SCHOLARSHIPS

Alleviating financial obstacles so that talented and high-achieving scholars can fully participate in their collegiate experience

MULTILAYERED SUPPORT

Connecting scholars with relevant resources to strengthen academic achievement, technical skills, professional development, and community- and career-related opportunities.

GOAL

Increasing opportunity and retention for marine/environmental science students who pursue two- and four-year college degrees so that they can secure employment in competitive STEM fields in their home island regions

Scholarship Program At A Glance

S-Scholar Criteria

  • Committed to protecting and conserving marine or natural resources in Hawai‘i and the Pacific
  • Citizenship: U.S. Citizen or National
  • Student Status: Undergraduate students only
  • Enrollment: Part-time or full-time at a participating institution
  • Degree: Marine or Environmental Science disciplines (UH), STEM disciplines (Pacific Island colleges)
  • Financial: Have unmet financial need (e.g., Pell Grant recipients)
  • Academic: GPA of at least 2.0 & passing at least 67% of attempted course credits

Participating Institutions

  • University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM)
  • American Sāmoa Community College (ASCC)
  • College of the Marshall Islands (CMI)
  • College of Micronesia – Federated States of Micronesia (COM-FSM)
  • Northern Marianas College (NMC)
  • Palau Community College (PCC)

S-Scholar Benefits

  • Two mentors to assist in the S-Scholar’s academic and socioemotional growth and support throughout their academic journey
  • A cohort of peers to share experiences, learn from one another, and develop meaningful friendships
  • Access to monthly professional skill-building activities
  • Develop professional and social networks
  • Opportunities for leadership, outreach, and participation in marine/environmental science

S-Scholar Scholarships

  • UHM up to $15,000 each year, 5 year max
  • ASCC, CMI, COM-FSM, NMC & PCC up to $5,420, 3-year max
  • S-Scholars who transfer to one of our participating institutions may continue to receive their scholarship

S-STEM is a last-dollar scholarship, which means that the Office of Financial Aid should calculate the unmet needs of each student after other scholarships, grants, and fellowships are awarded and applied toward the Cost of Attendance. S-STEM should cover any remaining unmet needs up to the Cost of Attendance. Each institution defines its COA, but most include more than tuition costs, such as textbooks, a laptop computer, room and board, transportation, childcare, and other necessities. Any items incorporated in the definition of COA may be supported with S-STEM scholarship funds. 

Selection Process

  • Scholars complete an online application
  • S-STEM project selection committee will review the applications for eligibility
  • The S-STEM Advisory Group will meet to review and select scholars
  • The S-STEM Advisory Group makes the final selections.
  • The S-STEM project team will notify the student and the student’s faculty advisor.
  • Awards will be distributed at the beginning of each semester

UHM: List of Accepted Majors

If you are an undergraduate student at UHM, you may apply for the scholarship if you see your marine or environmental science major is listed below. If you do not see your major on this list, you have an opportunity to explain how your degree relates to marine or environmental science on the application.

  • Biological Engineering
  • Biology
  • Botany
  • Earth Sciences
  • Environmental Design
  • Environmental Earth Science
  • Geography & Environment
  • Global Environmental Science
  • Marine Biology
  • Microbiology
  • Molecular Biosciences & Biotechnology
  • Molecular Cell Biology
  • Natural Resources & Environmental Management
  • Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences
  • Plant Biology and Tropical Agriculture
  • Sustainability
  • Tropical Agriculture & the Environment
  • Tropical Forestry
  • Tropical Plant & Soil Sciences
Program Brochures
Scholar Updates
  • Scholar Application Status: OPEN

Application Selection (Select Your Institution)

Community Colleges (Pacific Islands)
Transferring to UH Manoa

Click the icon to learn more about transferring to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Mark certain deadlines, like application dates for admission and housing, on your calendar. Learn about the fees involved in the transfer process so you can plan ahead. Feel free to contact us if you have questions.

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