Every Spring Students Apply for an Emeriti Scholarship
Emeriti Scholarship Announcement
The Emeriti Association of the University of Hartford is offering three $3,500 scholarships for the academic year 2026-2027. Two of these are named in honor of past University Presidents Humphrey Tonkin and Walter Harrison. Applications for the awards are due by 4:00 p.m., Friday, March 13, 2026. The awards, given annually to University of Hartford full-time undergraduate students, are based on the following criteria:
- Scholarly achievement. A Grade Point Average of at least 3.50 is the minimum for consideration by the selection committee.
- Applicants must provide evidence of activities which contribute to the betterment of the University of Hartford and/or the community at large.
- Applicants must be undergraduates in any of the colleges of the University of Hartford and must be entering their junior or senior year as full-time students in the fall 2026 semester. Students who entered the University with advanced placement credits must have completed two semesters at the University to be eligible to apply. Students who entered the University as transfer students must have completed one semester at the University to be eligible to apply.
- A previous award recipient may seek renewal of the award provided all the criteria for eligibility, as stated above, are satisfied; however, be aware that effort will be made to rotate the award among the various colleges of the University.
To apply for a scholarship award, students must submit an electronic application package to the email address, EmerSchol@hartford.edu, for the Executive Secretary of the Emeriti Association (Mary Dowst), outlining their qualifications for consideration.
There is no application form; to apply, students must submit a PDF file containing the following:
- A letter of application (no more than 2 pages) which includes your school, major, level, and current Grade Point Average; your goals and objectives; and information pertaining to your scholarship and service activities. Indicate the names of your two references.
- A resume (must be no more than one page in length). Please be sure to include a current address, telephone number, current email address, and University ID number.
Two letters of recommendation are required from individuals who are familiar with your scholarship and service accomplishments. At least one reference must be from a full-time faculty member
at the University of Hartford from whom the applicant has taken and completed at least one course or one semester of research. Recommenders must submit letters in PDF format to EmerSchol@hartford.edu. Additional suggestions concerning the application process are available online at https://www.hartford.edu/faculty-staff/faculty/emeriti/scholarships.aspx
The Emeriti Scholarship Committee, which represents a diversity of faculty disciplines, shall evaluate all applications and recommend three students for the awards. The awards for academic year 2026-2027 will be announced in late April 2026.
(860-768-4531 or dowst@hartford.edu).
Your application:
It is crucial for you to submit a letter of application that represents your own thinking, organization, and is written in your own words.
Proofread your application materials carefully. The quality of your letter of application and resume are extremely important. Errors, such as spelling or grammatical, will detract from your presentation.
A balanced application will help the review committee understand the full range of your activities and accomplishments.
There are resources available on campus to assist in the preparation of a resume.
Letters of recommendation:
It is the responsibility of the applicant to request two letters of recommendation and to inform the recommenders of the due date for receipt of the letters. At least one reference must be from a full-time faculty member at the University of Hartford from whom the applicant has taken and completed at least one course or one semester of research.
Contact your recommender early so there is sufficient time to write a strong letter of recommendation for you.
If possible, share your application package with the people writing letters of recommendation for you. This will give them an opportunity to comment and provide important feedback on your application. It will also give them some context for writing a letter in support of your application.
Individuals writing letters of recommendation for you should describe their interaction with you. Their letters should include the following:
In general, letters of recommendation from fellow students, friends, or family will not be effective in supporting your application.
Please Support the Emeriti Scholarship
One of the Association's most rewarding undertakings since our founding has been the Emeriti Scholarship Program. Our awardees are both dedicated scholars and contributors to the University community and beyond.