Through the generous support of WLI Executive Board members and MSU alumni, the WLI can provide practical support to our student leaders. Several of our annual scholarships are outlined below.
The purpose of the Loaiza-Souza Leadership Award is to empower future women leaders to change the world. To this end, the donors are committed to building a culture that pulls women up to ensure that women receive the necessary support to be confident and achieve their highest potential.
The Scholarship is intended to encourage students who have demonstrated the capacity to achieve educational and professional goals, the motivation to achieve these goals and the initiative to seek opportunities to further their progress.
This fund is intended to support undergraduate students looking to engage in experiential learning opportunities including but not limited to study away/abroad, conference attendance, or internship. Applicants were asked to write a short essay on how they plan to utilize their experiential learning experience to research and/or gain a deeper knowledge of women leaders and/or leadership equity for women. There are two options for students to consider and apply for (see below)
Before you submit, thoroughly review the application, how you qualify, and the information and documents you will need to complete.
Make sure you have a thorough understanding of the terms/directions of the application. Do you know if and/or how you qualify? Can you complete the application and produce the required documents in the period provided?
Figure out when the application is due and work backward to create a timeline for completion. You will want to set a personal due date at least two to three days before the stated due date. This will allow time for editing and factor in time for submission errors due to technical problems.
Make sure you have plenty of time to complete, review, and apply on time. Do you know the application due date? Do you have a plan for completion and submission?
Read and review the directions of the application submission process. It is your responsibility to understand the application's necessary components, complete it, and submit it.
When writing an essay or other content connected to the scholarship prompt, ensure that every paragraph has a purpose and advances the objective. In your submission, connect the ideas from one paragraph to the next and provide examples to amplify your point.
Draft all additional documents (e.g., personal statement, a summary of goals, a summary of research). Have you followed the directions outlined for these documents? Do you have ample time to edit? Have you had a third party read and review? Do these documents represent you as a professional?
Whether for a scholarship, job, or educational program, the application is your virtual introduction to the reviewers. As such, you must take the time to verify all of your information is accurate and complete.
Double and triple-check your application for spelling and grammatical errors. Have you completed all fields? Are there any blank questions? Have you uploaded your revised documents (e.g., resume, personal statement)?
All award recipients must acknowledge the hard work and generosity behind the scholarship/award. This is not only a moment to thank the donor(s) but an opportunity to practice your professional writing skills.
Format all thank you letters professionally, remember you are writing as a professional, representing MSU, and most importantly, taking time to acknowledge the generosity of the donor(s). See general formatting tips below.
Political Science
Psychology
Medical Neuroscience
Psychology
For this scholarship, students were asked to create a mock blog with an initial blog post that highlights an empowering story of leadership. This story could be something that they experienced on their leadership journey, something that they did to empower another female leader, or a story they have heard that provided strength and inspiration. The purpose behind the blog and this initial post is to empower women leaders.
The winning submissions are listed below:
Psychology
Intr Studies in Social Science
Human Resources and Labor Relations
Students were asked to pick one key theme (equity and anti-oppression or health and wellness) and tell a story with at least six visuals.
The winning submissions are listed below:
Political Science-Prelaw
Psychology
Sociology
Psychology
The equity scholarship asked students to submit mock social media campaigns to raise awareness of racism and inequality and promote equity for women and their allies. The submissions were thoughtful, creative, and impactful ideas that ranged from community book readings, video journals, garden walks, educational programs for all ages and many more.
The winning submissions are listed below:
Intr Studies in Social Science
#ACTIVEALLYSHIP
Marketing
Women’s ‘Root out Racism’ Community Garden Event
Lyman Briggs
A Day in My Skin
Arts and Humanities
Workplace Equity for BIPOC Women
Human Development and Family Studies
Political Science and International Development
Political Science
Human Development and Family Studies
See the winning submissions from the 2019 Scholarship contest.