College of Public Health Scholarship and Travel Award Guidelines

Scholarships and awards make a major impact on College of Public Health students’ lives. They provide access to education for deserving students with financial need, reward students for exemplary academic performance and provide students with experiences to take what is learned in the classroom and apply that knowledge to our community and to the world.

There are opportunities for students to apply for scholarships and awards within the College of Public Health; however, each type of scholarship has specific criteria for eligibility and deadlines to apply. The types of scholarships and awards and their criteria are listed below:

Academic Scholarship for Second-Year Master of Public Health (MPH) students

Awards may be given up to $2,000 per student (maximum)

With the support of alumni and friends, the College of Public Health is proud to be able to provide some support to a limited number of continuing MPH students each year.

• College of Public Health MPH degree-seeking students who will have completed the equivalent of at least one full-time year in the program by the time the award begins are eligible to apply. 
• Students who currently have a GRA/GTA position are not eligible to apply.

The Helen and Paul Smeltzer Scholarship for Master of Public Health (MPH) students

Awards may be given up to $750 per student

With the support of alumni and friends, the College of Public Health is proud to be able to provide some support to two MPH students each year.

Lemeshow Student Excellence Award for continuing Master of Science (MS) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students

Award may be given up to $2,500 per student (maximum)

With the support of the founding Dean of the College of Public Health, Stanley Lemeshow, the College is proud to be able to provide support to one Master of Science (MS) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student per year.

• Students have to have completed the equivalent of one full-time year in the program by the time the award begins are eligible to apply. 
• Students who currently have a GRA/GTA position are not eligible to apply.

Pure Water Access Project Scholarship

Award of $2,000 for one student per year

• For an undergraduate student in public health who has financial need, demonstrates academic merit and is engaged in faculty mentored research.
• Preference given to students interested in water research
• Awards will be based on financial need and the student’s personal goals and objectives for the experience.

Charles R. Carroll and Margaret R. Carroll Scholarship for BSPH students

2 awards per year, $1,000 per student

With the support of alumni and friends, the College of Public Health is proud to be able to provide some support to two BSPH students each year.

• College of Public Health BSPH degree-seeking students are eligible to apply. 

Lemeshow Domestic Travel Award for continuing students

Award may be given up to $500 per student (maximum)

With the support of the founding Dean of the College of Public Health, Stanley Lemeshow, the College is proud to be able to provide support for domestic travel for College of Public Health students.

• College of Public Health graduate and undergraduate degree-seeking students who will have completed the equivalent of at least one full-time year of study prior to the date of travel are eligible to apply.

Global Health Travel Award

Awards may be given up to $1,500 per student (maximum)

Travel awards are available to College of Public Health students participating in international study, practicum experiences, research or other health activities abroad that will have a meaningful impact on their education.

• College of Public Health graduate and undergraduate degree-seeking students who will have completed the equivalent of at least one full-time year of study prior to the date of travel are eligible to apply.
• Students are only eligible to receive a travel award once.
• Travel must be directly aligned with degree program academics, research, and/or service.
• Priority will be given to projects based on alignment with Ohio State’s Global Gateways, currently in specific locations in China, India, and Brazil; and emerging regions in Africa.

Farm to Table Award

Awards may be given up to $1,500 per student (maximum)

• Public Health or Veterinary Public Health students traveling with the Farm to Table program are eligible to apply for this award. A limited number of awards are available each year.
• Students are only eligible to receive a travel award once.
• Awards will be based on financial need and the student’s personal goals and objectives for the experience.

Students must submit the appropriate application and all required documentation online by stated deadlines.

Scholarship Application Details

For academic scholarship/award applications, students are asked biodemographical questions, and provide answers to the following questions:

1.    Briefly describe your experience with internships, practicums, service activities, or leadership positions in the field of public health.  (1500 character limit)
2.    What other forms of financial assistance are you receiving (e.g., graduate assistant tuition waiver, scholarships, stipend, student loans)?  (1500 character limit)
3.    How would a scholarship award from the College Public Health help you?  (1500 character limit)
4.    Personal Statement (e.g., goals, career interests and aspirations, work ethic, obstacles you have overcome, background information, financial restraints and need) (3000 character limit)
5.    Describe your most memorable moment at The Ohio State University.  (1500 character limit).
6.    Scholarships and awards at the College of Public Health are made possible by alumni, friends, and donors.  Please share what this scholarship would mean to you.  (1500 character limit)

In addition, students must upload their resume or CV and an advising report.

