Community Impact Awards
The Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement coordinates the application and/or selection process for the Community Impact Awards: Scholarships for students serving and leading in their communities. The application process for these scholarships opens in January with an application deadline of mid-February. Scholarship amounts vary by award but typically range between $500 and $2500.
Applications are available on-line. Please note that the qualifications for each scholarship are different, but there is only one common application. Based on your responses to the demographic questions, the application will populate which scholarships you are eligible to apply for. All submissions, however, must include a complete application, an essay, a resume, and two references. Please note that some scholarships require additional materials.
Note: Applicants must be a full-time RIT matriculated undergraduate student both at the time of application (typically the Spring) and when the scholarship is distributed (typically the following Fall). Awards are generally added directly to the student’s account.
Application will open on Monday, January 13, 2020. The application will be due on Monday, February 17, 2020.
Available Awards & Scholarships
Tiger Spirit Leadership Award
| Classification (at time of application) |
Undergraduate |
| GPA Requirement | 2.0 minimum |
| Financial Eligibility | N/A |
| Judicial | Good Judicial Standing |
| Additional Requirements | Recipient must have demonstrated significant and unique contributions towards the improvement and quality of campus life, tradition, pride, and spirit at RIT. |
| Contact | Sri Kartik | skrla@rit.edu |
Walls Olson Memorial Scholarship
| Classification (at time of application) |
2nd and 3rd year. 4th year if in 5 year program. (Undergraduate) |
| GPA Requirement | 1.80-2.80 |
| Financial Eligibility | N/A |
| Judicial | Good Judicial Standing |
| Additional Requirements | Recipient must be active in at least two major student activities. |
| Contact | Sri Kartik | skrla@rit.edu |
Joseph T Ferraro Memorial Scholarship
| Classification (at time of application) |
Undergraduate |
| GPA Requirement | 2.0 minimum |
| Financial Eligibility | Demonstrate financial need |
| Judicial | Good Judicial Standing |
| Additional Requirements | Recipient must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated an interest in and ability to build bridges among people of diverse backgrounds. |
| Contact | Monica Sanford | mlsccl@rit.edu |
Isaac L. Jordan Sr. Endowed Scholarship
| Classification (at time of application) |
Undergraduate |
| GPA Requirement | N/A |
| Financial Eligibility | N/A |
| Judicial | Good Judicial Standing |
| Additional Requirements | Recipient must have demonstrated an understanding of the concept of diversity through overt contributions to this area. |
| Contact | Sandy Whitmore | swwpro@rit.edu |
Alfred L. and Ruby C. Davis Scholarship
| Classification (at time of application) |
2nd and 3rd year. 4th year if in a 5 year program. (Undergraduate) |
| GPA Requirement | 2.0 minimum |
| Financial Eligibility | Demonstrate financial need |
| Judicial | Good Judicial Standing |
| Additional Requirements | Recipient(s) must have demonstrated significant effort towards the improvement and quality of campus. |
| Contact | Sri Kartik | skrla@rit.edu |
Susan Willoughby, Lanette Moore, and Cheryl Bulls Scholarship
| Classification (at time of application) |
Undergraduate |
| GPA Requirement | 2.30 minimum |
| Financial Eligibility | N/A |
| Judicial | Good Judicial Standing |
| Additional Requirements | Recipient must have demonstrated leadership in student groups and/or community activities. Recipients must be AALANA students: African American, Hispanic-American, or Native-American. |
| Contact | Sri Kartik | skrla@rit.edu |
Frederick Douglass Scholarship
| Classification (at time of application) |
Undergraduate |
| GPA Requirement | 2.5 |
| Financial Eligibility | N/A |
| Judicial | Good Judicial Standing |
| Additional Requirements | Recipient must have demonstrated leadership, campus citizenship and community service. Recipients must be AALANA students: African American, Hispanic-American, or Native-American. |
| Contact | Megan Tornow | metnsc@rit.edu |
Alpha Phi Omega Endowed Scholarship
| Classification (at time of application) |
Undergraduate |
| GPA Requirement | N/A |
| Financial Eligibility | Demonstrate financial need |
| Judicial | Good Judicial Standing |
| Additional Requirements | Candidates must demonstrate that service to the RIT community is a personal commitment and an integral part of their university experience. Preference for current and active members of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity. |
| Contact | Sri Kartik | skrla@rit.edu |