Incoming Students - Dr. Ralph J. Bunche Freshman Alumni Scholarships
Important Facts
Award Range: $4,000 to $15,000 (paid over four years)
Deadline: TBD
Need-based Grants: Available up to $5,000 for first year in addition to scholarship
Additional grants are available for succeeding years; financial need determined by Financial Aid office.
The application includes instructions, a cover sheet and application. Pay close attention to the instructions; incorrectly completed or incomplete applications are not processed. Please complete all pages and return them for filing. The Alumni Association does not contact applicants who submit incomplete applications.
2008-09 applications will be available Nov. 14.
The Dr. Ralph J. Bunche Alumni Scholarship is awarded through an application screening and interview process. The scholarship award is for four years and paid out in equal annual installments over four years. The second-, third- and fourth-year payments of the scholarship are awarded through a Renewal Scholarship and have additional requirements.
Bunche Freshman Alumni Scholarships are dedicated to continuing the legacy of Dr. Ralph J. Bunche '27, class valedictorian, United Nations founder and Nobel Peace Prize winner. These scholarships were established during the 1970s to recognize and support students from historically underrepresented backgrounds who add to the diversity of the UCLA community.
Preference is given to California freshman applicants from historically underrepresented groups (African-American/black, American Indian/Alaska native, Mexican/Mexican-American/Latino). Applicants must be attending UCLA the fall quarter immediately after graduating from a California high school, and not applying after a one-year sabbatical in a study abroad program.
In order to receive a scholarship from the UCLA Alumni Association you must be a U.S. citizen or be a legal permanent resident of the State of California. Undocumented students are not eligible for this scholarship.
Applications may be filed beginning Nov. 14. Bunche recipients are also eligible for a Renewal Scholarship, subject to the completion of a combination of 30 service hours annually to UCLA and the UCLA Alumni Association.
Applicants may also apply for a UCLA Freshman Alumni Scholarship; a separate application is required. Please be aware that if a student is chosen to receive both scholarships, only one will be awarded.
Statewide Competition
Every April, select scholarship recipients throughout the state who have been awarded $4,000 are invited to participate in a weekend competition at UCLA, where they have the opportunity to increase their scholarship from the original award to $6,000 to $15,000 (paid over four years). The competition, known as State Finals, is a 30-year tradition that rewards scholars for their outstanding achievements.
State Finals begins with Welcome Day. Students experience an array of activities including a panel discussion with distinguished UCLA faculty, a question and answer session about student life with current Alumni Scholars, and an overnight stay in the dorms with a current Alumni Scholar.
Competition Day includes three rotations of competition. The rotations include an essay writing exercise, interviews and a group problem-solving exercise. The day culminates with an awards ceremony, at which State Finalists are awarded scholarships.
For information about Dr. Ralph J. Bunche and his legacy, visit:
- A Centenary Celebration of Ralph J. Bunche
-
The Ralph J. Bunche Library of the
U.S. Department of State - Ralph Bunche: An American Odyssey
Click here for a complete listing of Alumni Scholarship benefits.
