CHSS Dean’s Challenge Scholarship Graduate

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences seeks applications for the Dean’s Challenge Graduate Scholarships. The Dean’s Challenge Scholarship is awarded to recognize exceptional students not only in their superior academic achievement but in their inspirational civic and community engagement. Graduate applicants must have demonstrated academic excellence, a commitment to education as a powerful tool for change, and a recognized commitment to leadership and community engagement.

To be eligible, students must:

• Be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Master’s applicants: must have at least 18 earned credit hours of coursework at George Mason at the end of the spring 2022 semester
• Doctoral applicants: must have advanced to candidacy and be enrolled in the current graduate degree program at George Mason during the fall 2022 semester
• Have a 3.7 GPA
• Have an exceptional record of intellectual engagement in the discipline and a record of leadership with the campus, community, and the profession.

The application should consist of:
1. A current copy of the student’s unofficial George Mason transcript
2. A résumé, including descriptions and dates of employment, extracurricular activities, volunteer activities, and any other academically relevant experiences
3. A letter of reference from a faculty mentor
4. A written statement addressing how the applicant has excelled in the following areas. The questions are given to suggest the kinds of evidence the selection committee will be looking for and help you structure your answer.

A. Scholarship and commitment to learning (one paragraph)
1) In what ways have you challenged yourself through research or other academic opportunities?
2) How have you pursued academic challenges beyond the required curriculum?
3) How have you contributed to the intellectual community at George Mason?
4) How has the experience of advanced study changed you as a person or prepared you for your future?

B. Service to the campus and community (one paragraph)
5) In what ways have you enriched Mason and/or the surrounding community?
6) How have you served as an ambassador for the university to local, national, or international constituents?

C. Leadership (one paragraph)
7) In what ways have you been recognized or served as a future leader or scholar in your academic field or community?

Award
Varies
Deadline
05/31/2022
Supplemental Questions
  1. Please upload a current copy of your unofficial George Mason transcript.
  2. Please upload a current résumé, including descriptions and dates of employment, extracurricular activities, volunteer activities, and any other academically relevant experiences.
  3. Please upload a letter of reference from a faculty mentor.
  4. For the Dean's Challenge for Graduate students please provide a written statement addressing how you feel you have excelled in the following areas (one paragraph for each section outlined below). The questions are given to only suggest the kinds of evidence the selection committee will be looking for and help you structure your answer.
    • 1. In what ways have you challenged yourself through research or other academic opportunities?
    • 2. How have you pursued academic challenges beyond the required curriculum?
    • 3. How have you contributed to the intellectual community at George Mason?
    • 4. How has the experience of advanced study changed you as a person or prepared you for your future
    • 5.In what ways have you enriched Mason and/or the surrounding community?
    • 6.How have you served as an ambassador for the university to local, national, or international constituents?
    • 7. In what ways have you been recognized or served as a future leader or scholar in your academic field or community?