Who should Apply?

If you are planning to attend and present at a regional, national or international conference related to your professional development as a geography major, our department might be able to provide partial support for your trip. 

Please, note that the department financial support is discretional, not guaranteed, and is subject to funding availability. 

Experience Matters!

Grand Valley students are doing amazing things through professional experiences outside the classroom. This site gives viewers an inside look at these experiences.

Click here to find out more!

The Geography and Sustainable Planning Department and Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy are accepting applications for two (2) Undergraduate Russell G. Mawby Fellowships in Climate Change Adaptation Planning and Philanthropy for the academic year 2022/23. Application is open for all GVSU students, who meet the expected qualifications requirements. Two outstanding students selected as Undergraduate Mawby Fellows would work under supervision of Dr. Elena Lioubimtseva, Professor of Geography and Sustainable Planning, and co-author scholarly articles on the role of philanthropic activities and private funding in equitable adaptation planning.

Each Undergraduate Fellow will be awarded a $1,000 stipend paid as hourly student employment during the academic year 2022/23 and additional travel funds to attend scholarly conferences during the academic year 2022/23. The Russell G. Mawby Undergraduate Fellowship is an endowed program honoring Dr. Mawby’s lifelong devotion to nurturing, mentoring, and opening doors of opportunity for youth worldwide, as well as his quarter century of leadership in the world of philanthropy as the CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which ranks among the world’s largest private foundations.

Required qualifications:

• Full-time undergraduate studies at GVSU. Open to all majors.
• GPA 3.0 or higher.
• Sophomore, junior or senior standing.
• Graduation is expected in April 2023 or later. 
• Strong interest in climate change, justice, and community development.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work, communicate, and present remotely.

Desired criteria:

• Outstanding written communication and attention to detail.
• Proven experience in bibliographic research.
• Interest and/or some experience in the field of philanthropy.
• Basic understanding of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), women, and LGBTQ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Review of the applications will start immediately. Interviews start September 5, 2022 and continue till both fellowships are filled. To apply, send your letter of interest (1 page), resume (up to 2 pages), and the names of two references at GVSU to Professor Lioubimtseva at [email protected] .

The Geography and Sustainable Planning Department and Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy are accepting applications for two (2) Undergraduate Russell G. Mawby Fellowships in Climate Change Adaptation Planning and Philanthropy for the academic year 2022/23. Application is open for all GVSU students, who meet the expected qualifications requirements. Two outstanding students selected as Undergraduate Mawby Fellows would work under supervision of Dr. Elena Lioubimtseva, Professor of Geography and Sustainable Planning, and co-author scholarly articles on the role of philanthropic activities and private funding in equitable adaptation planning.

Each Undergraduate Fellow will be awarded a $1,000 stipend paid as hourly student employment during the academic year 2022/23 and additional travel funds to attend scholarly conferences during the academic year 2022/23. The Russell G. Mawby Undergraduate Fellowship is an endowed program honoring Dr. Mawby’s lifelong devotion to nurturing, mentoring, and opening doors of opportunity for youth worldwide, as well as his quarter century of leadership in the world of philanthropy as the CEO of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which ranks among the world’s largest private foundations.

Required qualifications:

• Full-time undergraduate studies at GVSU. Open to all majors.
• GPA 3.0 or higher.
• Sophomore, junior or senior standing.
• Graduation is expected in April 2023 or later. 
• Strong interest in climate change, justice, and community development.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to work, communicate, and present remotely.

Desired criteria:

• Outstanding written communication and attention to detail.
• Proven experience in bibliographic research.
• Interest and/or some experience in the field of philanthropy.
• Basic understanding of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), women, and LGBTQ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Review of the applications will start immediately. Interviews start September 5, 2022 and continue till both fellowships are filled. To apply, send your letter of interest (1 page), resume (up to 2 pages), and the names of two references at GVSU to Professor Lioubimtseva at [email protected] .

About

The Career Center understands that, while completing an internship is necessary to be competitive in today's job market, it can be financially straining. In an effort to help offset the costs of working in unpaid internships, the Career Center provides ten $500 scholarships to students during each academic semester (Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer semesters).

