Special Interest and Fine Arts Awards

Wittenberg recognizes individual talents, experiences, and passions through a variety of Special Interest and Fine Arts Awards.

These awards require a separate application, are competitive, and require you to submit application materials.

Important Dates and Deadlines:

For all Special Interest Awards and the Fine Arts Awards in theatre: All applications and supporting materials must be submitted by January 15, 2026, to be considered.
For Fine Arts Award in Art: All applications must be submitted by February 1, 2026, while the required supporting art portfolios are due no later than March 1, 2026.

Details and Requirements:

Students must be admitted to Wittenberg University prior to applying for a Special Interest or Fine Arts Award.
Special Interest Awards and Fine Arts Awards have separate applications and may also have separate requirements, such as portfolios or auditions.
In addition to other Wittenberg scholarships, students may receive either one Special Interest Award OR one Fine Arts Award, but cannot receive both.
All scholarships and awards are renewable for up to four years (or eight semesters), providing the student remains in good academic standing and meets any specified award-specific renewal criteria.

The Department of Art offers scholarships to incoming students who display exceptional artistic talent and promise. These Fine Arts Scholarships are renewable annually to students who maintain at least an art minor and maintain good academic and social standing. Submission of a portfolio is required.

Criteria: The Department of Art offers scholarships to incoming students who display exceptional artistic talent and promise. These scholarships are renewable annually to students who maintain at least an art minor and maintain good academic and social standing.

Amount: $2,000 per year for a total of $8,000 over four years.

Guidelines: To be considered for an art scholarship, students must submit a portfolio of up to 20 recent works in a PowerPoint presentation format. For every digital image, clearly mark your name, the media used, the overall size of the piece, and the year it was created. Portfolios can include a breadth of media or focus within a specific media area.

Deadline to Apply: Applications are due on February 1, 2026, while portfolio materials are due on March 1, 2026.

Eligibility: Students may receive one Special Interest Award. Interested students must apply separately to be considered for any Special Interest Award. Students may apply for multiple Special Interest Awards but may only receive one. All awards will be renewed for up to four years if the student maintains good academic standing and meets award-specific renewal criteria.

Students must be admitted to Wittenberg prior to submitting a Special Interest Award application. When clicking the link below to apply for this award, please log in using your Wittenberg Admission Portal username and password.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the Office of Admission at admission@wittenberg.edu or 877-206-0332.

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Submit Your Art Portfolio

This competitive award recognizes students who are committed to developing themselves as leaders in Business, Entrepreneurship or Economic careers. Recipients will participate in robust professional programming and gain a deep appreciation of the relationship between the economy and society. The program positions participants to solve problems both within and outside of the for-profit world.

Criteria: Awards are selective and based on demonstration of excellent academic achievement, proven intellectual curiosity, evidence of leadership potential and an interest in a career in business or economics. Among the criteria used to select recipients are your essay, resume, high school class rank and GPA. Entering first year Business, Entrepreneurship & Economics Leaders are ensured a seat in a business or economics first year seminar, as well as an academic advisor in the Business, Entrepreneurship & Economics Department in the first year.

Amount: $2,000 per year for a total of $8,000 over four years.

Deadline to Apply: January 15, 2026

Guidelines: Students must provide a resume showing intellectual curiosity and leadership potential. Students must also write a personal essay (500-700 words) describing why they are interested in studying Business or Economics. The essay should demonstrate motivation and personal characteristics that will enable success in the program.

Expectations: In order to renew the scholarship students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 and do the following:

Freshman Year: Participate in the Business & Economics Lecture Series (3-6 speakers from a variety of industries per year). During the spring of their first year, recipients will help plan and promote the following year’s speaker series.
Sophomore Year: By the end of the fall of their sophomore year, recipients must complete ACCT 225, BUSN 210/DATA 227, ECON 200 with at least a 3.0 in each class. In the spring of the sophomore year, recipients will participate in a travel learning experience or participate in independent research with a faculty mentor.
Junior Year: Recipients must participate in the alumni Mentorship Program.
Senior Year: Recipients must participate in mentoring First Year Leaders.

