NSPA Semesterly Communiqué
Spring 2022 Vol. III: Issue IV
Reflections from the Fellowship Coordinator
I routinely tell my students to prioritize the process of applying for national scholarships over the outcome. The probability of winning these awards ranges from a competitive 35% to a wishful 2%. This emphasis on process is not a unique idea. Cervantes (1547-1616) said, "The journey is better than the inn." Anyone who competed in whatever form knows that success is about the journey--the preparation to win.
Perhaps the best explanation of success comes from John Wooden, who coached 10 national championship teams at UCLA. "You know where you'd like to go, whether it's to a national championship in basketball or a particular goal in your business or life. You must also realize that this goal will be simply a by-product of all the hard work and good thinking you do along the way--your preparation. The preparation is where success is truly found. Set your compass in a chosen direction and then focus your attention and efforts completely on the journey of preparation. A successful journey becomes your destination and is where your real accomplishment lies."
As I close the semester (and the year), I would like to celebrate my students' successes. In this summative issue, I invited students who competed for national and international scholarships in YR 2021-2022 to share what benefits they experienced from the application process and to describe how they succeed through preparation. I would also like to give a special acknowledgement to my NSPA student, Claire Weltz, who helped me prepare the newsletters this semester.
Yee Han Chu PhD MSSW
Academic Support and Fellowship Opportunities Coordinator
Student Voices
Benefits of Applying for Prestigious Scholarships
Succeeding through Preparation
Payton Cole: Master of Fine Arts
- How did you showcase your uniqueness in your applications? I focused on what set me apart as an applicant and what unique contributions that I could make in the country. Additionally, I showcased my background and education that would be an asset.
- What did you learn from the scholarship application process? I learned that it is an extensive process that requires a lot of work from not only yourself but others. I learned a lot about my writing style and how to write with purpose.
- How do you develop/nurture relationships with potential reference writers? I developed relationships with my reference writers through my jobs and volunteer opportunities. I was consistent and always willing to help and contribute to projects.
- What is your number one piece of advice for people applying for scholarships? It takes a lot of time and dedication. The process involves a lot of revisions and patience but it’s worth it!
Kaleigh Degeldere: Political Science, Psychology, & Legal Studies
- How did you showcase your uniqueness in your applications? I think it is important to showcase uniqueness when applying for scholarships whether at a local or national level. Many scholarship boards understand that prompts are similar so when applicants can personalize essays to show where they come from, who they are, and what they value it is with ease of mind that the board reviews the person and not a piece of paper. Personally, I am from a small town in North Dakota and have always dreamed of traveling abroad but have never had the chance. When the opportunity to study abroad through UND was set, I applied for the Benjamin A. Gilman that allows for extra financial assistance abroad. Due to COVID-19 I was unable to continue with the study abroad process but was selected as a recipient which I was beyond excited and honored.
- What did you learn from the scholarship application process? After applying to many scholarships throughout my undergraduate career, I have learned that planning in advance is key. Whether it is writing and proofreading answers to essays or asking for references with enough time for them to be written and submitted.
- How do you develop/nurture relationships with potential reference writers? I developed and cultivated relationships with my professors by taking various classes they offered. This has allowed time for both of us to get to know each other and for them to witness what kind of student I am in regards to performance and my passion for learning. I also have held multiple part-time jobs that offer different skill sets that are unique to my character which my bosses attest to in reference letters for a recommendation.
- What is your number one piece of advice for people applying for scholarships?I would advise continuing to make connections with your bosses as well as your professors because those relationships will be long-lasting and offer many benefits in the future.
Nichole Dumlao: Nursing
● How did you showcase your uniqueness in your applications?
I incorporated many personal experiences and even talked about some difficult topics. In an application video I made, I talked about my strengths and how I can add value to the scholarship and my community.
● What did you learn from the scholarship application process?
Every scholarship has different requirements. And like tailoring a resume to a specific job, you would have to present credentials suited to the scholarship's objective.
● How do you develop/nurture relationships with potential reference writers?
I am blessed that I have mentors who are willing to guide me and write recommendation letters.
