BVU Awards and Stipends

This fund will be used to support the Student Study Travel Program (interim or semester) with emphasis on students who demonstrate financial need. Qualifying students may apply by submitting an application and an itemized estimate of expenses to the Vice President for Academic Affairs office.

Throughout the academic year, awards are distributed while funds are available.

The E. Horslund Student Internship Fund is available to support student internships (travel, stipends, housing) and related expenses associated with unpaid or under-paid internships. Internships must be taken for academic credit.  Discretion regarding allocation of withdrawals to support such uses rests with the Vice President of Academic Affairs.  

Throughout the academic year, awards are distributed while funds are available.

The Edward M. and Jennifer D. Bodaken Communication Studies Award provides support for scholarly research in the field of communication studies, internships for students engaged in communication-related research experiences, and domestic and international travel as it relates to scholarly research.  Scholarly research for purposes of this award is broadly defined to include engagement of an area of communication studies by faculty, students, or collaborative study by faculty and students. Funds are to be used to support individuals or groups engaged in scholarship related to the Communication Studies discipline. While collaboration with faculty and students outside Communication Studies may be undertaken, the research focus or core must consist of topics and approaches appropriate to the field of communication studies.  

Throughout the academic year, awards are distributed while funds are available.

Faculty Deadline: Feb. 15

The Harry Blackmun Award will be awarded to a student who will be a junior during the following school year and plans to attend law school after graduation. The nomination letter should include the student’s academic performance and, to a lesser extent, contributions to pre-law activities.

• Faculty Deadline: Feb. 21
• Student Deadline: March 13

The J. Leslie Rollins Fellowship Award is given to a sophomore student to enable the student to develop his/her talents and interests beyond the opportunities in the normal curriculum of the university. Faculty, if you have an outstanding sophomore student you would like to nominate, please submit recommendation. The Office of Academic Affairs will send nominees a letter asking the students to submit a proposal outlining an experience they would like to pursue if selected for the award. 

To assist you in working with students on this project, please note that this award has become extremely competitive. The strongest applications are built around a truly compelling idea and demonstrate significant legwork in contacting organizations or individuals involved. The student’s essay should include the outlines of a transforming experience, a budget, and evidence of the student’s research into the area and contacts with potential Rollins hosts.

Please contact your academic dean if you have any questions. We appreciate your help in selecting a deserving student for this award. Please forward nominations to the dean of your academic school.

The John and Susan Aschenbrenner Student Development Award will be granted to full-time, Iowa resident, student(s) who is involved in organizations that focus on issues, such as immigration, that advance the role and participation of Hispanics in United States culture and politics, qualifies for the Iowa Tuition Grant and is enrolled at the Storm Lake campus of the University.

Qualifying students may apply by submitting a proposal to the Selection Committee detailing the purposed internship and the leadership experience they hope to achieve. Qualifying students may apply to use the award for a semester or summer.

Throughout the academic year, awards are distributed while funds are available.

This is approved by BVU for the purpose of preparing for their lives of public service and civic engagement while enhancing professional skills, leadership ability, and career opportunities.

Students work with the Associate Professor of Political Science, Social Sciences to secure a Washington Internship. Qualifying students may apply by submitting a general application form and an itemized estimate of expenses to the Vice President for Academic Affairs office.

Throughout the academic year, awards are distributed while funds are available.

The Mac Hornecker Artistic Enrichment Grant for Art Students is a competitive grant opportunity and shall provide an annual award to a BVU art student/students for financial help to accomplish an art project, art related experience, or internship which will enrich their artistic future.

The recipient/recipients each year will be selected by a BVU art professor or, in consultation with the Provost, her/his designee based on a detailed design of an art project or detailed explanation of the art experience or internship.

Students wishing to apply should contact art faculty for more information

Storm Lake native and best-selling novelist Marjorie Holmes '29 donated a gift to establish an endowed literary award. 

Declared English majors with a 3.0 GPA may submit a folder of analytical or creative written work to the Buena Vista University Department of English for consideration.

The Otteman Internship Endowment in support of the School of Science is to provide funds to the support student research and internship programs of Buena Vista University in the School of Science. Students work with faculty in the School of Science to obtain an internship. Discretion regarding allocation of withdrawals to support such uses rests with the Provost. 

Throughout the academic year, awards are distributed while funds are available.

The Otteman Student Research and Internship Funds is to provide funds to support student research and the internship program of Buena Vista University in all schools except the School of Science. Discretion regarding allocation of withdrawals to support such uses rests with the Provost.

Throughout the academic year, awards are distributed while funds are available.