Eligibility: Students may receive one Special Interest Award. Interested students must apply separately to be considered for any Special Interest Award. Students may apply for multiple Special Interest Awards, but may only receive one. All awards will be renewed for up to four years if the student maintains good academic standing and meets award-specific renewal criteria.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the Office of Admission at admission@wittenberg.edu or 877-206-0332.

Benefits for Students

Scholarship support.
Four years of structured leadership and competition opportunities through involvement in mock trial and/or moot court teams.
Faculty mentorship, peer mentorship and mentorship opportunities with local legal community.
Strong resume/portfolio for graduate programs or job applications.

Amount: $2,000 per year for a total of $8,000 over four years.

Guidelines: Students should demonstrate evidence of leadership potential and an interest in a career in law or a related field.

Interested students should submit the following:

An updated resume with particular emphasis on prior involvement in mock trial, moot court, or similar activities.
An essay of 500-1000 words describing past experiences and student’s future career ambitions.
A list of references (specifically teachers/coaches/advisors involved in mock trial or related experiences).
Optional materials students may submit include any materials related to, or videos of student performing in a mock trial or moot court competition (or similar experience)

Scholarship Deadline: The application and supporting materials must be submitted by January 15, 2026, to be considered.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the Office of Admission at admission@wittenberg.edu or 877-206-0332.

Apply Now

Purpose: To support students with an interest in politics and/or public service, at any level from the local to the global. Students will receive scholarship support as they work to complete their major in Political Science, will be mentored by a Political Science faculty member and connected with a member of our Wittenberg Political Science Alumni Network based on their own interests and future career aspirations.

Scholarship Deadline: The application and any supporting materials must be submitted by January 15, 2026, to be considered.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the Office of Admission at admission@wittenberg.edu or 877-206-0332.

Apply Now

The William A. McClain Center offers this award to exceptional students who can provide examples of leadership in a diverse environment and/or within a diverse context. Leadership examples should include, but are not limited to emotional intelligence, relationship building, problem-solving, organizing, and strong communication skills. This award recognizes students who, like William A. McClain, strive to be accomplished students and professionals. William was the only African American student in the Wittenberg class of 1934 and earned his law degree from the University of Michigan and, in 1951 became the first African American member of the Cincinnati Bar Association. William was best known as Cincinnati's City Solicitor (March 1963-June 1972), the first African American in the United States to achieve such a high municipal legal post.

Purpose: To support students who demonstrate excellent leadership qualities and a commitment to diversity/interculturalism. We want to encourage student leaders to be active and engaged in contributing to the campus community.

Amount: $2,000 per year for a total of $8,000 over four years.

Guidelines: For consideration, students must have a minimum high school GPA of 3.0.

An essay must be submitted to be considered for this award.

Essay Prompt: In your own words, define what leadership in a diverse context means and provide examples of how you have shown leadership skills in a diverse context. Further explain how you intend to incorporate the leadership skills you have learned into your experience at Wittenberg and your future career. Your essay should be 750 words and double-spaced.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the Office of Admission at admission@wittenberg.edu or 877-206-0332.

Apply Now

Wittenberg's mission challenges us to become responsible global citizens. The Marine Science Program provides academic opportunities to engage in our mission as you pursue a degree in environmental science. The Special Interest Award in Marine Science will give you the opportunity to complement your coursework with work study, research, co-curricular activities, or extra-curricular involvement.

Criteria: The Special Interest Award in Marine Science is awarded to students who exhibit outstanding academic achievement and desire to pursue a major or minor in marine science.

Amount: $2,000 per year for a total of $8,000 over four years.

Guidelines: Please provide a personal essay about your interest in marine science.

Expectations: To renew this scholarship for the duration of your four years on campus, you must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA. Marine Scholars are required to major or minor in marine science, and will have the opportunity to participate in academic, co-curricular, or extra-curricular activities related to marine science, and to help promote the Marine Science Program. Opportunities for involvement may include assisting faculty in laboratory or field research, potentially through work study, organizing or aiding campus activities that promote the program, host visiting scholars, speakers, or prospective students, providing leadership in student organizations, participating on relevant faculty committees, and engaging in community outreach activities.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the Office of Admission at admission@wittenberg.edu or 877-206-0332.