But I think the main thing for developing relationships with potential reference writers is to communicate with them regularly and thank them personally by giving them credit, possibly helping them out by writing recommendations on their LinkedIn or nominating them for an award.
Moreover, it is also helpful if your potential reference writers are people who share the same mindset and vision as you do.
● What is your number one piece of advice for people applying for scholarships?
Make sure to allocate ample time to prepare and have a set of fresh eyes review your application before submitting it (Dr. Yee Han could also help you with that!).
Caroline Kelley: Commercial Aviation and Aviation Safety and Operations
- How did you showcase your uniqueness in your applications? In my applications, I demonstrate my uniqueness using two strategies. For the first, I make sure to include personal anecdotes in my application essays. My goal is to tell a story that engages my audience at the same time that it is answering the prompt. I include details that are specific to my experience and that enhance the point I am making within the essay. I also do not shy away from any parts of that story that may be humorous. For example, last year I wanted to visit a cat at an airport in the area, and I ended up stumbling upon and getting involved the local Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter. While the cat is not a piece of that story that I focus intensely on, it does help make the story more memorable. My second strategy is to elaborate on the story that I tell by explaining its impact on myself and others. Through this, I am able to give the story meaning and show how my experiences and efforts have been valuable to not only myself but also the people around me.
- What did you learn from the scholarship application process? From the scholarship process, I learned that there are many more benefits to applying for scholarships in addition to any monetary award that may be earned. Scholarships provided me an avenue to learn about myself and analyze what my values, beliefs, and passions are and how I apply those to my daily life. This allows me to get a better understanding of why I am pursuing the career and hobbies that I am and what makes those important to me. In addition to this, scholarships can provide a plethora of unexpected opportunities that lead to new and exciting places. For example, I was a recipient of GlobalAir’s Calvin L. Carrithers Aviation Scholarship in August 2021, and my connection to this organization has allowed me to begin writing articles published on their website, which is an incredible experience that I have been fortunate to be able to partake in. Scholarships are a great chance to network and learn and gain experiences beyond the monetary awards.
- How do you develop/nurture relationships with potential reference writers? Many of my relationships with potential reference writers have developed organically, as most of these writers are coaches and mentors of mine in the organizations I am already involved in. My relationships with these mentors are already established before I pursue any written references. When a scholarship requires references, I seek writers that have already invested in my growth as a person and know my goals as a professional. Conversely, I also invest in any endeavors that they pursue. I do not enter these relationships with the explicit goal of finding reference writers but rather with the goal of learning from the skills and experiences of those mentors. My mindset is to develop and nurture relationships with the people around me, and potential reference writers will emerge naturally from that.
- What is your number one piece of advice for people applying for scholarships? My number one piece of advice for those applying for scholarships would be to trust the process. No matter the outcome of the scholarship, there are many benefits to be had in the mere act of applying.
Nathan Foster: Political Science, Chinese Studies, & International Studies
- How did you showcase your uniqueness in your applications? This was something I probably struggled the most with, and I think a lot of potential applicants likely do too. It is hard to think about things you’ve done in your life in a way that could be marketable to a scholarship committee. Your motivations and goals are such a culmination of everything in your life that it seems so difficult to look for one experience that encompasses the points you want to get across. For me, I took an experience I had, that at first seemed sort of generic, and I looked at it in my specific experience of it. Plenty of potential applicants may have been to a political science conference, but very few attended such a conference as a representative of UND, or where the conference was in Canada, or shared a theme. I took a big category of an experience that may not necessarily be unique on the surface, and I made sure to use all the details of my personal experience to make it unique.
- What did you learn from the scholarship application process? It may be cliché, but I would definitely say the application itself was worthwhile and that even if I didn’t win, I would have been satisfied with the experience. In my case going through the application process helped me to coordinate my career goals. I had an idea of what I wanted to do with myself after college and in writing my essays I found that I was able to narrow down to the exact job title that I truly wanted. The application process not only helped me narrow down a desired career, but it also gave me a better understanding of myself and why I wanted that career. I was proud of my application and my perseverance in completing my application. My application process also helped refine important life skills such as problem solving, communication, and writing.
