Scholarships and Awards

McBride Student Achievement Awards

Leo Borasio Memorial Outstanding Junior Award

Established by the family of Leo Borasio, this award is presented to an outstanding junior on the basis of the student’s academic achievement and overall contribution to the Program. The distinguished recipient receives a commemorative plaque and a check for $1,000.

Thomas Philipose Outstanding Senior Award

Named after Dr. Thomas Philipose, the first Principal Tutor of the McBride Program, this award is presented to the graduating senior who best represents the values and aspirations of the Program. Recognizing outstanding academic achievement, personal growth, and leadership, the award comes with a commemorative plaque and a check for $500-$1,000.

McBride Outstanding Sophomore Award

This award is presented to an outstanding sophomore on the basis of the student’s academic achievement and overall contribution to the Program. The distinguished recipient receives a commemorative plaque and a check for $1,000.

External Awards and Scholarships

Our Honors students make very competitive applicants for many important national and international scholarships. The McBride Program encourages, supports, and helps students to apply for prestigious awards. Some key possibilities are listed below. For additional opportunities and guidance, contact Ashley Weibel.

American Geophysical Union 

The American Geophysical Union offers the David E. Lumley Young Scientist Scholarship for Energy and Environmental Science to work on problems of global importance in both the energy and environmental sectors of industry and academia. The David S. Miller Young Scientist Scholarship for Undergraduate or Graduate Study in the Geo-Environmental Sciences and Geo-Environmental Engineering is also offered and is for undergraduate and graduate students who exhibit inherent interest and academic potential in fields related to Earth sciences.

Association of Women in Mathematics Essay Contest 

This essay contest is focused on synthesizing biographies of contemporary women mathematicians and statisticians in academic, industrial, and government careers.

Autry Fellowship

The Autry Fellowship is a competitive fellowship program for talented and ambitious recent college graduates. It provides an opportunity to work for one year as a full-time, paid staff member at MDC. The Autry Fellowship supports the mission of MDC–to help organizations and communities in the South to close the gaps that separate people from opportunity–by developing young leaders who have experience promoting economic development, increasing equity and excellence in education, building inclusive civic cultures, and who are poised and ready to apply their new learning to benefit this region.

Boren Awards for International Study

For students interested in learning a foreign language, studying abroad, or adding an international element to their education.

Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellowship Program 

The Rangel Program is a collaborative effort between Howard University and the U.S. State Department that seeks to attract and prepare outstanding young people for careers as diplomats in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Department of State. The program seeks individuals interested in helping to shape a freer, more secure and prosperous world through formulating, representing, and implementing U.S. foreign policy.

Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program

A six-week summer program designed to provide undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs, a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs, and the enhanced knowledge and skills to pursue such careers. The Program usually selects 15-20 participants (known as “Rangel Scholars”) each year from universities throughout the United States. Students live at Howard University, attend classes, and participate in a variety of programs with foreign affairs professionals at Howard and at diverse locations around Washington, DC.

Collegiate Inventors Competition 

This competition promotes exploration in invention, science, engineering, technology, and other creative endeavors and provides a window on the technologies from which society will benefit in the future.

Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs

This program is a full-time, nine month, graduate-level experiential leadership training program that prepares diverse, talented and committed individuals for effective and ethical leadership in the public affairs arena. Unconventional by traditional academic standards, the Fellows Program is rigorous and demanding, an unparalleled opportunity for personal and professional growth. The Fellows Program is offered in Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and St. Louis.

Department of Homeland Security Scholarship & Fellowship Program 

The DHS HS-STEM Summer Internship Program provides a ten week summer research experience for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in DHS-related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (HS-STEM) disciplines. Students will have the opportunity to conduct research in DHS mission-relevant areas at federal research facilities located across the country. Participants receive a stipend plus transportation expenses to/from their internship location. The DHS Summer Research Team Program for Minority Serving Institutions provides research opportunities to increase and enhance the scientific leadership at Minority Serving Institutions in research areas that support the mission and goals of DHS. The program supports research teams composed of a faculty member and up to two students (undergraduate or graduate level) for a ten week summer appointment. Participants conduct research at university-based DHS Centers of Excellence.