Apply Now

Wittenberg's mission challenges us to become responsible global citizens. The Neuroscience Program provides academic opportunities to engage in our mission as you pursue a degree in neuroscience. The Special Interest Award in Neuroscience will give you the opportunity to complement your coursework with work study, research, co-curricular activities, or extra-curricular involvement.

Criteria: The Special Interest Award in Neuroscience is awarded to students who exhibit outstanding academic achievement and desire to pursue a major or minor in neuroscience.

Amount: $2,000 per year for a total of $8,000 over four years.

Guidelines: Please provide a personal essay about your interest in neuroscience.

Expectations: To renew this scholarship for the duration of your four years on campus, you must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA. Neuroscience Scholars are required to major or minor in neuroscience, and will have the opportunity to participate in academic, co-curricular, or extra-curricular activities related to neuroscience, and to help promote the Neuroscience Program. Opportunities for involvement may include assisting faculty in laboratory or field research, potentially through work study, organizing or aiding campus activities that promote the program, host visiting scholars, speakers, or prospective students, providing leadership in student organizations, participating on relevant faculty committees, and engaging in community outreach activities.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the Office of Admission at admission@wittenberg.edu or 877-206-0332.

Apply Now

Wittenberg's mission challenges us to become responsible global citizens. The Biology Program provides academic opportunities to engage in our mission as you pursue a degree in biology. The Special Interest Award in Biology will give you the opportunity to complement your coursework with work study, research, co-curricular activities, or extra-curricular involvement.

Criteria: The Special Interest Award in Biology is awarded to students who exhibit outstanding academic achievement and desire to pursue a major or minor in neuroscience.

Amount: $2,000 per year for a total of $8,000 over four years.

Guidelines: Please provide a personal essay about your interest in biology.

Expectations: To renew this scholarship for the duration of your four years on campus, you must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA. Biology Scholars are required to major or minor in biology, and will have the opportunity to participate in academic, co-curricular, or extra-curricular activities related to biology, and to help promote the Biology Program. Opportunities for involvement may include assisting faculty in laboratory or field research, potentially through work study, organizing or aiding campus activities that promote the program, host visiting scholars, speakers, or prospective students, providing leadership in student organizations, participating on relevant faculty committees, and engaging in community outreach activities.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the Office of Admission at admission@wittenberg.edu or 877-206-0332.

Apply Now

Purpose: To support students with an interest in leadership and involvement in the campus community. Students will receive scholarship support as they work to complete requirements in extra circular and volunteer activities in their area of interests, and mentorship that will support them in campus leadership roles.

Amount: $2,000 per year for a total of $8,000 over four years.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the Office of Admission at admission@wittenberg.edu or 877-206-0332.

Apply Now

The Nursing Special Interest Award will give you the opportunity to complement your coursework with work study, research, co-curricular activities, or extra-curricular involvement.

Criteria: The Nursing Special Interest Award is awarded to students who demonstrate an interest in studying nursing.

Amount: This award is $2,000 per year, and may be awarded in addition to a merit scholarship.

Guidelines: Please provide a personal essay describing why you are interested in studying Nursing at Wittenberg.

Deadline to Apply: January 15, 2026

Expectations: To renew this scholarship for the duration of your four years on campus, you must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA. Nursing Scholars are required to major in nursing, and will have the opportunity to participate in academic, co-curricular, or extra-curricular activities related to nursing, to help promote the Nursing Program. Opportunities for involvement may include assisting faculty in nursing student recruitment events, potentially working in the nursing skills laboratory, organizing or aiding campus activities that promote the program, host prospective nursing students, providing leadership in student organizations, participating on relevant faculty committees, and engaging in community outreach activities.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the Office of Admission at admission@wittenberg.edu or 877-206-0332.

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Purpose: To support students who are passionate about community health, leadership, and service. Students will receive scholarship support and be paired with a faculty mentor while also engaging with the Nursing Club to build leadership skills, create service opportunities, and develop a strong professional identity.

Deadline to Apply: January 15, 2026

Amount: This award is $2,000 per year, and may be awarded in addition to a merit scholarship.

If you have questions or concerns, contact the Office of Admission at admission@wittenberg.edu or 877-206-0332.

Apply Now