The University of Washington Retirement Association, a membership organization of retired UW faculty and staff, is pleased to fund scholarships for UW undergraduate, graduate and professional students with a focus on research related to aging or on the provision of services to older adults. Students should have completed the first year of their program by the time they submit an application. Five awards of $4,000 each were made in Spring Quarter 2024 to students selected for their demonstrated promise and financial need. The application for Spring 2025 awards is due by 4 pm on February 5.

Applicants must separately have filed the current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for financial aid at the University of Washington. If you have not previously completed your 2024-2025 FAFSA, file it online well before the application deadline. International students and HB1079 students should file a current-year Non-Citizen Financial Need Assessment Form and return it to osfaschp@uw.edu for purposes of this scholarship.

CRITERIA THE COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER IN EVALUATING YOUR APPLICATION

• Demonstrated experience in and commitment to research or work with older adults (paid or volunteer)
• Academic performance
• Communication skills
• Financial need (as determined by the FAFSA or Non-Citizen Need Assessment) — see Reminder below

To be considered, applications must include all required materials, submitted by the time and date stated on the application. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Supplemental materials will not be considered.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS – Due by Feb 5, 2025, 4:00 pm

1. UWRA Scholarship Application Form. The form includes contact information and details about your academic program.
2. Scholarship Essays. Upload a pdf including responses to the three prompts below. Include your last name in the document title. Your response to all three prompts should total no more than three pages in length.
   • Describe your educational and career goals and how they relate to aging or the provision of services to older adults.
   • List your most significant community service and extracurricular activities, particularly those pertaining to older adults, with dates of participation.
   • Optional: Any additional information you believe would be helpful. Include dates where applicable. You may include relevant information about your background, academic or career focus on research in aging or provision of services to older adults that was not included in your response to the two previous prompts.
3. UW Transcript. Upload a pdf titled with your name. An unofficial transcript is acceptable.
4. Current-year FAFSA or Non-Citizen Financial Need Assessment Form. To ensure compliance, the appropriate form should be on file with the Office of Student Financial Aid well before the UWRA Scholarship application deadline.

Reminder. You must have a current-year FAFSA, WASFA, or Non-Citizen Financial Need Assessment form on file with the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) well before the application deadline. Once OSFA has your financial information, we recommend that you check with them at osfaschp@uw.edu BEFORE completing the application to determine (1) if you meet the financial need requirement, and (2) how receiving the UWRA award would affect any other assistance you already have or may receive for Spring quarter.

UWRA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION – Due February 5, 2025, 4:00 pm