Fellowships

Mortar Board Fellowships are for Mortar Board members of any initiation year who are working toward an advanced degree.


History

Since the inception of Mortar Board’s Fellowship program in 1941, more than $750,000 has been given to deserving members of Mortar Board pursuing postgraduate degrees. The program started with two awards of $500 and has grown to six to eight awards of between $3,000 and $5,000 each generated by endowments held in the Mortar Board National Foundation. A member of any age may apply for a Mortar Board Fellowship for postbaccalaureate degree study in any field. The Mortar Board Fellowship Committee, composed of trustees of the Mortar Board National Foundation (MBNF), endeavors to provide a streamlined, yet thought-provoking application process that allows applicants to showcase their accomplishments and academic plans. The Ideals of Mortar Board are considered: robust scholarship that is competitive nationwide, meaningful leadership, and dedication to service to one’s alma mater. Mortar Board fellowships are awarded annually.

Purdue University's Barbara Cook Fellowship

Purdue University’s Barbara Cook Fellowship is named after a long-time former Purdue chapter advisor and Dean Emerita of Students. Barbara Cook served in several Mortar Board National Leadership roles, including in the development of the National Foundation. The Barbara Cook chapter has funded this fellowship in her honor since 1997.

Diane Selby Fellowship

The Diane Selby Fellowship is named for a previous Executive Director of Mortar Board for her service and continued involvement as an alumna.

Ellen North Dunlap Fellowship

The Ellen North Dunlap Fellowship was created and is funded by Ellen North Dunlap’s daughter, Shirley Bowser. Shirley is a community leader, philanthropist and business person. She lives on her late husband’s family farm and manages the farming operation. She was president of the Board of Trustees of The Ohio State University and President of the Kellogg Foundation Board of Directors. She continues to generously fund this fellowship each year.

Mortar Board National Foundation Fellowship

The Mortar Board National Foundation Fellowship is generously funded by the Mortar Board National Foundation. The Foundation has awarded more than 560 over fellowships since 1942, totaling more than $1,500,000.

Ramier + Katherine Wills Coleman Fellowship

The Ramier + Katherine Wills Coleman Fellowship is named in honor of two leaders for whom the fellowship funds were established – Mary Elizabeth Hanger Ramier and Katherine Wills Coleman. Mary Elizabeth served as Mortar Board’s attorney for years, helping Mortar Board become incorporated, and set up the trust agreement for the National Foundation. She generously donated a $20,000 check to fund fellowships in the 1990s. Katherine served as National President of Mortar Board during the war years and was a strong leader and advocate for Mortar Board to be recognized by other national associations.

Ruth Weimer Mount Fellowship

The Ruth Weimer Mount Fellowship is named in honor of a previous Mortar Board National President who was the first dean of students at The Ohio State University. This fellowship was made in her honor for her service, leadership, and commitment to her community.

Washington State + Zelma Patchin-Oklahoma State Fellowship

The Washington State + Zelma Patchin-Oklahoma State Fellowship is named for Zelma Patchin, a previous Dean of Women at Oklahoma State University where she was a proponent for equality and respect for women.


Application process

Who may apply for a Mortar Board Fellowship?

Mortar Board members of any age may apply for a Mortar Board Fellowship for postbaccalaureate degrees in any field. Past recipients are ineligible.

Am I eligible to apply for the Mortar Board Fellowship if I have already begun my graduate degree program?

Yes, provided you have not previously received a Mortar Board Fellowship, will be continuing graduate studies in the next academic year and otherwise meet all eligibility criteria.

I plan to pursue postbaccalaureate studies outside of the United States. Am I eligible to apply for a Mortar Board Fellowship?

Yes.  You may use a Mortar Board Fellowship for graduate studies at any accredited institution of higher learning.

What is the process?

The Mortar Board Fellowship Selection Committee provides a streamlined, yet thought-provoking application process that allows each member who applies the chance to showcase their accomplishments and plans.

The committee considers applicants’ academic record, faculty recommendations, goals and objectives, and contribution and commitment to Mortar Board. The fellowship is for one academic year, and the amount awarded is sent directly to the Mortar Board Fellow.

Who should recommendations be from?

Two letters of recommendation must be from faculty or other persons who can speak with authority about your ability to do graduate work in your chosen field and about your personal qualities and achievement. It will be helpful if one of your recommenders could write about your out-of-classroom experiences related to your degree objective and to your leadership and service on campus and in the community.

Are applicants expected to pay for an official transcript or will an unofficial transcript suffice?

Applicants are required to provide current, official or unofficial transcript as part of the application process. Many institutions will provide a secure portal for you to access your unofficial transcript to send to organizations that you designate.

I previously applied for a Mortar Board Fellowship.  May I apply again?

If you previously applied, but did not receive a Mortar Board Fellowship and you are still otherwise eligible, you may apply again. You will need to complete a new application form and submit two current recommendations. If your transcripts from the previous application are not changed, you may email fellowships@mortarboard.org prior to March 15 and ask that those same transcripts be used.  If those transcripts have changed due to additional studies or institutions, please submit your current transcripts.

I have a different question.

For all other questions and more in-depth answers to some of the previous questions please refer to our Fellowship FAQ document.

