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Undergraduate Psychology Department Scholarships

Scholarship applications are Start Dec 1.
Submissions will be due by March 1

start your application today!


Items to prepare for the scholarship application

Two Letters of Recommendation
On the application, you will be asked to provide a name and email address of two references who have agreed to submit a confidential reference form or letter on your behalf. One reference must come from an academic source. Your reference will be notified via email through the application process on how to submit their confidential reference form or letter.  All recommendations must be signed and on letterhead. 

FAFSA
While it is not a requirement for the application, the committee encourages all eligible applicants to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) so that you don't miss out on opportunities for a Pell Grant.

fill out your fafsa


Undergraduate Psychology Scholarships currently offered:

SCHOLARSHIP NAME: Tuition waiver – PSYCHOLOGY

Available to: Undergraduate students in Psychology

Selection Criteria:

  1. Student must plan on taking 12 credits or more in both the Fall and Spring semesters 
  2. Be a Utah Resident
  3. Be a first time Bachelor's Degree student
  4. Have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA at the University of Utah.
  5. Be officially declared as a Psychology Major.

Amount of Award: $5,000

Additional Information: This scholarship does not cover any mandatory fees (lab, class, ASUU fees, etc.).

Scholarship Name: the Danielle Vacca Scholarship

Danielle Vacca

Available to: Undergraduate and graduate students in Psychology

Selection Criteria: The award is given to a student who has experienced loss at the hands of a drunk or impaired driver. The award is made from applications to the Department of Psychology that include a personal essay on the impact of drunk driving on the applicant.

Amount of Award: Typically $4,000.

Number of Awards: Typically one.

About: The Danielle Vacca scholarship was established in 2013 by Danielle Vacca's father, Joe Vacca, and her grandmother, Sina Vacca, to honor Danielle Vacca. Danielle was a University of Utah student killed in an auto accident by a drunk and impaired driver. Psychology has had the honor of awarding this scholarship since Fall, 2015. The Danielle Vacca scholarship provides $2,000 per semester for two semesters to juniors or seniors majoring in Psychology whose lives have been affected by a drunk and impaired driver. Qualified candidates must carry a minimum GPA of 3.0, maintain full-time enrollment during the scholarship period, and verify U.S. citizenship or legal resident status. In exceptional cases and with sponsor approval, the award can be split between two candidates. The applications are due at the same time as the Departmental and CSBS scholarship applications, in the spring term of each year.


Danielle Vacca Image Gallery

Click on a thumbnail image to see larger view.

 

Past Danielle Vacca Scholarship Recipients

 

 

Sara Wilcox

Fall 2019

Read More >>

 

Dylan Gavin

Dylan Gavin

Fall 2018 - Spring 2019

Read More >>

 

Mary Hynes

Fall 2017-Spring 2018

 


 

Spencer Cook

Spencer Cook

Fall 2017

 

 

Preston Connor

Fall 2016 - Spring 2017

Read More >>

 

Sylvia Vowles

Spring 2016

Read More >> 

 

 

Audrey Hancock

Fall 2015

Read More >>

 

 

 

External Scholarships

Please Note: The following scholarship(s) have a separate scholarship application process. These cannot be applied for via the department application.

Scholarship Name: Future Counselors of America Scholarship


Available to: Undergraduate and graduate students in Psychology who seek a career in relationship counseling or a related field.

Selection Criteria:

  1. Minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA
  2. 500-word (minimum) to 900-word (maximum) word essay entitled, "The Psychology of Online Dating." The essay should address the psychological issues and challenges facing singles given the growing popularity of online dating, and how relationship professionals can help online daters navigate these challenges. See more details at: http://www.datingadvice.com/scholarship 

Amount of Award: $1,000

More Information: 

Entries postmarked by: June 30th, annually
Disbursement on: July 31st, annually

  • Please title your essay “The Psychology of Online Dating”
  • List your full name as recognized by your educational institution and a valid (.edu) email address
  • Essay should be 12 point font, Times New Roman, double-spaced, 1-inch margins
  • Any resources should be cited using MLA format
  • Any plagiarism or fabrication will disqualify student from award disbursement

 

Mail official transcript and original essay to:

DatingAdvice.com Scholarship
c/o Digital Brands Inc.
15 SE 1st Ave, Suite B
Gainesville, FL 32601

 

Scholarship name: Granite Recovery Center Scholarship


Available to: All Students actively pursuing a college or university degree

 

Selection Criteria: Active student, Essay Prompt

Substance abuse is a major problem in our country that is proliferating at an alarming rate, and the ongoing opioid epidemic shows there is little sign of it slowing down. As a young person, describe your experience with drug and alcohol education throughout your academic career, and explain how you think it was effective, and how it was not.

Come up with an awareness campaign to promote addiction prevention and educate about substance abuse. How would you promote the campaign on your college campus? How would you implement it in lower schools to foster education and awareness in younger students?

Amount: $1,000

Information:

                Deadline: Essay Submission, December 15

                Disbursement date: Essay winner notification, December 31

Contact information:scholarship@graniterecoverycenters.com

Scholarship name: Green Mountain Treatment Center Scholarship


Available to: All Students actively pursuing a college or university degree

Selection Criteria: Active student, Essay Prompt

We all have things that we feel define us. This could be a passion or talent we have, such as cooking or playing a musical instrument. It could be the ability to learn languages quickly, or an experience that shaped you such as immigrating from another country as a child. Whatever it may be, that’s something uniquely yours and sets you apart from your peers.

What is something unique that sets you apart? Do you plan to incorporate this piece of your life into your educational pursuits or career? Explain how it has molded you into who you are today.

Amount: $1,000

Information:

                Deadline: Essay Submission, December 15

                Disbursement date: Essay winner notification, December 31

Contact information:scholarship@greenmountaintreatmentcenter.com

 

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Last Updated: 10/7/21