The purpose of the scholarship shall be to award one or more $1,000 annual scholarships to students who meet the following criteria:

• Storm Lake Campus Student
• Genuine interest in print journalism; be a skilled writer, demonstrate attributes of academic quality and personal integrity, and be  recommended by a BVU faculty member in an area related to writing and journalism.
• The recipient of the scholarship will be expected to satisfactorily complete an internship with the local (the Storm Lake area) newspaper during the fall or spring semester of the year which the scholarship is received. The internship will be arranged with the assistance of BVU, should carry academic credit under the supervision of a BVU faculty member, and will entail no expectation of payment from the sponsoring newspaper.  Upon successful completion of the internship a $500 stipend from the fund shall be awarded to the recipient. 

To apply

Student must submit a brief essay (one page maximum) describing their interest in journalism, and how this scholarship/internship will help them reach their career goals.  The student must also include his/her CGPA, intended major, and year in college.  The essay must be signed by the applicant as well as supporting BVU faculty member familiar with the student's academic ability, writing skills, and personal character.  The recommending faculty member may submit a more detailed recommendation, but this is not required.  

Applications will be evaluated by a three-member committee. 

These awards recognize the top emerging leader in the first year, sophomore and junior classes. The recipients of these awards are recognized as students that have made significant contributions on campus, have demonstrated exemplary leadership skills, and have enriched the BVU community through their positive and encouraging interactions with faculty, staff and fellow students. These individuals have been nominated by a member of the BVU community and selected by a committee.

Student Deadline: Feb. 28

Buena Vista University announces a scholarship opportunity for female students in all disciplines who are interested in leadership development. The Wendy C. Waugaman Women and Leadership Development Award provides financial support to female students seeking to increase their leadership aptitude. This is your chance to pursue your dream about what will best enhance your professional and academic development. Creative thinking is encouraged, and possible experiences might include internships, job shadows, special conferences, and unique service opportunities.

To apply, submit a proposal to the Provost including your name, the specific goals for the experience proposed, how the proposed experience will enhance your leadership development, and an estimate of the funds needed to realize the goals. To qualify, a student must have at least one semester of enrollment remaining in her program after using the Award. The recipient is expected to give at least one presentation upon her return. Through the generous support of Wendy C. Waugaman, President and CEO of American Equity in West Des Moines and a Trustee of BVU, up to $4000 will be made available for the selected project. Recipient(s) will be announced at the Student Recognition Dinner in April.

Faculty Deadline: Feb. 15

Through the generosity of alumnus Steven Smith, President and Dean of California Western School of Law, a special research competition award has been established. Named in honor of Dr. Bill Cumberland, Professor Emeritus of History, the award will go to the student who writes the best paper during each academic year.

The guidelines for the competition are as follows:

1. Ordinarily the paper should have been written as part of the regular academic work.
2. Papers may be nominated by faculty (e.g., best paper in a course) or submitted by a student. Seniors graduating in May are not eligible for this award.
3. Among the factors considered should be thoroughness of research, quality of writing, creativity, level of analysis, and originality of thought.
4. The award should be open to major creative efforts (creative writing, visual arts) if such efforts include or are accompanied by relevant writing involving a research effort, e.g., by an analysis of the artistic tradition or school from which the creative work springs.

Papers completed during Fall Semester, Interim or prior to the deadline in the spring may be considered. Papers completed after the deadline may be held over for next year’s competition. Faculty may wish to copy an excellent paper and return such for possible consideration.

Faculty Deadline: Feb. 15

The William Cumberland Student Development Fund was established by faculty in honor of Bill Cumberland’s retirement from active teaching at BVU. The award is to be used to enhance opportunities for special academically talented students in areas of internships, off campus and foreign semesters, foreign trips and internships. The award is to be used for expenses related to interim travel or research, or a semester off campus.

The selection process is as follows:

1. Faculty are asked to submit electronic nominations to the Associate Dean of Faculty office describing worthy students and their respective proposed project. Students that are graduating this spring are not eligible to be nominated for this award. Nominations should include some faculty evaluation of the merit of the project and its place in the student’s study program. Nominations should also give a clear indication of how the award would be used by the student. These funds will be available to the recipient during the next academic year. Some consideration will be given to financial need. Financial need information can be obtained through the Financial Aid office.
2. School deans will evaluate the various proposals and select the winner based upon the merit of the proposal, academic accomplishment, and financial need.

There will be no special form for the nominations. They can take up to one page containing the name of the nominee and faculty submitting the nomination, as well as a brief narrative describing the project in sufficient detail to provide the deans with a basis for their decisions.