Chancellor John V. Lombardi and his wife, Cathryn, this scholarship provides renewable financial assistance to incoming Commonwealth Honors College students with interests in academic research and community service.

Commonwealth Honors College students who are US. citizens or eligible non-residents of Massachusetts and demonstrate a minimum of $4,000 of financial need are eligible to apply for a Charles J. Hoff Scholarship. Funded by the Hoff Foundation, the scholarships are designed to provide need-based assistance to motivated Commonwealth Honors College Students. Students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the federal government by March 1. Hoff scholarship applications are submitted to the Commonwealth Honors College office in March. Finalists may be asked to attend an in-person interview in June at the UMass Worcester Campus. The number of scholarships awarded will vary from year to year.  

Established by Aaron Spencer, founder of UNO Chicago Grill, and chairman of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education from 1996 to 2007, The Cheryl Spencer Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship given to students with demonstrated financial need, with special consideration given to students who envision using their education to improve the world.

Established by alumni Michael and Nancy Flynn and family in memory of alumnus Dr. Christian M. Flynn, this scholarship provides support to students in Commonwealth Honors College with financial need with special consideration for those interested in mental health issues, women’s studies, or music. Dr. Flynn graduated from UMass in 1991 and after being commissioned in the US Army, went on to medical school. Mental health became a hallmark of Dr. Flynn’s work and he entered the field of psychiatry, dedicating his career to treating people with mental illness and addictions. 

Established by Chuck and Lily Schultz, this need-based scholarship, renewable over four years, supports incoming first-year Commonwealth Honors College students who demonstrate outstanding academic potential, with preference for first generation college students.

Up to seven awards of at least $2250 are made annually to students who articulate how they plan to use their education toward the betterment of the world. Recipients are chosen from among junior and senior Commonwealth Honors College students in good standing who provide documentation of their community service and submit a written essay.

This need-based award, renewable over four years, supports incoming first-year Commonwealth Honors College students who demonstrate outstanding academic potential, with preference for first generation college students. Individual donors from the Commonwealth Honors College community of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and parents contributed to this award.

This award, renewable for up to six semesters, supports current UMass Amherst students admitted to Commonwealth Honors College as part of the on-campus application process.  Selection for this scholarship is based on a combination of the student’s UMass Amherst record and financial need.

This award is endowed by the Cooke family in memory of family members, several of whom were alumni of the University- Theodore F. Cooke’, Sr. ’01, Robert G. Cooke ’25, Dorothy Cooke Robbins ’28, Theodore F. Cooke, Jr. ’34, Helen Cooke Rudzinski Hough, and Alma Cooke Kendall Bassett. Recipients of the cash prize of $1,000 are selected from among senior Commonwealth Honors College students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, successful completion of research, and significant university or community service.

The David and Linda Littlefield Scholarship was established by their son, Matthew Littlefield ’99 to honor his parents and to support Commonwealth Honors College students study abroad experience.  Littlefield participated in the Oxford Summer Seminar and a study abroad program in Mexico as a student at UMass Amherst.

Commonwealth Honors College students in their first, second or third year of study are eligible to apply for the David J. Snyder Memorial Scholarship. Each year one or more scholarships are awarded as a one-time award and applied toward the student's tuition in the following academic year. Selection is based on a combination of financial need and academic achievement.

This scholarship is funded by an honors alumnus and consists of a one-time award that is applied directly toward the student’s tuition and fees. Selection is based on a combination of financial need, academic achievement and career goals.

Established by alumna Donna E. Cohen in recognition of the importance of access to education, this scholarship is designed to provide access for Commonwealth Honors College students who demonstrate outstanding academic potential, with a preference for first-generation college students. This scholarship is renewable providing that recipients maintain good academic standing in Commonwealth Honors College. 

This scholarship was established by alumna Jennifer Hanes-Schromm to honor the generations of educators within the Dresden Family.  The purpose of the Fund will be to support Commonwealth Honors College undergraduate students with financial need. Preference for female students who have demonstrated leadership through student organizations or community service activities. 

The Evans Family Scholarship was established to recognize exemplary work on any aspect of the environment completed as part of the student’s studies. All areas of study are eligible.

The Frank and Helen DiGiammarino Scholarship Fund was established in 1999 by members of the DiGiammarino family, many of whom are UMass alums, as a way to honor their parents, Frank and Helen DiGiammarino for their commitment to academic excellence.

