November 2006

Briefly speaking: Range of scholarships available

Professor emeritus Richard Dorf, left, and his wife, Joy, founded the scholarship held by engineering student Michael Lordan, right. Together, they check out a device used to test the tensile strength of materials. (Tony Novelozo/Axiom Photo)

Michael Lordan of Cupertino knows firsthand the difference a scholarship can make.

Majoring in rigorous studies of mechanical engineering and materials science, the third-year student recently received the Richard C. and Joy Dorf Scholarship for $1,250. "Holding a job while working to get a degree can be incredibly exhausting," he said. "I'm grateful to the Dorf family for helping support me through my college career."

Lordan is one of the recipients of about 1,800 scholarships -- totaling more than $4 million -- that are awarded at UC Davis each year. Continuing students must apply now to be eligible for scholarships in the 2007-08 academic year, and parents may be surprised at how their student may qualify.

Identify a niche

While most scholarships are awarded based on academic achievements and leadership, some are based on financial need or are specifically designed for students of a particular major, college or county.

The number of awards varies each year depending on the number of applicants, and individual awards range from $500 to about $23,000, the estimated cost for an in-state student for one academic year.

Richard Dorf, a professor emeritus in electrical and computer engineering at UC Davis, and his wife, Joy, established their scholarship two years ago. "We are committed to helping build a strong scholarship program for our leading undergraduate engineering students," they wrote in an e-mail interview.

Another award, the Sparling Scholarship, is open to graduates of Dixon High School in Solano County who have a financial need. This scholarship alone supplied about 70 awards totaling $473,000 this year.

Some scholarships can have very specific criteria, which can make it more difficult to find a student who is eligible. For example, the Fang J. Lee Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a single parent with a child under the age of six who demonstrates financial need.

Other scholarships are designed to encourage students who face medical challenges. The Anne Noel Fazio Scholarship was established in 1997 in memory of the daughter of Vic Fazio, a former congressman from California. Anne was a 1995 graduate in history, and was active in campus activities despite her medical problems. This award recognizes students who have persevered in their education after experiencing leukemia or cancer during their adolescence.

Mark Foncannon of Undergraduate Scholarships. (Karin Higgins/UC Davis)

Applying for scholarships

Scholarships for continuing students are awarded based on the information provided in the student scholarship application, due by Dec. 2. Students are applying to be eligible for campus-based scholarships, not applying for a particular scholarship, says Mark Foncannon, assistant director for Undergraduate Scholarships.

Applications are matched to corresponding scholarships, and later some additional information may be requested from students to ensure they comply with the requirements of a particular scholarship.

"Students should list every restricted code on the application they may be eligible for," Foncannon says. "You never know what's out there. The harder it is to award a scholarship based on those restrictions, the better your chances."

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