About
Awarded to one or more incoming graduate students with strong academic performance, purposeful leadership, and a commitment to making positive contributions to the nonprofit sector.
Award Amount and Timeline
One or more students will receive a scholarship of $7,500, distributed in equal quarterly installments over the two-year MNPL program. To continue receiving the scholarship, recipients must remain enrolled in at least six credits per quarter, maintain good academic standing, and continue to qualify for federal financial aid (through FAFSA completion) each year.
Deadline
Scholarship applications received by the March 15 priority deadline will be prioritized to ensure that students have enough time to plan their finances for the upcoming school year. Applications received after March 15 will be reviewed and awarded on a case-by-case basis, depending on the availability of funds.
Award Criteria
- Purposeful Leadership: A track record of organizing, mobilizing or inspiring others.
- Courageous Commitment: Working and influencing change within the nonprofit sector.
- Academic Excellence: Minimum GPA of 3.00.
All complete applications will be reviewed by the selection committee. Candidates will be evaluated based on the award criteria and may be invited for an interview for further consideration.
Eligibility Requirements
- Newly admitted students to the MNPL program for the upcoming Fall cohort.
- Completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Must be a U.S. domestic applicant.
Priority is given to applicants who submit an optional statement on their application of any special personal or family circumstances affecting their need for financial assistance.
How to Apply
After completing your MNPL application, you will be sent an email asking you to complete the brief online scholarship application, which consists of one short answer question (150-500 words) and one optional question.
Notice of Scholarship Award
Mary Stewart Hall Rising Leader Scholarship award decisions will be made after admissions decisions. For applications submitted by March 15, we will notify applicants of scholarship decisions by April 15. For applications submitted after March 15, we will notify applicants of scholarship decisions made on a rolling basis, depending on remaining funds.
Additional Information
Students are strongly encouraged to explore other financial opportunities by contacting Seattle University’s Office of Student Financial Services at 206-220-8020 or by visiting their website.
About Mary Stewart Hall
The Mary Stewart Hall Rising Leader Scholarship honors Dr. Mary Stewart Hall, PhD, the founding Director of the MNPL at Seattle University. Dr. Hall had a distinguished record of leading philanthropic initiatives regionally and nationally. In the 1990’s, she led the statewide initiative to identify the competencies needed for effective nonprofit leadership, which became the basis of the MNPL curriculum. Dr. Hall was known for identifying rising leaders and encouraging them to join the MNPL program so that they could accelerate their contributions to the sector.