Established by a 1967 graduate of UMass Amherst, the Creem Commonwealth Honors College Opportunity Scholarship supports current UMass Amherst students admitted to Commonwealth Honors College as part of the on-campus application process.  Selection for this scholarship is based on a combination of the student’s UMass Amherst record and financial need.

Established by Celso Avelar and Cam Tu Pham Avelar in honor of the work of the Gyalwang Drukpa, this fund provides scholarship support to students in Commonwealth Honors College with financial need and who are pursuing academic, co-curricular, internship, or community work in at least one of the following areas: environment, human rights, women's leadership, gender equality, social justice, healthcare, and/or animal welfare.

Ten annual awards of $500 each are made to senior Commonwealth Honors College students based on the excellence of their thesis or project.Go to AcademicWorks to apply.

Honors Research Grants support a student’s own research project or creative work, under the guidance of a Faculty Sponsor.  The program is designed to give students experience with the process of writing a grant proposal, and disseminating their work by applying to present (including submission of an abstract) and presenting at the annual Massachusetts statewide Undergraduate Research Conference.

AWARD

Grants may be approved for up to $1,000.  Awarded funds will be transferred to the department of the student’s Faculty Sponsor.  Grant funds are for direct costs only, for materials and activities, including travel, directly related to the student’s project, and may not be used as a stipend or wage. Any equipment purchased with grant funds is the property of the University of Massachusetts and must remain on campus for use by other students in the Faculty Sponsor’s department. 

ELIGIBILITY

Student applicants must be Commonwealth Honors College students in good academic standing (i.e., minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4), and must be juniors or seniors proposing to use the grant in connection with an honors thesis, honors project or honors independent study.  Students from any academic discipline are encouraged to apply.  Recipients must present their findings/progress at the annual Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference (MassURC).

Applications must be jointly submitted by students and their Faculty Sponsors. TAs and Grad students may not serve as Faculty Sponsors.

CRITERIA

The application process is two-part, requiring both the student applicant and the Faculty Sponsor to submit materials.  Applications must be submitted using CHC PATHS.  The student must initiate the application.  The student’s application must be accompanied by a grant proposal; proposal requirements are outlined below.  The Faculty Sponsor must review and comment on the student’s proposal before the student uploads the document.  Since applications and proposals may not be revised online, students and their Faculty Sponsors must communicate regarding revisions before students submit their proposals.  The Faculty Sponsor must upload a letter of endorsement and their CV, combined into a single document.

PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

Student applicants must upload a typed, single-spaced 6-page proposal that is formatted as a PDF document with the following sections (see section page limits below):

• Background and Significance – Provide an introduction that lays the framework for the research and describes why it is important and creates new knowledge. Use scholarly references to briefly review the research that has led to this study. (1,500-word limit)
• Objective ‑ Exactly what are you going to do? This should be one or two sentences using action verbs like “develop, demonstrate, test, etc.” Also include a hypothesis, if appropriate. (1/2 page)
• Methodology ‑ How will you accomplish the goals stated above? Include how you will collect data and analyze the data. What steps will you follow to carry out the project? Be clear about how you will be trained to accomplish the study and where the study will be carried out. Provide information to document that you have the experience to complete the project and that the necessary space and equipment are available to you. Be sure to provide sufficient details about the research environment that will demonstrate that the work is feasible. (2 pages)
• Budget ‑ What is your proposed budget? Provide itemized breakdown, a total of the estimated cost, specify grant request ‑ not to exceed $1,000 ‑ and show other funding sources if applicable. Additional narrative justification may be provided if not explicit in Methodology. (1/2 page)
• References‑ All references used in the proposal should be cited. Check with your Faculty Sponsor to use the citation format appropriate for your field of study.
   

Log into CHC PATHS to complete the application. Students may begin preparing their proposals off-line following the proposal requirements provided above.

Please note: Application information may be used for a press release.

DEADLINES

Fall 2022 student application deadline for Spring 2023 award distribution is Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.

The Spring deadline is for juniors applying for the fall semester (when the students will be seniors). The Fall deadline is for juniors and seniors applying for the spring semester.

The Faculty Sponsor deadline is seven days after the student application deadline. Faculty Sponsors must submit their supporting documents through CHC PATHS to complete the application. Applications without the Faculty Sponsor's supporting documents cannot be considered for funding.

For additional information or questions, please contact:

research@honors.umass.edu

Established in memory of Professor Howard Quint, former History Department Chair and co-founder of the Honors Program, the prize of approximately $500 is awarded jointly by the History Department and Commonwealth Honors College. Candidates are nominated by faculty from among senior students enrolled in Commonwealth Honors College, based on the student's academic record through the junior year, and are invited to submit a writing sample as part of the application process. Faculty nominators who have a specific student paper in mind, should specify that information so the student can submit it.