For travel scholarship/award applications, students are asked biodemographical questions, and provide answers to the following questions:

1.    Briefly describe the conference, practicum, or health activity you will be participating in.  When will this activity take place?
2.    How will this experience provide you with a research, training, outreach, or leadership experience?  
3.    Discuss how you will apply this experience to your educational studies.
4.    Personal statement (e.g., goals, career interests and aspirations, work ethic, obstacles you have overcome, background information, financial restraints and need)
5.    Describe your most memorable moment The Ohio State University (1500 character limit)
6.    Scholarships and awards in the College of Public Health are made possible by alumni, friends, and donors.  Please share what this scholarship would mean to you (1500 character limit)

In addition, applicants must provide a detailed budget with estimated expenses, and total out of pocket expenses associated with the travel. Applicants are asked if they are receiving any other funding to support the travel, and if they will be offered any matching support from faculty. They also must upload their resume or cv, an advising report, and a supporting faculty/advisor sign off sheet.

Applications

• College of Public Health General Scholarship for Second-Year MPH Students
• Helen and Paul Smeltzer Scholarship for MPH students
  
• Charles R. Carroll and Margaret R. Carroll Scholarship for BSPH students
  
• Lemeshow Student Excellence Award for MS or PhD student
• Pure Water Access Project Scholarship
  
• Lemeshow Domestic Travel Award
  
• Farm to Table Award
• Global Health Travel Award

Scholarship & Award Rubrics - PDF

The following responsibilities apply to all CPH academic and travel award recipients:

• Recipients will be informed via their Ohio State email account if they have received an award.  In the email notification, recipients will be given award acceptance instructions and a deadline to accept the award. The process involves accepting the award online and submitting a photograph.

• If recipients do not formally accept their awards by the deadline specified in their offer letters, the funds may be reallocated to other applicants.

• Recipients also may be asked to attend a scholarship event honoring them and the relevant donors.

Additionally, for CPH international travel award recipients:

• All CPH students traveling internationally are responsible for checking with the Office of International Affairs to ensure that the destination is approved by The Ohio State University.  More information can be found at https://oia.osu.edu/education-abroad.html.

• Ohio State students traveling to international locations for the purpose of education abroad, undergraduate or graduate/dissertation research, internships or independent study are required to enroll in the university’s supplemental international insurance, which is provided through GeoBlue (formerly HTH Worldwide).  The insurance includes coverage for medical, evacuation, repatriation, emergency assistance, and political security and natural disaster. 

1. Will applications be reviewed by Divisions or Programs before reaching the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) or Undergraduate Studies Committee (USC)?
   
   No. The GSC and USC, which have representation from all Divisions and Programs, will review and decide on all applications.  The only exceptions are any scholarships that are specific to a division (e.g., Mary Plummer, Bruce Casto), which will be awarded within that division, not through the USC or GSC.
   
   
2. Are advisor letters of support accepted?
   
   No, advisor letters of support aren’t required and won’t be accepted as part of the application.  An advisor sign-off sheet is required for Global Health and Farm to Table Travel Award applications as well as the Pure Water Access Project Scholarship. It is embedded in the actual application, however the travel awards advisor sign-off sheet can be accessed here. The Pure Water Access Project Scholarship faculty mentor sign-off sheet can be found here.
   
   
3. What happens if students apply for other funding for travel after they have been awarded by CPH?
   
   If a student secures additional funds from another source after receiving an award from the College of Public Health, the GSC and USC have the ability to reduce a student’s CPH travel award so as not to exceed the total cost of travel.
   
   
4. What does the committee consider when selecting scholarship or travel award recipients?
   
   The committee considers each applicant’s academic record; personal background information; public health experiences, community service, and leadership; description of current financial assistance and how award will help the applicant achieve academic goals; and overall presentation and writing skills.
   
   
5. How are the funds disbursed?
   
   Scholarship funds are disbursed into the student’s OSU account by the Bursar at the beginning of each term covered.  For travel awards, half of the funds are disbursed into the student’s account prior to travel and the other half are disbursed after travel is completed.