The Mark West Scholarship will begin accepting applications for the 2024-25 Academic Year on March 01, 2024. The deadline for all materials will be 11:59 pm on May 01, 2024.
Award distribution: Fall
Award amount: $1,000
Deadline to submit the 2024 application: 11:59 pm, May 01, 2024
Deadline for letters of recommendation: 11:59 pm, May 01, 2024
Contact: icds@wwu.edu with questions
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About the Scholarship
The Mark West Scholarship has been established to support students who are engaging in scholarship related to disability studies and accessibility. The award is also open to those who are contributing to disability culture at Western in non-academic ways, such as through arts, activism or advocacy work. This award is made possible by the generous donation of Maureen West, WWU trustee and Disability Studies advocate. Awards will be selected by the co-directors of the Institute for Critical Disability Studies.
To apply, submit an application consisting of the following:
- An application essay between 300 and 400 words
- Letter of recommendation from a mentor, faculty member, or professional reference
- Informal transcript, optional
- Writing sample or supplemental materials, optional
Evaluation Criteria:
Applicants will be judged on three main criteria
- Has the applicant demonstrated a high level of scholarly engagement with disability studies or disability- and access- related course work?
- Has the applicant demonstrated a high level of extra-curricular engagement with disability-related arts, activism, or advocacy, either at Western or elsewhere?
- Does the applicant demonstrate financial need for the award?
Application essays should focus on these three elements, if possible. However, applicants may be successful if they only demonstrate one of these elements.
Letters of Recommendation
Recommendations should be around 300 words, and they should address the applicant’s academic potential or potential to contribute to campus culture. If possible, recommendations should also attest to the student’s potential for contributing in terms of disability-related academic work or advocacy.
Letters should be emailed by the recommender directly to icds.scholarship@wwu2.onmicrosoft.com.