Grants & Fellowships
Highlighted below are a few of the grants and fellowships available to Vassar alumnae/i. For more information on these and other grants and fellowships, contact the Office for Fellowships and Pre-Health Advising.
The Jack Kent Cooke Graduate Scholarship
Alexandra Zaleta '02 was awarded a Jack Kent Cooke (JKC) Scholarship in 2005.
Vassar may nominate two seniors or recent graduates each year for the Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship, intended for promising students with financial need, though nomination does not guarantee nominees the scholarship. Recipients receive funding for tuition, fees, and living expenses for the length of the degree program, up to six years. A GPA of 3.5 is required. Nominees must not yet have begun graduate study.
The Ann Cornelisen Fellowship for Graduating Seniors and Recent Alumnae/i
This fellowship provides up to $18,000 to graduates who wish to study a current spoken language in any country outside of the United States, preferably in conjunction with an interest in sociology, diplomatic service, or international law. Applicants must be enrolled in or accepted to a formal foreign language program, though they need not to have studied the language previously.
The Fulbright Program
The following alumnae/i received Fulbright grants in 2009: Ethan Bien ’04 was awarded a grant to travel to Russia to study Soviet animation, the people who have produced it, and the techniques they have used. Acacia O'Connor ’08 was awarded an English teaching assistantship in Italy.
America’s flagship international educational exchange, the Fulbright Program has provided 108,160 Americans the opportunity to study, teach, or do research abroad and 178,340 students, scholars and teachers from other countries to engage in similar activities in the United States. The program operates in over 155 countries worldwide. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic or professional achievement, as well as demonstrated leadership potential in their fields. Full grants are available to almost any country in the world (for graduate study/research). English Teaching Assistantships are available in more than 40 countries.
The Luce Scholars Program
Liana Bianchi '01 was a Luce scholar in 2006.
Vassar may nominate three candidates for this scholarship, which endeavors to increase awareness of Asia among future leaders in American society by sponsoring 18 young Americans each year to live and work in Asia. Candidates must be American citizens who are no more than 29 years old on September 1 and who have a record of high achievement with a clearly defined career interest in professional accomplishment. Those who already have significant experience in Asia or Asian studies are not eligible.
The Maguire Fellowship for Graduate Study
Recent awards have gone to Maya Barolo-Rizvi ’08, Judy Atinuke Esan ’08, Sophie Feintuch ’08, David Knowles ’08, and Tatiana Vlahovic ’08.
Intended for recent graduates wishing to pursue their interest in the humanities abroad, this fellowship awards up to $16,000 to graduates with a well-developed proposal of study with a clear academic focus. Evidence of sufficient language skills and academic preparation to successfully undertake the proposed study must be presented as well as a clear articulation of how the Fellowship will further one's future objectives. (See Vassar Fellowships for Graduate Study.)
The Vassar W.K. Rose Fellowship in the Creative Arts
The 2008-2009 award went to Katherine Mangiardi ‘04, a painter and installation artist.
Intended to provide a worthy young artist a minimum of $45,000 and the chance to be free after college to get on with their work as an artist, the Rose Fellowship is available to artists in the fields of writing, visual arts (including film), and music composition. Applicants must have demonstrated a creative talent during undergraduate study, must not be employed by the college, must not have attained substantial recognition in their field, and be under the age of 36. This fellowship is not intended for graduate study.
Time-Out Grant
Former Time-Out Grant recipients include Roberta Price '68 and Petero Sabune '77. Read about other grant recipients (.pdf download, view with Adobe's free Acrobat Reader).
The Time-Out Grant is operated out of the Office of Development. Vassar alumnae/i who have reached their 40th birthday by June 30 of the following calendar year, and who wish to make a career change or to take time out to pursue a strongly desired endeavor, but lack the financial resources to do so, are eligible to apply for this grant. Learn more...