FAQ

The Scholarship Resource Center (SRC) is a resource for students who are focused on finding alternative funding for their education. The SRC is committed to helping students locate scholarships, grants and cash awards that fit their unique qualifications, educate them on submitting high quality applications and ultimately, see them further their education by receiving funds to fund that education.

The University of Wisconsin Foundation was created in 1967. The Foundation raises funds, administers, and disburses dollars to support programs and activities furthering the mission of the university. The UWL Foundation Scholarships are open from October 1st and remain open until early February. These scholarships are awarded in the spring semester and will be applied to the student account for the the following aid year.

The Scholarship Resource Center is located in The Union 0130. To schedule an appointment, follow this link: 

https://www.uwlax.edu/scholarships/resources/presentations/

Or stop by our office

You’ve already started by finding the Scholarship Resource Center. Search our External Scholarship Database. Don’t forget to apply for the UWL Foundation Scholarships each year (October 1-February).

Already working on applications? Make an appointment with the SRC staff or stop in one of our workshop to get help editing!

UWL Foundation Scholarships are due early February each year but external scholarships have deadlines throughout the year. Keep in mind that many scholarships are only awarded once a year, so missing a deadline can mean missing out until the next cycle. Applications submitted past the deadline are usually not considered.

Scholarships can be found through churches, high schools, private organizations and foundations in your community. You may want to be in direct contact with large companies in your area or your parent's employer. In some cases, you may not have to be directly associated with an organization to qualify for a scholarship.

University scholarship awards disburse in accordance with the University's financial aid award policy. Consistent with University policy, the total annual aid amount awarded to a student, including all scholarships and grants, cannot exceed cost of attendance at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Financial aid awards (e.g., loans, work study, scholarships, or grants) may be
reduced for students whose total aid exceeds the cost of their program for the academic year.

If you receive any scholarship from organizations outside of UWL (e.g.: a local community organization, church, etc.) it is your responsibility to forward the check(s) to the Cashier’s Office and let the Financial Aid Office know via the online reporting tool found in WINGS under Financial Aid-Reporting Other Aid.

When you receive a scholarship from an organization outside of UWL, your existing financial aid awards will be reviewed and adjustments may be made based on the receipt of your scholarship(s). You may see a reduction in other types of aid, such as loans, work-study, or institutional aid.

Be wary of scholarship scams! If you have any doubts about a scholarship organization, avoid it. You should never have to pay for a scholarship. If you receive unsolicited offers to assist you in finding scholarships that seem too good to be true, they probably are.

If you will be enrolled for the 2025-2026 academic year, you are eligible to apply for UWL Foundation scholarships starting October 1st, 2024. Stay tuned for when these opportunities reopen!

The deadline for the upcoming Foundation Scholarship application period is February 1st. 2025. 

Step 1: All admitted/enrolled students SIGN-IN to the system using your UWL NET ID AND PASSWORD. Do not include @uwlax.edu as part of your username.

If you are an incoming freshman or transfer student, you must activate UWL Net ID account before signing into the scholarship system. Activate your UWL account at https://www.uwlax.edu/info/password-reset/.

Step 2: Complete the general application. The general application includes some short essay questions. If you have applied to the UWL Foundation Scholarships before your previous general application has be saved. However, you must update your prior application. 

Step 3: Once your general application is completed, use the keyword box to search for Foundation Scholarships specific to you. Use broad keywords when searching. You can search for scholarships based on your academic college, major, extracurricular activities, etc. For example, use theat (to search for theatre or theater scholarships), phy or exercise (to search for physical education, physical therapy or other ESS scholarships). Incoming freshmen or 1st year students should use the keyword (fresh) to search for all awards related to freshman or freshmen. 

It is also encouraged to use the "show filter" button on the upper right hand corner. Select the scope for your academic discipline. Then, scroll down and select the "filter opportunities" button. This will ensure that you can view all scholarships that relate to your major. 

Step 4: After fall semester grades are posted (typically early Jan.) upload your unofficial transcript. Your unofficial transcript can be downloaded from you WINGS account. Directions found here. 

Please note: You may submit your Foundation Scholarship application at any point during the application period. However, your unofficial transcript must include the Fall 2024 semester grades. If you submitted your application without the Fall 2024 semester grades you must update your transcript in the application after fall grades have been posted. 

If you are need of assistance with finding Foundation scholarships that you are eligible for or building your application the Scholarship Resource Center is here to help!

You must apply for scholarships based on what your class level will be for the upcoming academic year. For example, if you are currently a 1st year or freshman student, you must apply for scholarships available to sophomores (2nd year). If you are currently a 3rd year or junior student, you must apply for scholarships available to seniors (4th or 5th year).

The UWL Foundation Scholarships are considered institutional UWL scholarships. To seek additional scholarship opportunities check out our Outside Scholarship Database

Continuing students must upload a current UWL transcript. You can access an unofficial transcript via WINGS, My Academics, View my Unofficial Transcript, save to your computer and then upload to your scholarship application. In-depth instructions can be found here. 

Please note: Your unofficial transcript must include your Fall semester grades. Unofficial transcripts with Fall semester grades are available to download from WINGS in early January. If you already submitted your Foundation application with a transcript that did not include your Fall semester grades you can go back and edit and resubmit your application. 

Incoming freshman must contact their guidance counselor for an unofficial transcript and upload with the application. Scan the transcript and save as a pdf and upload, or simply upload if you received the transcript via email. The scholarship system is not able to access the transcript submitted to the Admissions Office.

Scholarship recipients who are current UWL students will be notified via their UWL email throughout April and May. 

Scholarship recipients who are incoming freshmen will be notified via their alternate email listed on their WINGS account throughout April and May. 

If you are graduating in May or August 2024, you are eligible to apply for the following graduating senior scholarships if you meet the requirements.

• Alice DeBower Undergraduate Distinguished Service Award for Graduating Seniors in Recreation Management & Therapeutic Recreation (RMTR)
• Alice DeBower Undergraduate Distinguished Service Award for Graduating Seniors (RMTR)
• Joseph P. Heim Endowed Scholarship for Graduating Seniors (Pol Sci/Public Admin)
• Dr. William "Bill" and Mary Jo Otto Family Scholarship in Recreation (RMTR)
• Drs. Suzanne & Joseph Toce Biochemistry Scholarship Endowment (Biochemistry)
• Daron James Williams, M.D. Memorial Scholarship in Pre-Medical Studies Fund (Pre-Med)

Callie Smith, Foundation Scholarship Coordinator

csmith4@uwlax.edu

608-785-8760