Donald M. Payne International Development Fellowship

The USAID Donald M. Payne International Development Graduate Fellowship Program seeks to attract outstanding young people who are interested in pursuing careers in the Foreign Service of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). If you want to work on the front lines of some of the most pressing global challenges of our times — poverty, hunger, injustice, disease, environmental degradation, climate change, conflict and violent extremism.

Emerson National Hunger Fellowship 

The Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program is a social justice program that trains, inspires, and sustains leaders. Fellows gain field experience fighting hunger and poverty through placements in community based organizations across the country, and policy experience through placements in Washington, D.C.

Frugal Dad Scholarships

Rewarded to two people annually at 5,000 dollars each. This scholarship is awarded based on academic achievement and the quality of the application.

Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship 

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State inaugurated the Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship in academic year 2012-13. The Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship provides opportunities for U.S. citizens to build mutual understanding and contribute to the strengthening of the public sector abroad. Fulbright Public Policy Fellows serve in professional placements in foreign government ministries or institutions. Fellows gain hands-on public sector experience in participating foreign countries while simultaneously carrying out an academic research/study project.

Google Policy Fellowship

Fellows will be expected to make substantive contributions to the work of their organization, have a demonstrated or stated commitment to internet and technology policy including conducting policy research and analysis; drafting reports and analyses; attending government and industry meetings and conferences; and participating in other advocacy activities.

Humanity in Action Fellowship

Intensive and demanding, the fellowship brings together international groups of college students and recent graduates to explore national histories of discrimination and resistance, as well as examples of issues affecting different minority groups today.

Imerys Scholarships for Chemical Engineering Majors 

Summer scholarships are available with the North America Filtration Minerals and North America Performance Divisions and last at least eight weeks. The location is in Santa Barbara, California.

Morris Udall Scholarship & Excellence in Environmental Policy

Scholarships awarded to sophomore and junior level college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy, or Native American health care.

Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute Scholarship

Several scholarships are available for outstanding students interested in pursuing a career in the coal mining industry.

SMART Scholarships for Future Scientists & Engineers

SMART Scholarships provide an opportunity for students pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in STEM disciplines to receive full scholarship and be gainfully employed upon degree completion.

Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Scholarships

Supports women pursuing ABET accredited undergraduate programs leading to careers in engineering, engineering technology, and computer science. Applicants complete one application and are considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible. There are numerous scholarship opportunities available. Some scholarships require membership in SWE and some do not.

Stokes Scholarship Program

The NGA Stokes Scholarship Program is designed for high-achieving college undergraduates who have demonstrated financial need and interest in a career with National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

Thomas R. Pickering Undergraduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship

The Pickering Undergraduate Fellowship selects undergraduate students in their junior year of college. The Thomas R. Pickering Undergraduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship program provides funding to participants as they are prepared academically and professionally to enter the United States Department of State Foreign Service. Financial support for actual expenses for the senior year of college and the first year of graduate school may be provided such as tuition costs, room and board, books, mandatory fees, and one round trip ticket between Fellow’s residence and his/her academic institutions.

Truman Scholarship

Scholarship opportunity for college juniors with exceptional leadership potential who are committed to careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education or elsewhere in the public service.

Winston Churchill Scholarship (Study at Cambridge University)

The Foundation’s Scholarship Program offers American citizens of exceptional ability and outstanding achievement the opportunity to pursue graduate studies in engineering, mathematics, or the sciences at Cambridge.

Post-Graduate External Awards and Scholarships

Baccalaureate Fellows Program

his two-year fellowship is designed to provide a unique opportunity for recent bachelor’s degree recipients to gain experience in addressing diverse challenges related to science and engineering research in such areas as energy and the environment,   education, information and communication technologies, innovation and competitiveness, national security, and international cooperation.

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

Gates Cambridge Scholarships are highly competitive full-cost scholarships. They are awarded to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. The program aims  to    build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others.

Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship

The Thomas R. Pickering Graduate Foreign Affairs Fellowship Program provides funding to participants as they are prepared academically and professionally to enter the United States Department of State Foreign Service. Financial support for actual expenses for the    senior year of college and the first year of graduate school may be provided such as tuition costs, room and board, books, mandatory fees, and one round trip ticket between Fellow’s residence and his/her academic institutions.

Rhodes Scholarship

This scholarship provides a means of pursuing graduate studies at the University of Oxford to students that exhibit extraordinary intellect and desire to contribute to the world.