Humboldt Diversity Scholarships
for Study Abroad

Overview

The Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit international conservation organization committed to fostering and supporting diversity in environmental science. Our  Humboldt Diversity Scholarships enable students from under-represented racial and ethnic groups and of limited financial means to travel to the tropics and gain international experience in biological research and conservation.  Scholarships can be applied to Ceiba’s “Tropical Conservation Semester: Galapagos, Andes, and Amazon”, or one of our summer programs in Ecuador or Belize.  Scholarships range from $1,000 to $15,000. Award availability and scholarship amounts vary according to the number and need of applicants, and the length of the program.

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This Diversity Scholarship was made possible by generous contributions from the Humboldt Fund of the Department of Botany at UW-Madison and anonymous donors to Ceiba.  To contribute to our the Humboldt Diversity Scholarship fund, click here.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • U.S. citizens from minority groups that are under-represented in study abroad are eligible to apply, including but not limited to Black or African American, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander.
  • Be in the process of applying, or have already applied to a Ceiba Foundation Study Abroad program for the upcoming semester or summer term. Scholarship applicants must meet the minimum prerequisites for the program to which they are applying.
  • Be currently enrolled and pursuing a two to four-year undergraduate degree at an accredited university or community college in the United States. Preference will be given to students enrolled in University of Wisconsin System schools.
  • Be in good academic standing (not on academic probation) and have a cumulative GPA which reflects academic success.
  • Demonstrate financial need as evidenced on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA) and the Student Aid Report (SAR) form, or equivalent documentation.

How to Apply

To apply for scholarships for Spring 2023, please contact courses@ceiba.org

Scholarship applications are due at the same time as program applications; please consult the individual program pages for dates. Only complete applications will be considered.

Applicant Review & Notification

The Applicant Review Committee will carry out a holistic review of each eligible applicant, including the following considerations:

  • Financial Need
  • Academic Merit
  • Quality and content of essays

Applicants may be requested to participate in a short phone interview as part of the selection process. The availability and amount of the scholarships offered will vary based on the number of applicants and their level of need.  Scholarships will range from $1,000 – $5,000 for summer programs, and from $5,000 to $20,000 for semester programs. Successful applicants will be notified of their scholarship offer at the same time they receive their acceptance to the program, about 2 weeks after the program application deadline.

Conditions of Award

  • Being offered a scholarship is contingent on submitting a complete application to a Ceiba study abroad program by the application deadline, and being accepted to the program.
  • Receiving the offered amount is contingent upon you enrolling in the program to which you have applied.
  • You will not receive the scholarship money directly. Rather the Ceiba Foundation applies your Diversity Scholarship to your tuition and fees for the study abroad program you have enrolled in, reducing the total cost to you by the scholarship amount.
  • Recipients of a Diversity Scholarship are expected to write a letter of acknowledgement to the donors (via Ceiba) describing the impact of their experience on their personal and academic development within 30 days of their return from the program.

Dates and Deadlines

For Spring 2023 Tropical Conservation Semester

  • Friday, October 7, 2022: Application deadline for Spring 2022 Tropical Conservation Semester (Diversity scholarship application is due on the same date as the program application)
  • Friday, October 21, 2022: Acceptance notification and scholarship offers sent (via email)
  • Friday, November 4, 2022: Enrollment deadline (enrollment indicates acceptance of scholarship)

For Summer 2023 Field Courses and Internships

  • Friday, March 3, 2023: Application deadline (Diversity scholarship application is due on the same date as the program application)
  • Friday, March 17, 2023: Acceptance notification and scholarship offers sent (via email)
  • Friday, March 31, 2023: Enrollment deadline (enrollment indicates acceptance of scholarship)