Non-traditional students make up more than 20 percent of all students at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. These are students who had their education journey disrupted by family commitments, military service, finances, or other reasons. Not surprisingly, money is often a barrier for adult learners wishing to complete their degree. UNLV’s Community2Campus office within the Division of Educational Outreach administers several scholarships earmarked especially for students returning to college after an extended interruption.
The Bernard Osher Foundation Re-entry Scholarship awards up to $5,000 per year for part-time and full time students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree who have experienced a break of five or more years in their education. The UNLV Foundation board of trustees’ Sastaunik Re-entry Scholarship represents a commitment by the UNLV Foundation to get students back on track for graduation and offers up to $2,500 for the fall or spring semester. Eligible applicants should be pursuing their first bachelor’s degree and have experienced an interruption of five or more years in their education. The Re-entry Friendship Scholarship was established over 20 years ago by four Las Vegas women in honor of their friendship; it is still funded by donors who give in honor, memory, and celebration of special friends. Awards up to $1,000 are given for fall or spring semester to undergraduate or graduate students with a minimum three year interruption in their schooling. The Jerri Zika-Semenza Memorial Scholarship awards up to $2,000 per year to part time and full time students returning to college after an interruption of at least three years. In a nod to the scholarship’s namesake, this scholarship provides opportunities to students who are go-getters, self-starters, and hard workers.
The scholarship application deadline for the 2017-2018 academic year is 5 p.m. Friday, April 14. Awards for both fall and spring semesters will be selected from this pool of applicants. Scholarship applications are available online at http://edoutreach.unlv.edu/community2campus. Applicants must submit the form as well as a personal statement. Applicants for all scholarships must be formally admitted to UNLV as a degree-seeking student to be considered for an award. Awards are paid out two times per year based on meeting the award criteria.
Community2Campus supports non-traditional students as they make the transition back to college to complete their degrees. Staff is available to connect students with campus resources including academic advising, credit transfers, tutoring, student groups, and financial aid. To learn more about Community2Campus or re-entry scholarships, call Rochelle Sanchez at 702-895-5486 or email Rochelle.Sanchez@unlv.edu. The Community2Campus office is now located on the Paradise campus in building 200.