Scholarships, Research Grants, and Dissertation Fellowships for Current Students

College of Education Graduate Student Scholarships

Several scholarships have been created through the generous support of alumni and friends of the College of Education. Awards range from $1,000 to $2,500. Each scholarship has specific criteria. Faculty in the program areas select the recipients from a list of eligible students. Please see your program chair for eligibility and application information.

Program area scholarships at the graduate level have been created through generous donors. Each scholarship has specific criteria. Faculty in the program areas select the recipients from eligible students.

Graduate Scholarship Name	Program Area
Frank B. DeBruicker	Learning Design and Technology
Feldhusen Doctoral Fellowship	Gifted Education
Harbridge Scholarship	Literacy and Language
Mike Keedy Award	Mathematics Education
General Wei-chin & Madame Phoebe Lee Award	Social Studies Education
Bruce Shertzer Award	Counseling Psychology

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Dissertation Fellowships and Scholarships

Note: The Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship and the Dean’s Dissertation Scholarship Applications have been consolidated into a single Application Form. You can indicate on the form if you wish to be considered for one or both awards.

Applicants who apply for both will first be considered for the Bilsland. The application form will be completed and submitted through InfoReady (https://edupu.infoready4.com/). The nomination form will be available when the call is active, usually beginning in mid to late November. Additional details, guidelines, and evaluation rubrics will be posted on InfoReady.

Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship

The Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship is a Graduate School fellowship which includes a stipend/salary and tuition coverage. It is awarded to outstanding College of Education PhD students who will enter their final year of their program. Recipients are expected to devote full-time effort to the completion of all requirements necessary to receive their doctoral degree at the conclusion of the year of funding. Exceptions are allowed for Counseling Psychology students who are eligible to apply for a Bilsland before their internship year.

Applicants must have completed their coursework and passed their qualifying examinations. There are no assistantship expectations for Bilsland Fellows. The review and the awarding of fellowships are handled at the department level. Applications are due via InfoReady (https://edupu.infoready4.com/) by 5:00 pm on the 3rd Friday in January. The number of awards available for each department varies based on Graduate School allocations.

Dean’s Dissertation Scholarship

This award is given to an outstanding doctoral student in the College of Education who is currently completing dissertation research. Scholarships are $2,500. The number of scholarships available varies each year. 

Reviews and the awarding of these scholarships are handled at the department level. Applications are due via InfoReady (https://edupu.infoready4.com/) by 5:00 pm on the 3rd Friday in January. The number of awards available for each department varies based on available funds.

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College Of Education Graduate Student Awards

The Call for Nominations for College of Education Graduate Student Awards is typically sent out in November. Nominations first reviewed at the Department level are due the last Friday of January. All other award nominations are due the 2nd Friday of February. All award nominations will be completed and submitted via InfoReady (https://edupu.InfoReady4.com/). Nomination forms will be available during the open call. Additional details, guidelines, and rubrics will be available on InfoReady.

Dean’s Graduate Student Outstanding Scholarship Award

Description – This award recognizes a graduate student in the College of Education who demonstrates exceptional scholarly contributions. Preference is given to work completed since enrolled at Purdue and the College of Education. Graduate students at all levels are encouraged to apply. The winner receives $500. 

• Deadline: 5:00 p.m. on the second Friday in February.

Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice (DESJ) Graduate Student Award

Description – This award recognizes a graduate student in the College of Education who demonstrates a commitment to the advancement of diversity, equity, and social justice (DESJ) issues in the areas of discovery, learning, and/or engagement. The awardee recognizes the collective benefit of building more inclusive and supportive communities. One of the signature areas of the COE is focused on addressing issues of diversity, equity, and social justice. In addition, Purdue University, as a public, state-supported land-grant institution with global impact, is committed to furthering the goals of diversity and inclusion. In an effort to promote and support a better understanding of DESJ issues, this award seeks to recognize those who have contributed to this important work, as well as inspire others to join. The winner receives $500.

• Deadline: 5:00 pm on the second Friday in February.

Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award

Description – This award recognizes graduate teaching assistants for their current teaching efforts at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Nominations are handled at the department level. Each department forwards one nominee to the Dean’s Office and the College of Education Awards Committee selects the winner. The winner receives $500. 

• Deadline: 5:00 pm on the Last Friday in January

Mary Kay Sommers Dissertation Award

Description – This award recognizes a completed outstanding doctoral dissertation. Nominations are first reviewed at the department level. Each department forwards one nominee to the Dean’s Office and the College of Education Awards Committee selects the winner. The amount of award may vary but is typically $2,600. 

• Deadline: 5:00 pm on the Last Friday in January.

Marcia Gentry Dissertation Award

Description – This award recognizes doctoral dissertation work that moves the field of Gifted, Talented, and Creative (GTC) education forward by addressing the constructs of equity and excellence for underserved GTC populations (poverty, race, language, disability) from a strength-based perspective. Students with dissertations completed within two calendar years of the award date are eligible to apply. The amount of the award may vary, but is typically $2,600.

• Deadline: 5:00 pm on the second Friday in February.

Maryann Santos Doctoral Fellowship

Description: This is a scholarship supported by the Maryann Santos Doctoral Fellowship Fund, an endowment named in honor of a former Dean of the College of Education. Dean Santos was a passionate advocate for diversity and social justice, which became one of the signature areas for our college under her leadership. Dean Santos was also a strong supporter of graduate students and programs. This award is only made in years when sufficient funds are available. Prior awards were $5,000, but amount of future awards may vary.

• Deadline: 5:00 pm on the second Friday in February

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Dean’s Graduate Student Support Program

This program is designed to assist COE doctoral students in defraying the expenses of student-initiated research projects, including dissertation research. Awards will be in the form of an S&E account of up to $500. Funds may be used to purchase instruments, acquire or duplicate research materials, travel to research sites, or for other legitimate research-related expenses. Funds may not be used for salaries or to travel to conferences.

Application form is available on InfoReady (https://edupu.InfoReady4.com/). Applications may be submitted anytime, pending the availability of funding.

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Graduate School Summer Research Grants

Graduate School Summer Research Grants provide two months of dissertation research support for doctoral students who have been exclusively teaching during both of the preceding academic semesters. The eligibility criteria for the Summer Research Grant are as follows:

• Doctoral student
• 0.50 FTE Teaching Assistant for both preceding semesters
• No Research, Fellowship or Administrative/Professional Appointment
• GPA of 3.0 or higher

The Graduate School identifies eligible students and nominations are handled through the departments each spring semester.