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Financial Aid & Scholarships: Minority Students

Students from under-represented ethnicities and cultures are eligible for minority scholarships and may choose to explore financial aid from outside sources. This page provides information on scholarship opportunities and internet sites that may be helpful. Students should avoid search services and financial aid consultants that charge a fee for their services. The services can be expensive and do not guarantee results.

While the Office of Student Affairs makes every attempt to provide current and complete financial resource information, this list is by no means comprehensive. Programs, deadlines, and eligibility requirements are constantly changing. Student Affairs cannot assume responsibility for the information provided.

The following is a list of financial aid resources available to minority applicants, eligibility requirements and important deadline information.

Scholarships
Additional Resources

Scholarships

ADA Endowment and Assistance Fund for Minority Dental Students

  • U.S. citizens of African-American, Hispanic and Native-American descent demonstrating financial need and academic ability entering their 2nd year of dental school.
  • Grants up to $500.
  • Please go to the ADA website for more information.
    http://www.ada.org
  • TO APPLY: Penn Dental Medicine reviews information and applications each year. An email will be sent when the packet arrives in the Spring. Deadline to apply is July 2 of each year.

Alpha Kappa Alpha Scholarship

  • Awarded to students who have completed at least one full year of higher education.
  • Financial assistance awards range from $500 to $2,000 and merit awards are $1,000.
  • Colgate and the ADA have teamed up to provide grants up to $2,000.
  • TO APPLY: visit http://www.akaeaf.org
    Applications are accepted from December 1 to January 31 of each year. The application deadline is August 15.

American Fund for Dental Health (AFDH) Minority Dental Student Scholarship Program

  • Scholarships are awarded to second-year students, who are US citizens, currently attending an accredited dental school and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and show financial need.
  • The maximum grant is $2,500 per year.
  • Character references and a summary statement of personal and professional goals must be submitted.
  • TO APPLY: Contact: Director of Programs, ADA Endowment and Assistance Fund, Inc., 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611; phone: 312-440-2567; fax: 312-440-2822. Applications are due by July 31, prior to the second year of dental school.

American Planning Association (APA) Fellowships

  • Awarded to minority graduate students enrolled in an accredited planning program. Must be able to document need for financial assistance.
  • $2,000-$4,000
  • TO APPLY: To request an application or for more information please contact: American Planning Association, Attn: Asst. for Div. and Students Services, 1776 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036. Applications are due April 30.

Herbert Lehman Scholarship

  • Available for African American students at colleges or universities where African Americans are under-represented.
  • Community involvement, scholastic achievement, and potential are considered.
  • TO APPLY: All requests for application must be submitted in writing to Herbert Lehman Education Fund, 99 Hudson Street, Suite 1600, New York, NY 10013. For questions please call 212-219-1900, extension 511. Deadline to apply is in April 15.

Hispanic Dental Association Foundation/Proctor & Gamble Scholarship Program

  • Available to incoming, Hispanic U.S. students who have been accepted into an accredited dental, dental hygiene, dental assisting, or dental technical program.
  • Scholarships available in the amounts of $500 and $1,000
  • TO APPLY: Contact the Hispanic Dental Association Foundation at 800-852-7921 or visit: http://www.dentalcare.com/soap/about_pg/scholar.htm
    Applications must be postmarked no later than July 20 of each year.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

  • Available to Hispanic American undergraduate and graduate college students.
  • Applicant must be a U.S. Citizen or legal resident, be enrolled full-time in a degree-seeking program, have earned at least 12 undergraduate units in the U.S., and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.7.
  • Award amounts may vary, but will be at least $1,000.
  • TO APPLY: Visit http://www.hsf.net/scholarships

League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Scholarship Fund

Special Higher Education Grant Program

  • Available to first year, American Indian students pursuing a graduate degree.
  • Priority is given to those students enrolled in health, business, education, engineering, law, and natural resources fields of study at an accredited university or college graduate school.
  • TO APPLY: For applications and deadline information, Call 202-208-4871, or write to: Department of Interior-BIA, Office of Education Programs, MS 3512, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240.

The Women of Color Scholars Award at the University of Pennsylvania

  • The award provides support to one woman of color in each of these levels of education: undergraduate, graduate, and non-traditional evening school student.
  • Each student will be given a $1,000 award to support their efforts in higher education through the purchase of books, professional conference travel or purchase of equipment.
  • To be eligible applicants must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident, have completed at least one year at the University of Pennsylvania or will be an entering second year graduate student, be an exceptional student who has demonstrated academic merit and need, and must be a woman of color.
  • TO APPLY: visit: www.upenn.edu/ccp/ or pick up application available at the African-American Resource Center, 3537 Locust Walk, 2nd floor, Greenfield Intercultural Center, 3708 Chestnut Street, Penn Women's Center, 3643 Locust Walk. The application deadline is January 22 of each year.

 

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Additional Resources

Hispanic Dental Association
The Hispanic Dental Association provides a voice for the Hispanic oral professional in the United States. Please visit: www.hdassoc.org

Student National Dental Association
The SNDA is a minority student support mechanism that facilitates a national network of communication between students and minority dental health practitioners, with the ultimate goal of improving the health manpower distribution among the minority population as defined by the Department of Health and Human Services. SNDA Regional and National meetings are held annually to advance and refine the collective efforts of the organization. The organization also has scholarship opportunities available to members. Please visit: www.sndaonline.com

College Scholarships, Graduate Fellowships and Postdoctoral Awards for Minorities
Search Engine for minority scholarships and fellowships. Please visit http://scholarships.fatomei.com/minorities.html

Grants for Minorities
Please visit http://www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3specpop.htm

United Negro College Fund
The United Negro College Fund offers a searchable scholarship database online - www.uncf.org.

Black Excel: The College Help Network
http://www.blackexcel.org/link4.htm

Scholarships for African Americans
Please visit http://free-4u.com/african.htm

Scholarships for Hispanics
Please visit http://www.hsf.net/Scholarships.aspx?id=72

FastWeb Scholarship Search
FastWeb offers a free scholarship search engine for over 600,000 scholarships worth over 1 billion dollars. Please visit: www.fastweb.com

Student Awards Scholarship Search
Studentawards.com has hundreds of thousands of awards in its database. Please visit: www.studentawards.com

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Don't forget to review the information in our general scholarships section for additional information on scholarship opportunities, government resources and loan forgiveness programs.


Office of Student Affairs
University of Pennsylvania
School of Dental Medicine
240 South 40th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6030

(215) 898-4550

 


Copyright Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Certifying Authority: School of Dental Medicine
Last Update:
17 April, 2008