- How do you develop/nurture relationships with potential reference writers? At least for me, there wasn’t really anything specific I did with the intention of getting a letter of recommendation one day. Both of my references were in-major professors with whom I’d already had several classes with. I don’t really think I did anything special, I went to class, I participated, and used office hours when I needed them. When you see a professor in the halls say hi, stop to chat if you have the time. I think many students would be surprised at how much professors would be interested in your future plans/career goals. Things like that come up organically from just talking to them which lays a foundation for them to know why you’re applying for your scholarship. When it came time to ask for letters of recommendation, I made my recommenders aware ahead of time that I was applying and why. I didn’t ask until I had my essays written and would be comfortable talking about my application with them. Just be a good student and I think that it will become clear on its own who you think you should ask to write a recommendation for you.
- What is your number one piece of advice for people applying for scholarships? Easily the best piece of advice I could give is to start your application early. If you know you want to apply for something like the Boren or a Fulbright ahead of time, you should start as soon as possible. I started in August for my application that was due in February. This gave me time to talk to people, gather information, decide if I was serious about applying, and most importantly draft and redraft my essays. I had the time to suffer a little burnout here and there and be able to work through it. My motivation came in waves where I’d be all in for 2 weeks and then not touch my essays for a month, but because I started so early, I could actually afford that burnout and take some time off from the application. However, I know that it is not always possible to start early, sometimes you find out about an opportunity with 3 weeks until the deadline. My advice then is to draft, and redraft as much as possible. I ended up with 8 and 10 drafts of each of my essays, and drafts mean more than just fixing spelling/grammar/punctuation. Reorganize things, consolidate ideas, expand on others, cut things, add things, make your drafts meaningful. Your first essay may be stellar, but I promise it is not your best.
Emmalia Frei: Physical Therapy
- How did you showcase your uniqueness in your applications? My application consisted of 4 pieces of writing – two paragraph responses and two essays – which allowed me to introduce different parts of myself to the application committee as well as show how those different parts of my life connect to make the person and student that I am. Utilizing that format was really helpful to show that I am a complicated and interesting person really helped me show my uniqueness.
- What did you learn from the scholarship application process? Throughout this application process, I was learned to better articulate my values, passions, and goals in life, something I had not put much thought into before. As I get closer to applying for physical therapy school, this skill will definitely be helpful. I also learned that authenticity was much more important than writing “the perfect essay”, so instead of focusing on what the reviewers would want to hear, I focused on what I wanted to say.
- How do you develop/nurture relationships with potential reference writers? I chose to ask for references from people who I have made strong connections with as well as those who have seen me in different settings because I knew they would be able to speak to my character on a more meaningful level. For example, one of my references knows me as a student, an athlete, and a coach, so they have a more holistic view of the kind of person I am. I also chose people that would be interested about the opportunity that this program would provide so they would be more excited to help.
- What is your number one piece of advice for people applying for scholarships? My one piece of advice to people interested in applying for scholarships is to have fun with the application process and be authentic. Most application committees are not looking for the perfect student. They are looking for someone who is driven, passionate, and has a unique perspective. Play into all your quirks and do not be afraid to talk about failure. All of these things make you stand out in a sea of applications. It may be intimidating to apply for more competitive scholarships an programs, but diving in and expressing yourself in a new way can be exciting and prepare you for future endeavors.
Jocelyn Harrie: Forensic Science
- How did you showcase your uniqueness in your applications? I actually sometimes struggle with making a competitive and unique application. I have a chronic illness that keeps me from participating in a lot of organized clubs and activities so my applications can sometimes appear a bit barren. Instead, I personally try and emphasize the activities that I participate in on my own time. I really love teaching myself new skills and am always trying out something new in my free time like knitting, painting, and learning new languages. It’s important to me to that my applications still communicate my work ethic and drive for learning, and that the people who review it consider my passion and effort in addition to formal accomplishments. I try and make sure that the organization that I’m applying to understands my extenuating circumstances, and views my application in a more holistic manner. I also like to showcase my unique experiences and perspectives. I’m a woman in a very male-dominated field, but beyond that a lot of my distinctiveness also just comes from my own personal background. For example, even though I’m a Physics major, I have some experience in other fields, both within and outside of STEM. I work in Art Collections here at UND, and have personally worked with a lot of different artistic mediums. I’m also really passionate about history and forensics and have some background with those as well. Even though these experiences are outside of my current field of study, they help establish an element of well-roundedness to potential application reviewers.
