Scholarships

Going to college shouldn’t be about debt. That’s why we’re pleased to offer a wide array of scholarship opportunities for incoming and current students in our department. These scholarships and information about the application process are listed below.

To apply for the incoming freshman and undergraduate scholarships, complete the online scholarship application before the deadlines listed.

Click HERE for the L&L Scholarship Recommendation Form.

Endowed Scholarships

All scholarships in the section below require the completion of the UNIversity Scholarship Application (unless otherwise noted), an essay, and one Faculty Recommendation Form. The recommendation form should be emailed to Lexi Byrnes (lexi.byrnes@uni.edu) and indicate which scholarship the student is applying for (one form per scholarship).

Note: If a scholarship is renewable, applications must be submitted each year the student is eligible.

Paul & Mary Bender Scholarship

awarded annually to one or more graduate level students who have completed a B.A. in Spanish at UNI and who are pursuing graduate studies in Spanish at UNI. Min. GPA 3.33. Submit an application form, transcripts, and a cover letter addressing professional goals (200-250 words) to Paul & Mary Bender Scholarship, Department of Languages & Literatures, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614-0502. ($2700-$4000)

Margaret Divelbess Scholarship

Awarded to students majoring in English intending to teach following graduation from UNI. Must have junior standing with at least two semesters left at UNI at the time of the award. Applicants must submit a writing sample with the UNIversity Scholarship Application.

Ila Hemm Young Adult English/Literature Education Endowed Scholarship

Awarded to an English Teaching major planning to teach at the Middle School level. The scholarship is renewable provided that the recipient maintains satisfactory academic progress and continues to major in one of the programs above with the intention to teach at the middle school level.

Margaret Klemme Lundt and Paul Lundt English Education Endowed Scholarship

Awarded to students majoring in English-Teaching; fully admitted to the UNI Teacher Education Program; hold a minimum 3.0 GPA. Preference is given to a student who demonstrates financial need.

E. H. Moeller Scholarship

Awarded to up to six undergraduate students who are majoring in Spanish and have a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA. Incoming freshmen are eligible. The scholarship may be renewable each year provided the student maintains satisfactory academic performance and continues to major in Spanish. Applicants must submit a brief essay on why you have selected your area of study (Teaching Majors: Write a brief essay on why you chose your specific teacher education major.) with the UNIversity Scholarship Application.

Jane Sherwin Schwartz Modern Languages Scholarship

Awarded to undergraduate students who have a declared major in any modern language; must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA and 3.3 major GPA. Applicants must submit a brief essay on why you have selected your area of study (Teaching Majors: Write a brief essay on why you chose your specific teacher education major.) with the UNIversity Scholarship Application.

Mary Wheat Graves Scholarship

Awarded to students majoring in English; displays academic excellence and promise in that area; minimum 3.5 major GPA; preferred emphasis in literature; junior standing with at least two semesters left at UNI at time of the award. Applicants must submit a writing sample with the UNIversity Scholarship Application.

Dianne & Doug Whittle Scholarship

Awarded to students majoring in English-Teaching, Spanish-Teaching, TESOL-Teaching or TESOL/Spanish-Teaching; minimum 3.25 GPA; be from the State of Iowa. The entire scholarship shall be awarded during the semester the recipient is student teaching.

Roberta Yoder Endowed Scholarship for Excellence in English Education

Awarded to students majoring in English-Teaching who have a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Hogan Family Scholarship

Awarded to students majoring in English or History; graduated from Columbus High School in Waterloo, IA; minimum 3.25 GPA. Send a letter of application to your home department c/o "The Hogan Family Scholarship."

Rebecca Rath Miller Endowed Teaching Scholarship

Awarded to students majoring in TESOL-Teaching, Spanish-Teaching, or TESOL/Spanish; must be junior or senior; have a minimum 3.0 GPA display financial need. Preference will be given to first-generation college students.

Study Abroad Scholarships

Study Abroad scholarships are available to Languages & Literatures majors and minors. To apply students must complete the L&L Study Abroad Scholarship Application and provide one Faculty Recommendation Form. Both the application and recommendation form should be emailed to Lexi Byrnes (lexi.byrnes@uni.edu) and indicate which scholarship the student is applying for (one form per scholarship).

Orville and Winifred Deeds International Travel Endowed Scholarship

Modern Languages undergraduate major traveling to study abroad. Application available through department each semester for next semester study abroad. ($400-$1300)

Grace Ann & Theodore Hovet Study Abroad Endowed Scholarship

Undergraduate English or TESOL major, preference given to non-teaching majors and those with financial need. Application available through department each semester for next semester study abroad. Min. GPA 2.5. ($500-$2,500)

George & Jane Zucker Modern Languages Scholarship

one undergraduate junior or senior student for study abroad in the fall or spring (not summer) semester; 3.0 min. GPA; The recipient can only receive the scholarship once. ($350-$1100)

Rebecca Rath Miller Endowed Study Abroad Scholarship

Awarded to students majoring in TESOL-Teaching, Spanish, or TESOL/Spanish; must be junior or senior, minimum 3.00 GPA; display financial need. Preference will be given to a first-generation college student. Must submit a cover letter describing his/her goals to Lexi Byrnes (lexi.byrnes@uni.edu)

L&L students may also apply for the Robert Eller Scholarship for Study Abroad.

Additional Scholarship

Frank and Otelia Kraft Scholarship

for an English or TESOL graduate student with at least six hours of graduate coursework in the UNI Department of Languages & Literatures, including Introduction to Graduate Study in English or Introduction to Graduate Study in TESOL. Min. GPA 3.33. Application available through department. ($750-$800)