Established by a bequest from Elizabeth Mary Rountree, the Joseph and Elizabeth Rountree Merit Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to attract and retain high-performing students who demonstrate outstanding talents and abilities.

Scholarship support for a Commonwealth Honors College student enrolled in the International Scholars Program with financial need as determined by the Financial Aid Office.  The scholarship is intended to help the student with the cost of their upcoming study abroad program.

This award was endowed by the Class of 1977 in memory of their classmate who graduated with Departmental Honors in Political Science. Mr. Payne died with Commerce Secretary Ron Brown in the 1996 plane crash in Croatia. Award recipients are selected from among senior Commonwealth Honors College students based on their academic achievement and demonstrated commitment to public service.

Commonwealth Honors College students in their first, second or third year of study, who are active in Hillel, are eligible to apply for the Lewenberg Family Scholarship. Each year one or more scholarships are awarded as a one-time grant and applied toward the student's tuition in the following academic year. Selection is based on a combination of financial need and academic achievement

The Linda Lockwood Opportunity Scholarship was created through a bequest from the estate of Linda Lockwood, professor of environmental science and Director of the UMass Amherst Honors Program from 1982 to 1992.  This award, renewable for up to six semesters, supports current UMass Amherst students admitted to Commonwealth Honors College as part of the on-campus application process.  Selection for this scholarship is based on a combination of the student’s UMass Amherst record and financial need. 

Established by alumna Lynda Walker, this fund supports students in Commonwealth Honors College. The scholarship is awarded to outstanding students with financial need, with a preference for first-generation students. 

Established by a 1975 graduate of UMass Amherst, the Malone Commonwealth Honors College Opportunity Scholarship supports current UMass Amherst students admitted to Commonwealth Honors College as part of the on-campus application process.  Selection for this scholarship is based on a combination of the student’s UMass Amherst record and financial need.  To the extent possible, the scholarships are distributed across a wide range of majors.

The Marybeth T. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in memory of Marybeth T. Murphy, a 1983 graduate who studied landscape architecture with a major in environmental design, this scholarship serves as a tribute to her and her commitment to urban public art.  She helped design many parks, city streets, and bike trails in an effort to make the world a more beautiful place.  Friends and family established this scholarship to provide needed support for students who share her ideals.  The purpose of the Fund is to provide scholarship support for UMass Amherst undergraduates with financial need pursuing landscape architecture.  Preference is given for students who are members of Commonwealth Honors College.

University of Massachusetts Amherst Commonwealth Honors College members in their first, second or third year of study with strong academic performance and financial need are eligible to apply for the McGoldrick-Jenkins Family Scholarship.

Commonwealth Honors College students in their first, second or third year of study, with an interest in economics or business, are eligible to apply for the Melvin Howard Scholarship. The Melvin Howard Fund supports up to five $1,500 scholarships or Honor Research Grants relative to business or economics (see Honors Research Grants on the Commonwealth Honors College web site). The scholarships are awarded as a one-time grant and applied toward the student's tuition in the following academic year. Selection is based on a combination of financial need, academic achievement, and career goals.

Second and third-year students who are members of Commonwealth Honors College, participate in the UMass Amherst Minuteman Marching Band, and have demonstrated financial need are eligible to apply for the Nancy M. Cullen Scholarship Award. A proud alumna of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Ms. Cullen established this scholarship to encourage and reward the dedication and commitment necessary to participate in the two programs. Financial need plays a significant role in the selection process.

Established by a 1979 graduate of UMass Amherst, the Paul Solli Scholarship supports current UMass Amherst students admitted to Commonwealth Honors College as part of the on-campus application process.  Selection for this scholarship is based on a combination of the student’s UMass Amherst record and financial need.

This scholarship was established through a gift from the member institutions of the Commonwealth Honors Program in memory of Priscilla M. Clarkson. As dean of Commonwealth Honors College, Dr. Clarkson was a key administrator, guiding to completion the College’s Residential Community, which students moved into in fall 2013. This scholarship is designed to provide access for a student transferring into Commonwealth Honors College from one of the state’s Commonwealth Honors Programs and is renewable as long as the recipient maintains good academic standing. 

