DePaul Community Service Scholarship Application

YOU MUST BE AT CURRENT FRESHMAN STATUS FOR THE 2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR/RISING SOPHOMORE FOR THE 2026-2027 ACADEMIC YEAR TO APPLY FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIP.
The deadline for application submission online must be no later than March 2nd, 2025 at 11:59:59 PM Central Standard Time.

The Community Service Scholarship is awarded to current freshmen students (rising sophomores for the fall quarter of 2025) who have an exceptional record of community service and are committed to becoming socially engaged leaders as DePaul students and professionals. Recipients are required to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.7, declare and complete the Community Service Studies academic minor, participate in at least 30 hours of community service each quarter, attend service learning/community engagement workshops, and meet with the program coordinator for advising and mentoring throughout the duration of their commitment to the CSS program.

To be considered, students must demonstrate an exceptional commitment to community engagement as exemplified by their previous service record, ability to integrate community-based service learning with their academic and professional goals, as well as convey a deep understanding of social justice movement and how it relates to service and the larger Chicagoland community.

As financial need is a consideration, we strongly encourage you to file the 2025-2026 FAFSA, if applicable.

Award
$6,000.00
Scopes
The Irwin W. Steans Center
Deadline
03/01/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. Will you be a sophomore (at least 44 but less than 88 quarter hours) at the start of the 2026-2027 academic year?
  2. Do you plan on filing a FAFSA for the 2026-2027 academic year?
  3. If you are a non-international student who is not eligible to file a FAFSA, have you completed the Illinois Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid or DePaul’s Institutional Needs Assessment Form? If you are eligible to submit the FAFSA, please answer "N/A" (not applicable).
  4. What do you care deeply about, and why? Describe a personal experience, observation, or issue that has shaped your values and your sense of responsibility to others. This could be related to your family, your neighborhood, a challenge you've faced, or something you've witnessed in the world. How has this influenced the way you see your role in your community?
  5. The Community Service Scholars program requires 30 hours of community engagement per quarter, participation in monthly workshops, and regular reflection on your experiences. How do you see this program helping you develop skills and perspectives that matter for your future? What do you hope to gain from sustained engagement with Chicago communities over three years?
  6. Think about a community or group of people in Chicago whose experiences or challenges you want to better understand. This could be a neighborhood, a cultural community, an age group, or people facing a particular issue. What draws you to learn about and work alongside this community? What do you hope to contribute, and what do you hope to learn?
  7. Please upload your resume where it lists and describes any extra-curricular activities you were involved in, the positions you held, and length of involvement.
  8. The Community Service Scholars program is a 3-year commitment requiring 30 hours of community engagement each quarter (approximately 7-8 hours per week), attendance at monthly workshops and quarterly meetings, and completion of the Minor in Community Service Studies. Scholars also meet individually with the program coordinator 2-3 times per quarter. Given these requirements and your current commitments (academics, work, family, extracurriculars), describe your realistic plan for managing this program alongside everything else in your life. Be specific: What will you need to adjust, prioritize, or give up? What concerns do you have about maintaining this commitment, and how will you address them?
  9. Scholarship Connect Student Consent
    • A) Consent Statement

      By clicking the checkbox below, I certify that all the information provided as part of the scholarship application process is accurate. I understand that as part of the scholarship application and selection process, my academic information, financial aid information, and other demographic information may be shared with individuals who are involved in the scholarship selection process and recipient reporting. This may include information from my Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), my annual award information, my Cost of Attendance components (living expenses, personal expenses, travel, books, tuition, and fees), and items related to my current academic standing and career program. By agreeing to this electronically, I am authorizing DePaul University, and providing my consent, to release my information and allowing me to be considered for scholarship opportunities. I understand that if I do not agree to this release, I will be unable to proceed with my scholarship application. I further understand that by completing the signature below and selecting the “Finish and Submit” button in this electronic application, I am signing and acknowledging my consent. My submitted signature in this electronic application has the same legal effect, validity, and enforceability as affixing my signature to a paper document. I also acknowledge that my financial aid information is being released with my explicit written authorization as allowed by the Higher Education Act (HEA), HEA 483(a)(3)(E), affirmed by Congress in the final fiscal year 2018 omnibus spending bill, HEA 485B, 494, the IRC 26 USC 6103(I)(13) and HEA 20 USC 1098h(c)(2) .
    • B) Consent Statement Electronic Signature
    • C) Signature Date
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