Applications must be received on or before March 15, 2025

Applications for a Mortar Board National Foundation fellowship open on November 15, 2024, and are due on or before March 15, 2025. The committee should complete the two-phase review process around May 15, 2025, and notify applicants near that date.


2024-2025 Fellows

Ellen North Dunlap Fellow

Rani Bawa (The Ohio State University, 2020)

Diane Selby Fellow

Sophia Bustamante Eguiguren (University of Richmond, 2019)

Washington State/Zelma Patchin Oklahoma State Fellow

Jessica Chen (University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2018)

Ruth Weimer Mount Fellow

Hannah Harrison (University of Nebraska-Kearney, 2022)

Diane Selby Fellow

McCaleb Hart (Texas Tech University, 2021)

Mortar Board National Foundation Fellow

Caitlyn Kant (Illinois State University, 2021)

Mortar Board National Foundation Fellow

Abby Mock (University of South Alabama, 2022)

Mortar Board National Foundation Fellow

Johnny Dinh Phan (University of Kansas, 2021)

2023-2024 Fellows

Ramier + Katherine Wills Coleman Fellow – Amber Bormann (Southern Methodist University, 2022)

Mortar Board Fellow – Maici Craig (The University of Alabama, 2022)

Diane Selby Fellow – Caleb Hendrickson (The University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2022)

Washington State + Zelma Patchin-Oklahoma State Fellow – Kate Kouplen (Oklahoma State University, 2021)

Diane Selby Fellow – Anna Madding (Butler University, 2022)

Ellen North Dunlap Fellow – Anne Mascia (University of South Alabama, 2021)

Mortar Board Fellow – Ivy Nguyen (University of South Alabama, 2021)

Ruth Weimer Mount Fellow – Brendan Wall (Illinois State University, 2018)

Barbara Cook Fellow – Kristen Welsh (Case Western Reserve University, 2022)

2022-2023 Fellows

Washington State + Zelma Patchin-Oklahoma State Fellow – Jason Baker (University of Nebraska at Kearney, 2020)

Ramier + Katherine Wills Coleman Fellow – Victoria Bui (University of Hawai’i at Manoa, 2017)

Diane Selby Fellow – Sally Burkley (University of Mary Washington, 2021)

Ruth Weimer Mount Fellow – Cadence Ciesielski (Kansas State University, 2021)

Ellen North Dunlap Fellow – Andrew Cochran (Ohio Northern University, 2019)

Mortar Board Fellow – Hannah Giannini (University of South Alabama, 2020)

Mortar Board Fellow – Sydney Popsuj (Agnes Scott College, 2018)

Barbara Cook Fellow – Sydney Wong (University of San Diego, 2019)

2021-2022 Fellows

Ellen North Dunlap Fellow – Hanna Bobinger (University of South Alabama, 2019)

Ramier-Coleman Fellow – Lauren Chambliss (The University of Alabama, 2020)

Mortar Board Fellow – Hannah Clipp (West Virginia University, 2015)

Zalma Patchin-Oklahoma State/Washington State Fellow – Katherine Gladhart-Hayes (University of Puget Sound, 2018)

Mortar Board Fellow – Rajvarun Grewal (University of California, Los Angeles, 2018)

Barbara Cook Fellow – Jill Kleinkauf (Chapman University, 2018)

Diane Selby Fellow – Benjamin Shinogle (William Jewell College, 2016)

2020-2021 Fellows

Ellen North Dunlap Fellow – Sinibaldo Romero Arocha (North Dakota State University, 2013)

Barbara Cook Fellow – Olivia Bond (University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2017)

Ruth Mount Fellow – Ian Ross (Westminster College, 2019)

Ramier-Coleman Fellow – Ronald Yang (University of California Los Angeles, 2018)

Zelma Patchin-Oklahoma State/Washington State Fellow – Odalis Hernandez (University of Kansas, 2019)

Diane Selby Fellow – Da Yeoun Moon (San Diego State University, 2019)

2019-2020 Fellows

Mortar Board Fellow – Thomas Baldwin (Butler University, 2017)

Ellen North Dunlap Fellow – Rachel Bowanko (The University of Vermont, 2018)

Barbara Cook Fellow – Trisha Chau (Oregon State University, 2015)

Ruth Weimer Mount Fellow – Eleanor Haglund (Carnegie Mellon University, 2015)

Mortar Board Fellow – Austin Hirsh (University of San Diego, 2017)

Diane Selby Fellow – Kristy Kwon (University of Washington, 2017)

Ramier-Coleman Fellow – Latrel Powell (San Diego State University, 2018)

Zelma Patchin-Oklahoma State/Washington State Fellow – Meaghan Waff (Rhodes College, 2016)

 

2018-2019 Fellows

Mortar Board Fellow – Kimberly Golisch (University of Arizona, 2013)

Ruth Weimer Mount Fellow  – Tyler Harvey (Rhodes College, 2016)

Mortar Board Fellow – Charmagne Jones (San Diego State University, 2017)

Ellen North Dunlap Fellow – Stephanie Kha (The University of Arizona, 2014)

Diane Selby Fellow – Callie Lane  (University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2016)

Zelma Patchin-Oklahoma State/Washington State Fellow – Caitlin Taylor (The College of William and Mary, 2017)

Ramier-Coleman Fellow – Sophia Wix (University of Southern California, 2017)