Commonwealth Honors College students in their first or second year of study are eligible to apply for the Rachel and John Morton Honors Scholarship. This year, two scholarships will be awarded as a one-time grant and applied toward the student's tuition in the following academic year. Selection is based on a combination of financial need and academic achievement. In addition, all other things being equal, preference will be given to a student from Stoughton, Massachusetts.

The Research Assistant Fellowship program is designed to give students an opportunity to gain experience in their academic field by working as a Research Assistant on a faculty member's research project or on their own project under the close guidance of a faculty member.  These Fellowships are intended to help prepare students to undertake their own future research projects and to provide supplemental financial assistance. 

AWARD

Students are paid the Massachusetts minimum wage through the University’s Student Hourly Payroll system, and student hours are reported through their Faculty Sponsor’s department.  Fellowships may be approved for up to $500 per semester.

PLEASE NOTE: Fellowships are one-time awards. Students who are awarded a fellowship are not automatically awarded additional fellowships in subsequent semesters. Students must follow the online application details for each semester they plan to apply.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must be Commonwealth Honors College students in good academic standing (i.e., minimum cumulative GPA of 3.4).

Applications must be jointly submitted by students and their Faculty Sponsors.  TAs and Grad students may not serve as Faculty Sponsors. 

Seniors and rising seniors are not eligible to apply.

CRITERIA

The student must initiate the application.  The student’s application must include an essay of at least 300 words that describes what they hope to accomplish academically/personally through this fellowship. Students proposing their own project must also provide a project description.

Faculty Sponsor must upload a letter of endorsement and their CV, and provide a project description of at least 300-500 words (limit 700 total characters) discussing (1) the overall scope of the project and the student’s role, (2) the academic experience the student will receive, (3) the amount and type of supervision the student will receive and (4) the approximate number of hours per week the student will spend on the project.

SELECTION

The selection process is competitive. Independent Faculty Reviewers will evaluate each joint application and consider whether the student will be appropriately supervised and has the personal commitment to gain academically and become better prepared to undertake their own research in the future through this project and the mentoring of the Faculty Sponsor.

Students and their Faculty Sponsors will be notified of selection decisions before the start of the new semester.

Log into CHC PATHS to complete the application. Students may begin preparing their application off-line following the criteria provided above.

Please note: Application information may be used for a press release.

DEADLINES

Fall 2022 student application deadline for Spring 2023 award distribution is Wednesday, November 2, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.

The Spring deadline is for freshmen and sophomores applying for the fall semester (when students will be sophomores and juniors). The Fall deadline is for sophomores and juniors applying for the spring semester.

The Faculty Sponsor deadline is seven days after the student application deadline. Faculty Sponsors must submit their supporting documents online to complete the application. Applications without the Faculty Sponsor's supporting documentation cannot be considered for funding.

For additional information or questions, please contact:

research@honors.umass.edu

This scholarship is a need-driven scholarship for Pell-grant recipients in CHC entering their junior year.

Joseph Tabacco is a class of 1971 UMass-Amherst graduate earning his degree in Government, while at UMass, he was active in student government, having served two term as Class President.  In 1974, Joe attained his law degree with Honors from George Washington University School of Law.  He served as a trial attorney for the US Department of Justice, Antitrust Division for several years before entering private practice in New York City.  In the early 1990’s Joe relocated to the San Francisco Bay area and opened the San Francisco office of Berman, DeValerio Pease & Tabacco, a law firm with offices in Boston and Palm Beach Gardens Florida.  He has specialized in securities fraud and antitrust litigation, representing victims of securities fraud, market manipulation and antitrust conspiracies, including some of the largest public pension funds in the world, in a variety of cases. 
 

Peggy Schmidt is an independent college counselor who established her practice, Smart College Choices, seven years ago. She is a graduate of the UCLA College Counseling Program. Peggy has covered education issues for national magazines and The New York Times. She has written or produced more than two dozen non-fiction trade books. As education editor of Glamour magazine for eight years, she wrote two monthly columns on college and career-related topics.

For many years, Peggy was the career coordinator at the New York University Summer Publishing Institute. She graduated cum laude from Bowling Green State University and has done graduate work at Teachers College, Columbia University. She served on the board of directors for the Charles Armstrong School, a K-8 school for dyslexic learners. She has worked as a volunteer counselor with QuestBridge, which links exceptional low-income students with top colleges.

Established to  support Commonwealth Honors College undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need, as determined by the Financial Aid Office. Preference will be given to students who are underrepresented on the UMass Amherst campus and who plan to pursue a career in a health care field, such as but not limited to, clinical practice, pharmacology, medical research, dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, or mental health. Students transferring from a community college are also eligible.