- What did you learn from the scholarship application process? One of the big things I learned is not to get too caught up in the activities and awards portion of applications. I used to really worry about not having enough qualifications or experiences to make a good application. I thought that if I didn’t have a bunch of awards, or high enough grades, or wasn’t involved in enough activities, no one would give my application a second glance. All of those things are still very important, but they don’t tell the whole story. Who you are matters just as much in applications as what you’ve done. What you choose to write about in essays, and how you write about them also help to establish the person that you are outside of the classroom.
- How do you develop/nurture relationships with potential reference writers? I usually start looking for potential reference writers amongst people that I already know at the University or from other related organizations or activities I’ve been involved with, such as previous Professors, Research Supervisors, mentors, or faculty within my degree program. That way they’re already somewhat familiar with me and my experiences, and will be able to be a more pertinent reference to my specific situation. I then typically email them and ask if they’d be willing to be a potential reference for me. I’ll tell them about the scholarship I’m applying for and what type of things they’d be asked to do as a reference. If they accept, then I’ll provide more details about formatting, deadlines, and any other information they need throughout the process. It’s also really important to reach out to potential reference writers well in advance of any deadlines to give them enough time to write a quality reference, and to have potential back up reference writers in mind just in case. I’ve personally known people who’ve almost missed important application deadlines because they had reference writers that were delayed on returning their finished reference, or ended up unexpectedly being unable to provide a reference.
- What is your number one piece of advice for people applying for scholarships? Don’t sell yourself short. There have been a lot of scholarships that I was hesitant to apply for because I didn’t think that I’d be competitive enough. The worst thing that can happen is they say no. A lot of scholarships now also review applications more holistically, meaning the activities you do in your free time, your work ethic, and your personal circumstances are also important parts of your application. Make sure to include a complete picture of yourself. This is really important for everyone, but especially so for people who’ve had extenuating circumstances that have been really impactful on their lives and education. Don’t discount yourself just because you might have had to take a slower, longer, or different path.
Madelyn House: Political Science and Public Affairs
- How did you showcase your uniqueness in your applications? I believe that my uniqueness in my applications really began to show after many rounds of edits and suggestions from my writing coach and advisors. These people helped me to make my application essays concise and effective, placing my thoughts into words that are understood by a larger population. Having a team of supportive people ensuring you that your experiences are strong enough to qualify you for a scholarship leads to more self-confidence in your writing, and was a great help in displaying uniqueness in my application.
- What did you learn from the scholarship application process? The scholarship process involves a lot of hard work and can be extremely time consuming. In this experience, especially with the Truman Scholarship application, I learned a lot about where my professional education could lead me in the field and how my personal experiences open doors to opportunities that I had not even considered. From this process, I learned so much about future potential in my career.
- How do you develop/nurture relationships with potential reference writers? It is so important to build relationships with as many people as possible in your life. You never know how their experiences will affect you or what you can learn from these new people. By taking the time to have intentional and meaningful conversations with potential reference writers, you will not only gain an opportunity for a letter of recommendation, but also a friend and mentor.
- What is your number one piece of advice for people applying for scholarships? Your time will come! It has taken hundreds of applications for me to start seeing success. Take the time to build a scholarship essay portfolio, and individualize every application once you have those base essays that are applicable to many different scholarship applications. Stay positive and keep working at it!
Elisabeth Kolb: Biology with Pre-Health Emphasis and German Studies
- How did you showcase your uniqueness in your applications? You could be in the same exact situation as another applicant, but the way you respond to all of those experiences is unique to you! For the scholarship that I applied for, I focused on how my upbringing was unique and how I took those memories and values and incorporated them into my life today. In a way, it was weaving all these elements into the story of how I became the person I am today and how I'm still growing every day.
