Following a trend among state universities, Grand Valley
established an office dedicated to helping students find and secure
national fellowships and scholarships.
The Office of Fellowships, housed in the Frederik Meijer Honors
College, opened in December. Jeff Chamberlain, director of Honors
College, said the lack of such an office had been hindering students'
chances at competitive fellowships and scholarships.
"Before the Fellowship Office was instituted, the
administration of the different fellowships was done sporadically, and
different offices administered different fellowships,"
Chamberlain said. "Having a central office gives consistency in
recruiting and advising students, helping faculty identify good
candidates, and giving students the support in applying for these very
competitive scholarships."
The Meijer Foundation provided needed funds to support the
Office of Fellowships. New director Amanda Cuevas is busy planning
spring workshops for students on how to find and prepare applications
for prestigious fellowships. Cuevas had worked as a pre-professional
advisor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Academic Advising
Center.
"I am excited to assist students in disciplines across
campus and help them pursue these prestigious opportunities," she
said.
Cuevas has extensive advising experience. Prior to Grand Valley,
she worked at the University of Illinois as assistant dean of Student
Affairs, and with the Medical Scholars Program.
"The Ivy League universities have had fellowship offices
like this for a long time, but in the past 10 years or so, state
universities have stepped up to offer the same services to their
students," she said. She added that national programs offering
fellowships and scholarships have diversified their pool of
recipients. Of all national awards now presented, only 21 percent go
to students from Ivy League institutions.
Cuevas will work with faculty and staff members to recruit and
identify students to apply for these awards. "We want to provide
access to these nationally competitive award opportunities to as many
GVSU students as possible, and as early as possible," she said.
From her past experiences, Cuevas said she knows the outcome of
applications, whether successful or not, is not the most critical part
of the process.
"Sometimes the journey is more important than the outcome," she said. "When students are putting together their personal statements, or their research and project proposals, they will recognize they need more for their application — more volunteer work, more classes — and that will take them in a different direction. "It's fun to watch students evolve."
