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Funding Opportunities

Building Leaders, Advancing Research, Impacting Lives: Undergraduate Scholarships in AAS

The department of African American studies (AAS) remains committed to recognizing academically talented AAS majors and minors while advancing student interests and participation within the discipline on a national and international level. To this end, the department provides resources and funding to assist today’s African American and African scholars in critically studying the human experience through attendance at national research conferences, study abroad opportunities and by helping to defray the costs associated with attending college. The department’s commitment to student funding remains imperative to provide a robust platform upon which to make this objective a concrete reality. As such, the department of African American studies is pleased to announce the spring semester 2022 academic scholarships.

AAS offers two types of academic scholarships to eligible students: tuition-based scholarships that help cover tuition related costs associated with attending the University of Houston and book scholarships that go toward defraying the costs of student textbooks. Moreover, AAS provides students with advanced research opportunities and an introduction to primary sources through its study abroad program to Ghana (West Africa). AAS will continue its advancement and support for student education and research initiatives at the University of Houston. The department’s commitment to student funding is imperative to providing a robust and logistically sound platform upon which to make this objective a concrete reality.

Deadline and Qualifications
To be eligible for scholarships in African American Studies, students:

  • Must be enrolled as a full-time student (at least 12 credit hours)
  • Must have completed 12 hours of undergraduate credit in residence at the University of Houston
  • Meet the minimum eligibility requirements of the specific scholarship to which they are applying.
The deadline to submit scholarship applications for spring 2022 and summer 2022 is November 12, 2021 by 5:00 p.m. CDT. 

African American Studies Department Undergraduate Scholarship Application, 2021-2022 (To apply, go to AccessUH and click on the Scholarship Universe icon. Search for the scholarship or endowment you're interested in and apply)

This serves as the African American Studies Department undergraduate scholarship application for the 2021-2022 academic year.

William Alexander Lawson Social Justice Scholarship Endowment 

Established in October 2020 by the former director of African American Studies at the University of Houston, Dr. James L. Conyers, this scholarship provides funding to students who are pursuing a major in African American Studies or a double major in African American Studies and another major of the student’s choice. Applicants must be a full-time undergraduate degree-seeking student in good standing at the University of Houston. Preference will be given to scholarship applicants who graduated from Jack Yates High School or Booker T. Washington High School in Houston, Texas. This scholarship will be awarded in the fall of 2022.

Dr. Clara L. Meek Endowment for African American Studies 

In spring of 2018, AAS Friends honored the memory of Clara Loraine Meek by establishing the Dr. Clara L. Meek Endowment for African American Studies in the University of Houston’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Dr. Meek supported numerous organizations and charities but most cherished UH’s African American Studies Program. The endowment provides scholarship funding and programmatic support for the African American Studies Department. Currently, the endowment supports only academic scholarships until UH permits travel, still confined by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Sylvester Turner Academic Distinction Scholarship

Established in 2006 to provide funding to students who demonstrate leadership qualities, interest in pursuing a career in public service and in providing services to the lower income, disadvantaged communities through education, economic development, social services, and health care, this scholarship is awarded in the amount of $1,000 to students whose GPAs are at least 3.5.

John J. Moores, Sr., Academic Achievement Scholarship

Established in 2006 to provide funding to students who demonstrate leadership qualities, a regard for the welfare of humankind and/or an interest in pursuing a career dedicated to humanitarian principles or practices, and whose GPAs are at least 3.0, this scholarship award amount is $1,000.

John Rueben Sheeler Memorial Scholarship

Established in 1981 by the widow of Dr. John Rueben Sheeler, historian and chair of the Department of History and Geography at Texas Southern University, this scholarship provides funding to academically talented students who have declared minors in African American Studies and whose GPAs are at least 3.0. The amount of this award is $1,000.

Mrs. Debbie Haley Academic Scholarship

Established by Mrs. Debbie Haley and African American Studies, this scholarship provides funding to students with declared minors in African American Studies who demonstrate leadership qualities, are involved in a UH African American Studies Department outreach program, and whose GPAs are at least 3.0. The amount of this award is $1,000.
 

Contact Information:

University of Houston
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
Department of African American Studies
Attn: Scholarship Committee
629 Agnes Arnold Hall
Houston, TX 77204-3047
Tel: 713.743.2811
Fax: 713.743.2818