Awards and Scholarships

The Division of Student Life coordinates several scholarships and awards that recognize and support student, faculty, and staff achievements and needs. For more information about any of these scholarships or awards, please contact Student Life at 205-348-6275 or studentlife@ua.edu.

Premier Awards

The Premier Awards comprise the five highest honors given at the Capstone.  Outstanding juniors are eligible to apply for the William P. Bloom and the John Fraser Ramsey Awards. Graduating seniors may apply for the Algernon Sydney Sullivan, Catherine J. Randall, and  Morris Lehman Mayer Awards. Members of the teaching faculty may be nominated for the Mayer Award, while members of the faculty and staff are eligible for the Sullivan Award.  For students, each award comes with a monetary award.

Penny Allen Award

The Penny Allen Endowed Scholarship Award was established in 1983 to honor Professor Emeritus Sara B. Penny Allen’s selfless service, unfailing commitment, leadership, and contributions to student life at UA. She was a social worker for many years at Bryce Hospital, a teacher in the School of Social Work at UA, and chair of the University Union Board of Governors. She valued the Union, now the Ferguson Student Center, because of its role in unifying campus and bringing diverse populations together.

The Penny Allen Award recognizes one student and one non-student (faculty or staff) who have made significant contributions to student life at the Capstone. There is a preference for individuals who have not been recognized previously with awards.

Nomination

The nomination form will open January 1, 2021 and close on February 28, 2021. The Vice President for Student Life’s Scholarship Committee will review applications, and recipients will be honored at a special luncheon, receive a commemorative plaque and an honorarium in recognition of their considerable contributions to campus life at the Capstone.

UA Away Scholarships

UA Away scholarships provide financial support for students who wish to participate in unique learning opportunities away from the UA campus. UA Away supports three distinct opportunities:

• Study Away: Students travel to another country, city, or university to study in their academic fields. The Study Abroad Program and National Student Exchange offer these opportunities.
• Serve Away: Students volunteer for service projects, often related to their fields of study or career goals, which expose them to issues related to poverty, hunger, and lack of educational resources, and expose them to new cultures and regions. Opportunities for service are available through the Center for Service and Leadership.
• Work Away: Students receive first-hand work experience, related to academic and career goals, that increases their marketability to future employers.

There are two scholarship cycles. Students may complete an application in the fall for spring travel or in the spring for summer and fall travel. The summer/fall application is open January 1- February 28 and the spring application is open September 1 – 30.

General Scholarships

UA offers additional scholarships for qualifying students through the office of Undergraduate Scholarships. The process for applying for scholarships varies based on whether you are an entering freshman, transfer, or currently enrolled student. Please select your student type for more information concerning the scholarships for which you qualify.