- What did you learn from the scholarship application process? There's a lot more that I have to learn when it comes to writing! The most important thing that I learned was probably the importance of keeping other people's perspectives in mind. Someone could read your application essays in a completely different way than you intended. This is part of why it's important to have other people proofread and critique your work.
- How do you develop/nurture relationships with potential reference writers? I think developing relationships with people (instructors, mentors, bosses) is less about having someone to write you a letter of reference one day and more about the joy you can derive from working with those people. Yes, it's good to keep reference letters in mind, but I really believe that if you seek out relationships with leaders and people you admire to learn and grow, the rest will fall into place. Take initiative! You have the power to shape your tomorrow.
- What is your number one piece of advice for people applying for scholarships? Be patient and keep up the hard work! It's going to be frustrating; there' will be revision after revision of personal and mission statements. All the effort that you put into your application will show reviewers how much you care, and that accounts for a lot. Put forth something that you can be proud of. Even if you don't get the result that you want, you can rest easy knowing that you did your best.
Sydney Menne: Physics & Astrophysics and Mathematics
- How did you showcase your uniqueness in your applications? I tried to focus on myself as a whole and who I am; how everything I do comes together to make up who I am. Yes, some other people do research, some volunteer with horses, some fly planes, but all of them together is what makes me unique!
- What did you learn from the scholarship application process? Applying to scholarships helped me confirm what I want and who I am, since you have to have that very clearly laid out for scholarships.
- How do you develop/nurture relationships with potential reference writers? I conduct research with one of my reference writers, so I meet with him every week and whenever something comes up (whether it's with the research or some new opportunity), I talk to him about it. My other reference writers are professors I currently have, and I'm always asking them questions, so I see them a lot and they know what I'm interested in! If I don't know a reference writer as well, I might share my CV with them and schedule a meeting with them one-on-one to talk about my goals, so they have that background when writing the letter.
- What is your number one piece of advice for people applying for scholarships? Just to apply! If you don't apply, you won't get it. Applying to many different ones not only increases your chances but also increases your applying skills and ability to communicate, which is very important when applying!
Gabriel Randall: Marketing
- How did you showcase your uniqueness in your applications? The unique value that I brought to the table was my career/passion of videography. There are many ways to differentiate yourself based upon your location, academic success, or personal experiences. However, I decided to bank on my proficiency with video production. It is a hard skill that is in demand for any business/organization with any sort of online presence.
- What did you learn from the scholarship application process? It is important to have a plan on what essays, and questions to tackle first. Also, make sure you leave enough time to apply, since external influences can distract you from applying to your desired program.
- How do you develop/nurture relationships with potential reference writers? If you had a teacher or mentor that you were close with, make sure to stay connected with them. They have the potential to not only be a possible reference, but a friend as well.
- What is your number one piece of advice for people applying for scholarships? Research the program you’re applying for so that you can play the part they’re looking for. One of the programs I applied for has a history of nominating a lot of students from east coast, urban colleges. Because of this, they tend to look for candidates from small towns to diversify their finalists. I used my experience of growing up in North Dakota to look more appealing to the program.
Taylor Roehl: Forensic Science and German Studies
- How did you showcase your uniqueness in your applications? In both my CBYX and my Fulbright applications, I really tried to focus on describing who I am as a person as the product of my upbringing in a very rural area of North Dakota. I tried to give concrete examples of just how small my hometown really is, and I also talked about some of my community's German-Russian traditions. I'm relatively certain that these things helped me to stand out to application review committees who must see most applications coming from more urban areas. I also talked about how my somewhat odd combination of majors/minors has allowed me to become a more unique and well-rounded applicant.
- What did you learn from the scholarship application process?One of my main take-aways from this whole process is how important it is to have multiple people review important essays like the ones required on these applications, multiple times over. I've always been more of a first-draft-and-done kind of person, but it was extremely helpful to receive feedback on how my words came across to readers with no prior relationship to me. I also learned how important it is to give examples of specific experiences you've had that exhibit the qualities you claim to possess in your writing. Overall, this application process was a great test-run for my upcoming medical school application process.
