UH System Common Scholarship Application Requirements

Information here is regarding the UH System Common Scholarship Application. To learn about application processes for other scholarships available through your campus, please return to the scholarship homepage, and click on your intended home campus’ link so that you may look through all applications that might be available to you.

A large portion of the scholarships available through this application are funded by UH Foundation donors. However, there are other small system and campus scholarships that utilize this application. Students are encouraged to apply annually.

Before starting your application, review the application requirements and other important information located on this website

Requirements

The UH System Common Scholarship Application is generally made up of the following components:

Personal Statement (900-word limit)

You are required to submit a personal statement for the UH System Common Scholarship Application. You might find it beneficial to complete your personal statement in a word document, so you may save it, copy and paste it into your application, and also use it for other applications as needed. Your personal statement should address:

• Why you think you deserve a scholarship;
• How these scholarships have helped and/or will help in your education;
• Your educational and career goals;
• Any accomplishments, including any honors or awards;
• Current employment;
• Your personal background, including any highlights, special situations in your life or other information that you want the Scholarship Committee to take into consideration (i.e. returning to school later in life, raising children while pursuing a degree, etc.); and
• Any barriers to your reaching your educational goals and how you plan to overcome them (i.e. socio-economic or educational disadvantages).

Community Service (600-word limit)

You have the option of completing an essay describing any service activities you participated in. This essay is not required, but is strongly encouraged, as history of service is a consideration for many of our scholarships.

There are many ways to be of service to others. In this essay, please consider:

• Formal and/or informal service activities or projects and volunteer work;
• Significant home or family responsibilities, such as providing financial support to your parents, providing child or elder care, working unpaid in a family business, etc.;
• Any activities that demonstrate your willingness to contribute or give back to your community;
• Please indicate if activities were paid or unpaid, and whether they were part of coursework

Other Optional Essays

The Common Scholarship application contains several optional essay questions that may be specific to certain campuses or areas of study. It is recommended that you complete those that apply to you in order to be considered for the maximum amount of scholarships available. If a particular optional scholarship does not apply to you, you may leave it blank.

These essays do not replace your personal statement. Again, you may find it beneficial to complete essays in a word document, and then copy and paste them into your application.

Some of the topics for essays are below:

1. 442nd Veterans Endowed Scholarship (900-word limit)—Describe the role of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team of the United States Army in World War II and their legacy. Complete this essay only if you want to be considered for the 442nd Veterans Endowed Scholarship Fund.
2. Health Care (600-word limit)—Describe what health care related activities you participated in (i.e. demonstrated commitment to health care, volunteer work, employment in health services, enrolled in a degree program in any area of health fields; career goals and plans in the health care field regardless of area of study; how you intend to impact the health of your community in the State of Hawaiʻi .) Complete this essay only if you want to be considered for our health care related scholarships.
3. Environmental Sustainability (600-word limit)—Describe your interest in the field of environmental sustainability, activities that you participated in and how you intend to continue promoting environmental sustainability in the future. Complete this essay only if you want to be considered for the Alaska Airlines Environmental Endowed Scholarship Fund.
4. Evans Scholarship for Culinary Arts ( Hawaiʻi CC, 500-word limit) —Complete an essay or short video about your commitment to the culinary industry, your career goals, and your plans for achieving those goals.
5. Loui Student Innovation (Honolulu CC, 600-word limit )—Describe what new processes, fabrications, products, or new technologies that you are interested in to improve the carpentry field.
6. John Young—Fine and Performing Arts scholarship at multiple campuses. If you are interested in this scholarship and are attending one of these campuses, please complete the unique essay prompt:
   • Leeward CC (600-word limit) — Describe your accomplishments in the field of Fine Arts.
   • Windward CC (600-word limit) —Describe how you currently finance your education and how this scholarship would help you reach your education and artistic goals. Describe your career goals as an artistic person.
7. Fallbeck Timmons Botany ( Kauaʻi CC , 600-word limit)—Describe your interest in the field of natural sciences or botany.
8. Kimo Farrish (Leeward CC , 600-word limit)—Describe your interest in the fields of Hawaiian Studies, Music, and/or Environmental Studies.
9. Chandler ( UH West Oʻahu , 600-word limit)—Describe your interest in public administration and/or social science.
10. Dr. Rockne Freitas ( UH West Oʻahu , 600-word limit)—Describe your commitment to perpetuate Native Hawaiian culture through service to the Native Hawaiian community.
11. Hawaiian and Indigenous Health ( UH West Oʻahu , 600-word limit)—Describe your commitment to addressing Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or Indigenous health disparities in your career.
12. Performing Arts ( UH Hilo, 600-word limit)—What impact would receiving a performing arts scholarship have on your studies?
13. Pharmacy ( UH Hilo, 600-word limit)—Describe your activities that have helped promote diversity within the Pharmacy profession.
14. Study Abroad Service Project ( UH Hilo, 600-word limit)—Propose a service project that you would implement upon your return to UH Hilo and the US . This proposal should include how you would share your experience, how you would inform and encourage others to study abroad, and why you chose this project. It should also include details such as your target audience, timeline, and partner offices/organizations.
15. Study Abroad Interest ( UH Hilo, 600-word limit)—State your motivation for studying abroad, and how the program will contribute to your academic and/or career goals.

