Montana Presidential Leadership Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by University of Montana

Every year, the Davidson Honors College opens its doors to ambitious, talented, and inquisitive students, inviting them to join our dynamic community. This application process is designed to allow us to better understand you as an individual. While academic performance and achievements are considered, they are not the sole determinants. We encourage all students with a high level of motivation to apply.

We particularly encourage applications from non-traditional students, international students, veterans, and students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. College transfer students and current students at the University of Montana who have demonstrated strong academic performance are also invited to apply.

Applications submitted by 11:59 PM (MST) on December 1st will be eligible for consideration for honors scholarships. If you have any queries about your application, honors at UM, or if you wish to arrange a visit to our picturesque Missoula campus, please do not hesitate to contact the DHC. We appreciate your interest and wish you the best of luck. Go Griz!

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

MANDATORY

• Basic personal information
• Details about your academic background and accomplishments
• Transcript: We do not have access to your official transcript sent to UM Admissions. For this evaluation process, please include an unofficial transcript with your other application documents.
• 5 brief answer questions
• A concise 500-word essay on one of four provided topics

Brief Answer Questions:

1. Present yourself (in the third person) to UM’s Davidson Honors College (50 words).
2. Identify up to three of your most notable academic experiences.
3. Identify up to three of your most notable leadership or service experiences.
4. Identify up to three cultural or personal development experiences.
5. Elaborate on one of the experiences above and how it influences your academic and professional aspirations (250 words).
6. The DHC is a vibrant, nurturing community of scholars. How do you envision contributing to it? What unique skills, viewpoints, identities, or experiences will you bring to the DHC? (250 words)
7. Improbable (definition: unexpected). Fact (definition: things that are known or proven to be true). Identify and briefly discuss three improbable facts about yourself. (100 words total).

Essay Topics (choose one to respond to) (500 words):

(Please choose one and paste it at the beginning of your essay.)

1. Describe your most impactful learning experience so far. This could be a course, an achievement, a relationship, or an event that triggered significant personal growth and/or a new understanding of yourself, others, and/or the world. What did you learn? How has this prepared you for success as an honors student at UM and beyond?
2. The DHC’s mission includes the statement “[we are] committed to enhancing our positive impacts on the world.” Discuss an issue or question that you are curious or passionate about and want to impact. Why is this significant to you? To our world? How do you hope the DHC prepares you to make this impact?
3. The University of Montana’s mascot is the grizzly bear. Words used to describe Grizzlies include: respectful, responsible, playful, formidable, curious, wise, creative, strategic, active, and easygoing (also hungry). Which of these traits best describes you and why? How do you imagine this or these characteristics might shape your college life and future?
4. Seuss famously wrote: “The more you read, the more things you will know, the more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Why do you want to attend college? What do you hope to read, to know, to learn, and where would you like to go? Why is the University of Montana and Davidson Honors College the ideal place for you to study?