- How do you develop/nurture relationships with potential reference writers? I know that a lot of people stress the importance of going to professors' office hours (which is a good idea), but I always struggled with that advice because I didn't necessarily find myself with specific questions to ask my professors. Rather than trying to force anything, I found that the best way for me to develop relationships with potential reference writers was to simply pursue activities and areas of study that I'm genuinely passionate about. In my case, this meant getting involved in the German language department, working as a peer teacher, and joining organizations like Student Ambassadors. All three of these activities allowed me to work closely with faculty, either as professors, supervisors, or advisors. It also really helps to get started early! If you find yourself taking multiple classes from the same professors or with smaller class-sizes, it's worth the extra effort to build a relationship with those professors!
- What is your number one piece of advice for people applying for scholarships? My best advice is to plan ahead and get started on writing your essays early! I did not do this, and I wasn't left with a lot of time to do multiple rounds of revisions, which I absolutely needed to do. It also put the pressure to rush on the individuals who agreed to review my writing, which I still feel guilty about - they were saints for putting up with me. I also strongly recommend that you aren't shy about asking for help from many people across campus (from NSPA, your faculty, Career Services, the Writing Center, etc.) to get a variety of different perspectives on your writing. Don't be shy! In my experience, people are more than willing to help once you give them the opportunity to.
Mahdi Saeedi: Computer Science and Mathematics
- How did you showcase your uniqueness in your applications? We live in a digital world; I believe it’s essential we utilize modern tools to showcase our work. I created a website to showcase my interests and projects. I would recommend putting in the effort and creating a website from scratch rather than using WordPress or a similar tool; it does make a difference.
- What did you learn from the scholarship application process? Learn how to dig deep into figuring out what motivates me and how to organize my work in a presentable way.
- How do you develop/nurture relationships with potential reference writers? One of the most effective ways is to find a professor you enjoy learning from, take multiple courses with them, and do well. If you have a specific interest, find a professor who works on it and reach out. Show your interest in the project and that you are willing to put in the time to learn and work on it.
- What is your number one piece of advice for people applying for scholarships? If there is an opportunity that piques your interest, apply, apply, apply! Maximize the options you have. That means things can get crazy at times, but it’s a test of your time management skills.
Claire Weltz: Communication
- How did you showcase your uniqueness in your applications? With my degree switch from engineering to communication, I’ve balanced my paradox of being highly analytical while also creative. Showcasing my ability to translate data/factual information into digestible tidbits for a broader audience has helped me stand out in applications, especially when I can find a specific detail pertinent to the scholarship I’m applying for.
- What did you learn from the scholarship application process? I’ve learned about exposing my vulnerability. In previous scholarships (such as high school or the Scholarship Central portal), I made an effort to be perfect to the point of appearing “cookie cutter,” but those types of applications aren’t engaging at this level of academia. I’ve learned a lot about myself and how to articulate my personal narrative.
- How do you develop/nurture relationships with potential reference writers? Reference writers are tricky for me. I’m involved with a lot of different organizations and have had numerous professors on campus, so sometimes it’s overwhelming to cultivate those relationships. However, I’ve found it helpful to narrow down my list to 2-4 people that I consistently ask for letters. This allows them to reuse portions of their previous letters rather than asking them to start from scratch every time.
- What is your number one piece of advice for people applying for scholarships? Don’t be afraid of “no.” Waiting for a response is admittedly the worst part of applying for scholarship, but putting yourself out there for unique opportunities is something to be proud of. Fear of rejection is understandable, but the rewards to push past that fear is worthwhile.
Yee Han Chu PhD MSSW
Email: yee.chu@und.edu
Website: https://und.edu/academics/national-scholarships/
Location: Columbia Hall, Room B307 501 North Columbia Road, Stop 7187 Grand Forks, ND 58202-7187
Phone: (701) 777-4436