Qualifications

Candidates for the award must meet the following criteria:

1. Enrolled as a degree-seeking student and participating in a Grand Valley State University-approved, credit-bearing, unpaid internship. To qualify, students must meet criteria required for internship eligibility within their academic department.  Preference will be given to students who demonstrate financial need (based on FASFA information), clearly respond to the essay question, and submit a quality resume.
2. Candidates and recipients shall be making satisfactory academic progress according to the norms established by the University.
3. Demonstration of financial need as defined by government programs is required. 
4. Candidates must be accepted by Grand Valley State University for enrollment or be attending the University to be eligible to receive this scholarship.

Award Specifications

1. This scholarship will be awarded to a candidate only once. Prior recipients may not reapply.
2. Recipients of the award will be obligated to pay back all of the monies awarded within 30 days of occurrence if for any reason they:

• Withdraw/drop their academic credit for the experience.
• Quit or are terminated from their internship work site.

Application Procedure

Candidates for this scholarship will complete the online application found on myScholarships. 

*The application deadline is the first day of the second week of classes for the semester in which the student is completing his/her internship, except for the fall semester; the fall semester deadline is September 3.

*NOTE: If you are completing a Spring or Summer semester internship, applications are due the first day of the second week of classes for the Spring Semester.

Selection

The recipients will be chosen by a Career Center selection committee in collaboration with the Financial Aid Office of Grand Valley State University. Notifications will be made through the myScholarships website.

What is WEGE Prize?

Wege Prize is an annual competition that ignites game-changing solutions for the future by inspiring college/university students around the world to collaborate across institutional, disciplinary, and cultural boundaries to redesign the way economies work. Participants contend for over $30,000 (USD) in total cash prizes, all while helping to show the world what the future of problem solving looks like.

Applications will be accepted until October 31, 2022 for Wege Prize 2023.

Geography majors in the past were successful in competing for this award!

The Players

College/university students from all over the world will compete in transdisciplinary teams of five, representing different academic disciplines and different academic institutions.
Undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level student are eligible to compete. 

The Challenge

How can we create a circular economy? 
Each team must leverage its transdisciplinary makeup to collaboratively design and propose a product, service, business/non-profit organization, or other solution to a wicked problem that can help us transition from a linear economic model to a circular economic model. Read the 2023 Design Brief

The Prizes

Winning teams will split the following awards evenly between their five members:
First Place: $15,000 (USD)
Second Place: $10,000 (USD)
Third Place: $5,000 (USD)
Past Winners

The AAG-GTU Travel Award provides support for student members of GTU to attend the national annual meeting of the American Association of Geographers. Travel awards are available with preference to Geography undergraduate and graduate students who are attending an AAG meeting for the first time and who will serve as an author or co-author on a paper or poster being presented at the meeting. 

The 2021 Annual Meeting of the AAG will be virtual. The awards will be reimbursed to GTU students for the cost of registration if they attend the virtual 2021 meeting.

Application Deadline: March 7th 2021

See GTU website for applications 

Submit applications to Karen Johnson-Webb: [email protected].

2022 NOAA Undergraduate Scholarships

September 1, 2021 

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Undergraduates, don't miss your chance to apply to NOAA undergraduate scholarship programs, which include paid NOAA internships and academic scholarships. Applications for the NOAA Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship and Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) Undergraduate Scholarship are open from September 1, 2021, through January 31, 2022.

Hollings Scholarship

Up to $40,000, including:

• $9,500 stipend per year for junior and senior year
• A 10-week paid NOAA internship
• Funds for travel and conference participation

Eligibility:

• U.S. citizen
• 3.0 minimum GPA
• Major in NOAA mission fields, including STEM and social science

EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship

Up to $45,000, including:

• $9,500 stipend per year for junior and senior year
• Two 10-week paid NOAA internships
• Funds for travel and conference participation

Eligibility

• Attend a minority-serving institution (MSI)
• U.S. citizen or U.S. national
• 3.2 minimum GPA
• Major in NOAA mission fields, including STEM and social science