Letters of Recommendation

Many of our scholarships require one or more Letters of Recommendation (LORs). You can list up to three recommenders on the Letter of Recommendation form in the Scholarship Manager site. You will need your recommender’s name and email address in order to complete the form.

As a courtesy to your recommenders, it is advised that you request permission to use them as recommenders and advise them of the deadline to submit their Letter of Recommendation through the online application process. Examples of recommenders include past or present teachers/professors, employers, religious leaders, caseworkers, community leaders, and organization leaders. Letters from relatives and friends will not be accepted.

Once you add a recommender on your application, they will receive an email from scholars@hawaii.edu with a link so they can access the online recommendation form. All LORs must be submitted by the recommender online – we cannot accept emails or hard copies in the mail. Please note both of these important deadlines:

Deadline for students to enter name/email of recommenders:
4:00pm (HST), March 1 , 2024
Deadline for recommenders to submit their recommendation form:
4:00pm (HST), March 8 , 2024

Transcripts

Some scholarships require a transcript, so uploading your high school or previous non-UH college transcript(s) is highly recommended in order to be considered for the maximum number of scholarships. Transcripts can be unofficial, but must clearly show your name, grades, GPA, and date printed. During the busy scholarship and admissions season, many schools require additional time for transcript requests so be sure to make your request early.

Not sure if you need to submit a transcript? If you answer “yes” to any of the questions below, you do need to submit a transcript.

1. Are you a graduating high school senior?
2. Is this your first time attending college?
3. Are you transferring from a non-UH college?

Transcripts must be uploaded by March 1, 2024 in order to be included with your application.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

While not required, students applying for the UH System Scholarships are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Completing your FAFSA by March 1st will assist reviewing committees in determining eligibility if a scholarship requires demonstration of need.

Campus specific questions and requirements

When completing your application, you will be asked to indicate your home campus and second choice campus for the application year. Based on your responses, you will be presented with additional questions that will help those campuses to determine if you may be eligible for their campus-specific funds.

The online UH System Common Scholarship Application (hosted by NextGen Web Solutions) has a security feature that causes the application to time out after 45 minutes. However, the timer will reset to the full 45 minutes each time you navigate to a new page in the application. It is highly recommended that you prepare your personal statement and essays ahead of time and copy and paste them into the application.

You may also save and exit the application, and return later to continue your application as much as you like before the submission deadline. However, once you submit your application you will be unable to make any additional changes.

Deadlines

The applicant is responsible for ensuring that all materials, including transcripts and letters of recommendation, are submitted no later than the deadlines listed. Failure to have all materials submitted by the specified deadlines will result in an incomplete application. Meeting the application requirements and scholarship criteria does not guarantee that you will receive a scholarship.

• March 1, 2024 at 4:00pm ( HST )
  • UH System Common Scholarship Application submitted through Scholarship Manager.
  • Deadline to upload your high school/college transcript(s) through Scholarship Manager, in the “Transcripts Form.”
  • Deadline for students to enter name/email of recommenders through Admissions Overview our ten Campuses | University of Hawaii System Scholarship Manager, in the “Letters of Recommendation Form.”

  Have a question about UH System Scholarships?

  Check the FAQ page or email the UH System Scholarship Office at scholars@hawaii.edu.

  For information regarding other campus-specific scholarships, please contact the appropriate campus financial aid office.

  Resources:

  • Application checklist ( PDF )
  • Student Letter of Recommendation Information (PDF)
  • Recommender Information (PDF)
  • Letter of Recommendation Questions Sample (PDF)
  • 2022-2023 Application Question Sample (PDF)

  Start/Access your scholarship application

  Please click the button below to log in. You will need your UH username to access the system.

  If you have not yet applied for admission or have not received your UH ID, please visit Overview our ten Campuses | University of Hawaii System for more information and campus contacts.