UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A wide array of fellowships and scholarships are available to undergraduate students from nontraditional and diverse backgrounds.

These opportunities will be highlighted Jan. 23 to 27 as part of Scholarships for Students from Nontraditional and Diverse Backgrounds Week, sponsored by the University Fellowships Office (UFO).

“The Fellowships Office is excited to have this opportunity to partner with colleagues across Penn State to provide information on fellowship opportunities specially for students from nontraditional and diverse backgrounds,” said Tanya Furman, interim director of UFO and associate vice president and associate dean for Undergraduate Education.

“We will be focusing on fellowships for students of color, for veterans and others considering careers in federal service, and for the LGBTQ community. We are focusing in some cases on opportunities that have high success rates so that we can encourage students who may not have considered fellowships in the past to give it a try.”

Programming kicks off with an information session offering a general overview of opportunities from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 23, in 323 Boucke Building. Additional in-depth discussions will be held at events for the duration of the week.

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Tuesday, Jan. 24:

Tracy Waldman, of the Institute of International Education, will lead an information session on the Cargill Global Scholars Program from 4 to 5 p.m. in 308 Boucke Building.

“We are honored to have a representative from the Cargill Foundation visit,” Furman said. “Tracy Waldman will have specific opportunities for first- and second-year students, who often face a more limited selection of programs from which to choose.”

Wednesday, Jan. 25:

Students interested in pursuing scholarships in the federal government can attend an information session from 4 to 5 p.m. in 308 Boucke Building. Mary Fisk from the Office of Veterans Programs will be on hand to answer questions for veterans seeking scholarships, as well.

Thursday, Jan. 26:

Opportunities for underrepresented minority students will be at the forefront of an information session hosted from 4 to 5 p.m. in 312 Boucke Building. 

Friday, Jan. 27:

An information session on scholarships geared toward LGBTQ students is scheduled for 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. in 323 Boucke Building. Sonya Wilmoth from the LGBTQA Student Resource Center will offer advice for prospective applicants. 

All students from nontraditional and diverse backgrounds are encouraged to attend the week’s events in order to gain insight into these unique academic offerings.

“In some cases the opportunities themselves are not widely known, and in other cases there are simply many, many avenues through which students can compete,” Furman said.

The complete Students from Nontraditional and Diverse Backgrounds Week schedule can be viewed at ufo.psu.edu.

To learn more about scholarships and fellowships opportunities, visit the University Fellowships Office website.

The University Fellowships Office is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education, the academic administrative unit that provides leadership and coordination for University-wide programs and initiatives in support of undergraduate teaching and learning at Penn State. Learn more about Undergraduate Education at undergrad.psu.edu.