These prestigious scholarships provide students with an academic award of $9,500 per year for two years of full-time study. The Hollings Scholarship provides a 10-week, full time, paid summer internship opportunity at any NOAA facility nationwide. The EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship offers two paid summer internships, one in a NOAA office in the Silver Spring, Maryland, metro area, and one at any NOAA facility nationwide. All scholars also receive funding to present their summer internship research at two national scientific conferences. Note that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, internships may be held virtually. The Office of Education will review precautionary guidelines provided by the CDC in advance of the internships and will notify selected 2022 scholars when a decision is made whether to hold internships virtually or in person. 

APPLY NOW: https://www.noaa.gov/education/news/applications-for-2022-noaa-undergraduate-scholarships-are-now-open

GVSU Office of Sustainability Practices

Click here for more information on Scholarships & Funding through the GVSU Office of Sustainability Practices.

GVSU Frederik Meijer Office of Fellowships

Fellowships website

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (OURS) is currently encouraging students to consider and apply for one of five summer programs

1. The Beckman Scholars Program provides an in-depth, sustained undergraduate research experience for exceptionally talented, full-time undergraduate students at U.S. colleges and universities. The BSP provides funding and support for a student and mentor to conduct sustained research over two consecutive summers and one academic year of research. The BSP provides significant funding for student research and dissemination. This is a full-time summer opportunity with a 15-month commitment.

2. The GVSU Library Scholars Program provides students with the opportunity to have an immersive research experience using the library’s resources and collections.  Mentored by a library faculty mentor, the scholar will develop and enhance information literacy skills and an understanding of library studies as a means to engage in a disciplinary, scholarly conversation. This is a half-time summer program. The grant includes student stipend.

3. The Modified Student Summer Scholars Program (MS3) is geared toward lower division students and first year transfer students. It provides funds for a student and faculty mentor to devote either about 200 hours over twelve weeks, or 200 hours during the Spring or Summer six-week session to a research and/or creative project. Generally, MS3 grants provide a student stipend, faculty stipend, and a small budget for supplies. This is a half-time summer program. The grant includes student stipend and student travels funds. Information sessions available.

4. The Reach Scholars Program prepares inquisitive, highly talented undergraduates to pursue graduate studies and earn PhDs in any discipline. This program provides layers of support through intensive advising, rigorous research, and scholarly engagement in order to prepare students for both the graduate school application process and academic success. REACH Scholars are students whose parents have no four-year college degree (first generation) and come from a lower income background. This is a full-time summer program. The grant includes student stipend and student travels funds.

5. The Student Summer Scholars Program (S3) provides funds for a student and faculty mentor to devote about twelve weeks/400 hours to a research and/or creative project during the spring/summer semester. Generally, S3 grants provide a student stipend, faculty stipend, and a small budget for supplies. The grant includes student stipend and student travels funds. Information sessions available.

Boren Scholarships and Fellowships support undergraduate (max. $20,000) and graduate students (max. $30,000) to study abroad in language-intensive programs in regions critical to U.S. interests, including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Middle East.

(Western Europe, Canada, Australia & New Zealand are NOT eligible.)

Boren Scholars represent a variety of academic backgrounds, but all are interested in studying less commonly taught languages, including but not limited to Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Indonesian and Swahili. Full list of countries and languages.

Boren Scholars and Fellows commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation in a position with national security responsibilities.

Boren gives preference to applicants who are committed to government service and applying for countries, languages, and fields of study that are critical to U.S. national security.

African Flagship Languages Initiative (AFLI) Boren Fellowship applicants from any U.S. college or university may apply for the African Flagship Languages Initiative (AFLI)  to study Akan/Twl, French, Portuguese, Swahili, Wolof or Zulu.

South Asian Flagship Languages Initiative (SAFLI) Boren Scholarship applicants from any U.S. college or university may apply for the South Asian Flagship Languages Initiative (SAFLI)  to study Hindi or Urdu.    

For more information or to apply for this opportunity, please contact the Frederik Meijer Office of Fellowships at [email protected] or (616) 331-2699.