Department of World Languages & Cultures

Academic Scholarships for Students

Each academic year the department recognizes the work of outstanding majors and minors in World Languages and Cultures through departmental awards and financial scholarships. Students who receive these financial awards, as well as those who receive other honors and who are inducted into World Languages and Cultures and Classical Studies honorary societies, will be recognized at the annual World Languages and Cultures Awards ceremony celebrated each April.

The six departmental scholarships available to undergraduate students are: Van Iten Study Abroad Scholarship; Louise Semmons Scholarship; Alfred P. Kehlenbeck Scholarship; Ronald Schubert Scholarship; Sarah Dahlke Memorial Scholarship; Walter Chatfield Scholarship. Additional scholarship opportunities may be available from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Students interested in applying for a scholarship should submit an application form [Download Word Document, or PDF] (Click here to download the form for the Ester Catherine Harmon Scholarship) and supporting materials for each scholarship sought. All applications must be submitted to Cindy James, 3102 Pearson Hall, by 5:00 pm, March 6, 2009.

Criteria for each departmental scholarship are indicated below:

Van Iten Study Abroad Scholarship

This award is given from a bequest by Helga and Richard Van Iten, longtime Iowa State faculty members. Helga Van Iten was an Assistant Professor of German, and Richard Van Iten was a Professor of Philosophy. The award is open to full-time undergraduate students in German who are participating in a study abroad experience. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA in their German course work and no less than a 3.0 GPA in their remaining courses.

Louise Semmons Scholarship

This scholarship is given in the name of Louise Semmons, who was an Iowa State graduate. Ms. Semmons left money for this purpose in her will. The scholarship is awarded to students who must be junior or senior language students who have above-average grades and have participated in foreign language activities on campus. Up to six awards may given annually.

Alfred P. Kehlenbeck Scholarship

This scholarship is given in honor of Dr. Alfred P. Kehlenbeck, Chair of the Department from 1950 to 1969. Dr Kehlenbeck was a Professor of German who had a great interest in all students in the department. The scholarship may be awarded to any major in World Languages and Cultures who is preparing to teach and planning to study and travel abroad within the next academic year. Up to three awards may be given annually.

Ronald A. Schubert Scholarship

This award is given annually from a fund established by Ronald A. Schubert, an alumnus of Iowa State's Department of World Languages and Cultures. The scholarship is awarded to a student from a rural Iowa background who is majoring in German or Spanish.

Sarah Dahlke Memorial Scholarship

The scholarship is awarded by the Department of World Languages and Cultures in memory of Sarah Dahlke, a Spanish major who graduated in December, 2003, and who was tragically killed shortly thereafter. This scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate who plans to study in a Spanish-speaking country in the summer or academic year following the presentation of the award. Recipients must be present at the April awards ceremony to receive the scholarship.

Walter Chatfield Scholarship

This scholarship is given in honor of Walter Chatfield, assistant professor of French and Spanish, and coordinator of the department's secondary education certification program until his retirement in 1998. The scholarship may be awarded to any major in World Languages and Cultures who has been accepted into the secondary education program and who has an overall GPA of 3.0.

Ester Catherine Harmon Scholarship

Established through a bequest from Eleanor B. Cowen, in memory of her mother, Ester Catherine Harmon, this fund is used to provide Study Abroad Scholarships for students accepted into the Teacher Education Program at Iowa State University to enhance their skills in other cultures and in languages other than English.

This scholarship is administered by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction for students participating in a student teaching experience abroad at the elementary school level in a foreign language or who are participating in a foreign language study abroad experience. Preference given to those with demonstrated financial need (FAFSA).

A foreign language study abroad award is renewable for a student teaching abroad in the language.

Award

Amount: $1,000 to $2,500

Number of Awards: 11-20

Application Deadline

February 15 for Summer or Fall semester; October 15 for Spring or Summer semester.

Eligibility Requirements

Student is currently: Admitted into the ISU Teacher Education Program

At the time the award is disbursed, the student must be:

• Participating in a student teaching experience abroad at the elementary school level in a foreign language or
• Participating in a foreign language study abroad experience.

Field of Study

• Majoring in Elementary Education and working toward an endorsement, minor, or double major in a language for which ISU has a filed program with the Iowa Department of Education, or
• Majoring in World Language Education and working toward a major in a language for which ISU has a filed program with the Iowa Department of Education;

Financial Need

Important: To demonstrate financial need, be sure to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is made available electronically in late November.

For more information, contact Alex Andreotti, 515-294-7357, aleand@iastate.edu

Forms

General Form

Word Doc | PDF

Ester Catherine Harmon Scholarship Form [55kb]