Thurgood Marshall/Cesar Chavez/Russell Means Scholarship

Purpose

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) is committed to increasing the access of underrepresented students of color to educational opportunities at WPI, one of the oldest engineering schools in the country. WPI understands the importance of continuing America's global competitiveness by recruiting, retaining, graduating and employing professionals of African, Latino and Native American descent.

In 1993, the Thurgood Marshall/Cesar Chavez/Russell Means Scholarship was established to recognize the academic achievements and leadership skills of African American, Latino, and American Indian students. The scholarship program was named in honor of these three men who made significant contributions to their communities and to American society. Thurgood Marshall was the first African American appointed to the United States Supreme Court; Cesar Chavez, leader of the United Farm Workers; Russell Means, leader of the American Indian Movement.

Guidelines

A four-year renewable merit and need based scholarships ranging from $8,000 to full tuition per year will be awarded to students who have been admitted to WPI. No application is required. Students receiving this scholarship will be notified by mail, and the amount awarded will be noted in the financial aid package.

Scholarship candidates must also be either United States citizens or permanent residents. International students are not eligible for this scholarship opportunity.

Scholarship Renewal

Scholarship recipients are eligible for four years of funding. Recipients must maintain good academic standing and actively participate in the Excellence in Mathematics, Science and Engineering Program (EMSEP) to be considered for funding each year. Academic performance will be reviewed at the end of each academic year to determine eligibility for renewal.

Students selected for the scholarship who enroll at WPI will also be chosen to participate in the Excellence in Mathematics and Science and Engineering Program (EMSEP). EMSEP is a support network designed to provide students of color with support services, including academic advising, personal and financial aid counseling, peer tutoring, study groups, a summer bridge program, and leadership training and development.