Scholarships & Awards

The University of Arizona makes seeking and applying for scholarships simple with Scholarship Universe. Below are brief descriptions for available scholarships and awards. Please make an account on Scholarship Universe to learn more and apply to each of the awards.

Scholarship Universe

Scholarship Opportunities

The Brenna Ilana Berger Memorial awards two scholarships for $40,000 each.

Applications available: January 9 - April 16, 2023

Eligibility

  • Must be an undergraduate student at the University of Arizona Main Campus and majoring in Communication.
  • Applicants must be entering their Sophomore, Junior or Senior year.
  • Must have a minimum of 2.0 GPA.
  • Must carry at least 12 units per EACH semester.
  • Applicants must not be traveling abroad during the year they receive funding.
  • Qualified applicants will demonstrate through a one-page essay how they have faced difficult financial and/or personal hardships but through these they have demonstrated persistence and determination in their academic pursuits.
  • All applicants will be required to apply annually and meet the requirements and eligibility criteria through the Scholarship Universe portal.

Overview

This generous contribution has been created by Robert, Esther and Melany Berger to establish a scholarship in memory of their beloved daughter and sister, Brenna Ilana Berger. Brenna counseled at-risk students and believed that all students should be afforded an equal opportunity to further their education no matter their circumstances. She counseled and inspired students that might have "fallen through the cracks" from no fault of their own and fostered meaningful relationships with countless students to ensure they had the proper guidance to continue their studies. She also believed that there was more to a student than their GPA. This scholarship is for those students.

This unique scholarship is one of the largest at the University and will be awarded to, two (2) deserving students. These awards are designated for undergraduate students who may be experiencing financial and/or personal hardships and therefore may be at risk of delaying and/or forfeiting their U of A education. Students will prepare a one-page essay on these hardships and/or obstacles they have overcome while in pursuit of their higher education.

Brenna counseled, guided and inspired her students to be their best no matter their circumstances and her legacy will live on forever for those awarded this incredible honor.

For more from the donors and the 2019-2020 recipients, watch this short clip: https://bit.ly/3pQAu0e.

The Communication Tuition Scholarship awards one Arizona resident and one non-resident variable amounts.

Next application cycle opens: January 2025

This is a tuition-only scholarship for one Arizona resident and one non-resident student; awardees can be either incoming freshmen or transfer students. The award is renewable for up to 8 semester for incoming freshmen, and up to four semester for transfer students who continue to meet the eligibility requirements, which include:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  • Be classified as an Arizona resident or non-resident for tuition purposes.
  • Students must be pursuing a first Bachelor's Degree in Communication for Undergraduate studies.
  • Students must verify lawful presence as described under Arizona's Proposition 300.
  • Semesters without lawful presence verified will be lost and counted against the scholarship's total eight semesters.
  • The minimum unit enrollment requirement default is 12 units for undergraduate students for the award to disburse. Students are strongly encouraged to complete enough units each academic year to remain on track to graduate within the maximum period the award covers.
  • Must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0

The Marcy Finerman Lewis Scholarship awards an undergraduate student $1,228.

Applications open: January 9-April 16, 2023

A generous contribution has been made the donor through the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, to establish a scholarship in Marcy Finerman Lewis’s memory and honor.

The Marcy Finerman Lewis Scholarship supports an undergraduate student majoring in Communication at the University of Arizona or Arizona Online. Required GPA of 3.0, available to undergraduates students currently registered for a minimum of 12 units and who demonstrate financial need. Student may receive this scholarship one time. 

The David A. Williams Undergraduate Scholarship awards an undergraduate student $1,000.

Applications open: January 9-April 16, 2023

A generous contribution has been made to establish a scholarship in honor of Communication Professor Emeritus, David A. Williams.

The David A. Williams Undergraduate Scholarship in Communication supports an undergraduate student majoring in Communication at the University of Arizona or Arizona Online. Applicants must be entering their senior year and also must demonstrate particular ability or dedication to their studies.  Preference is given to students with demonstrated financial need.  All scholarships shall be granted and approved on a yearly basis.  The scholarship will be used during senior year. 

The Natalia and Nadezhda Gaganova Award grants up to $200 to undergraduate students.

Applications open: January 9-April 16, 2023

A generous contribution made by Kristina B. Boynova to establish an award in honor of Natalia and Nadezhda Gaganova. 

The award is designated for undergraduate students majoring in Communication, a major in the College of SBS, who were born outside of the US but came here to pursue a university education. The students must be entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year at the University of Arizona or Arizona Online. The students may have financial, personal, or physical hardships, but through these hardships they have demonstrated perseverance in their academic endeavors. The students will prepare a one-page essay on obstacles they have overcome in pursuit of their higher education dreams, including their emigration to the United States. Students must demonstrate an academic standing of 2.0 GPA and carry at least 12 units each semester in order to be eligible to receive the award. The award is renewable, but the student holding the award must apply annually to meet the specifications of the award.

It is the preference of the donor that, in order to honor the sacrifices of her family, students from Russia or one of its former republics would have a high priority for receiving the award. The donor understands that all international students are eligible for this award and that in years in which no Russian-born students apply for the award, it is acceptable to award it to the otherwise most qualified applicant.

 

Nominations accepted TBA.

This scholarship award is very unique in that it is awarded to those who demonstrate the most ability to persevere AND graduate while overcoming personal, economic, physical, emotional and/or educational obstacles throughout their UA career. This award is NOT based on GPA. 

Eligibility requirements for applying:

  • Must be a Communication major at the University of Arizona or Arizona Online
  • Must be a graduating senior and walking in convocation in Spring semester (when in-person convocation resumes)

Scholarship Details

More Information

For more information on previous scholarship awardees and past application guides, please view the 2021-2022 Scholarship Guide.