Financial Aid - Scholarships

Additional Scholarships

The majority of additional scholarships for incoming students (200+) are awarded based on the information provided on the admission and financial aid applications. To search for other scholarships (including those for returning students) use Calvin's scholarship search or check out outside scholarships.

The awards listed here are available to first year students and require a separate application or letter.

Departmental scholarships

Most departmental scholarships are awarded to students in their sophomore, junior and senior years; however, there are still several opportunities for first-year students. The following departmental scholarships:

are available to first-year students
require a separate application or a brief letter of interest sent to the financial aid office by February 1

Students must be admitted to Calvin by February 1 to be considered.

Scholarship	Number Awarded	Amount	How to Apply	Basic Requirements	Preference to those with need?
Kenneth E. and Jean Baker First-Year Mathematics	1	$1,000	application online	planning to major in mathematics	no
Ivan E. and Rebecca J. Boerman, Physics	2	$1,450	application online	planning to major in physics; GPA of 3.3+	yes
CAS Department Mentoring	1	$2,100	application online	planning to major in communication arts and sciences	no
Alto Precision in Honor of Willis M. Clark, Engineering	1	$1,500	application online	planning to major in engineering; 1st preference to a South Christian High School graduate (Grand Rapids, MI)	yes
Brian E. Dyk Memorial Education	1	$1,500	letter	planning to major in education; 1st preference to a West Side Christian School graduate (Grand Rapids, MI)	yes
Roger D. Griffioen Physics	2	$2,300	application online	planning to major in physics	no
Peter D. Hoekstra History	3	$1,900	application online	planning to major in history	no
Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science or Math	5	$2,500	application	interest in pursuing research in science or math	no
Roger L. and Marcia L. Lamer Family Engineering	1	$2,000	application online	planning to major in engineering (preference to those pursuing Civil Engineering); ACT of 26+; graduate of a Christian high school in West Michigan	yes
National Science Foundation Computation Scholarships	4	$4,000	application online	planning to pursue a degree that supports an interest in scientific computation and modeling; see more on web site	yes
Ralph Steb & Boertje Family	1	$2,200		planning to major or minor in classics	no

Disability scholarships

Thirty scholarships ranging from $1,350 - $2,500 have been established to support students who have disabilities that affect their learning at Calvin. If awarded a disability scholarship, students continue to work with the coordinator of services to students with disabilities in the academic services department.

Students with the following disabilities may write a letter to the financial aid office by February 1 explaining the disability and how it affects their learning:

learning disability
physical or medical disability
deafness or hearing impairment

In addition to the letter, documentation supporting the disability is required.

Music scholarships

Several types of music scholarships are available ranging from $250 - $5,600. Students do not need to major in music to be eligible for most music scholarships. Applications are due in January. Information and applications for all music scholarships are available on the music department web site.

Named and other scholarships

These awards have more specific eligibility requirements and are typically awarded using the information provided on the admissions and financial aid applications. The following scholarships:

are available to first-year students
require a separate application or a brief letter of interest sent to the financial aid office by February 1

Students must be admitted to Calvin by February 1 to be considered.

Scholarship	Number Awarded	Amount	How to Apply	Basic Requirements	Preference to those with need?
Alumni Chapter Scholarships	20	$200-$2,500	application	See criteria for each Chapter; applicants do not need to be children of alumni	see individual applications
Alumni Legacy	36	$500	application	GPA of 3.0+; both parents and at least one grandparent Calvin graduates	yes
Alumni Minority	2 or more	$2,000	application	North American ethnic minority student; GPA of 2.5+; demonstrated character and motivation	yes
Belden Brick & Supply Architectural and Masonry	2	$1,100	letter	GPA of 3.0+; child or grandchild of mason, architect or homebuilder with established relationship to Belden Brick and Supply Co. (Grand Rapids, MI)	no
J. Russel Bouws/Russ' Restaurant	6	$1,500	application	employees of Russ' Restaurants in Kent County, MI; application available at restaurant	yes
Jack A. Bruining Memorial	1	$1,500	essay; 1 letters of recommen-dation	GPA of 2.75+; graduate of Kalamazoo Christian HS; 1-page essay on career goals, reason for choosing that profession and how their faith will be used to glorify God in that calling.	yes
D&D Building	1	$2,400	letter	GPA of 2.0+; 1st preference to children or grandchildren of D&D employees	yes
DeNeut Family	1	$2,000	letter	grad of Unity Christian, South Christian, Calvin Christian, North Point Christian, or Grand Rapids Christian; demonstrate a desire for a mentoring relationship	yes
Edward & Marvin DeVries for Twins	2	$2,700	letter	both twins must be planning to attend Calvin	yes
Kenneth and Barbara Dyk	1	$1,000	letter; HS counselor recommen-dation	grad of Kalamazoo Christian HS; preference to children of current staff in Kalamazoo Christian School Assoc.	yes
Andy J. Egan Company	1	$2,400	letter	GPA of 3.0+; 1st preference to children or grandchildren of the Andy J. Egan Company employees	yes
Rick and Jaltina Kehr	2	$1,800	letter	attended Sussex Christian School in Sussex, New Jersey
Robert T. and Charlotte F. Otten	1	$2,200	letter	GPA of 3.0+; interest in teaching at the college level	no
Lori Powell Central Ohio	1	$700	letter	GPA of 3.0+; resident of Central Ohio; pursuing elementary or secondary education program	no
Pro-Life Volunteerism	1	$2,000	letter	demonstrate evidence of Christian commitment, established leadership and strong record of pro-life volunteerism at any stage of human life	no
Jennie and Sylvia Stielstra	1	$2,800	letter	intention to serve in either elementary education or missions; preference may be given to children of missionaries	yes
Sub-Saharan African Student	1	$3,500	letter	GPA of 2.7+; be from a sub-Saharan African country; attended a sub-Saharan secondary school; interest in running and fitness (with log book)	yes
Arnold and Janice VanderBok Family	2	$1,400	letter	planning to major in a helping profession; able to speak Spanish fluently	yes
God Has No Border Medical	1	$1,500			yes

Missionary Scholarships

Several scholarships are available for students whose parents are missionaries. The following scholarships:

are available to first-year students
require a separate application or a brief letter of interest sent to the financial aid office by February 1

Students must be admitted to Calvin by February 1 to be considered.

Scholarship	Number Awarded	Amount	How to Apply	Basic Requirements	Preference to those with need?
Bakker Family Missions	1	$3,600	letter	GPA of 3.0+; had some/all of secondary education in the third world; parents are U.S. citizens serving as full-time missionaries abroad	yes
Christian Missionary Scholarship	100 (to 6 different colleges)	ranges, renewable for 4 years	application due Feb 15	reasonable GPA and live a faithful Christian life; parents currently/recently in mission field abroad	yes
Reverend Bernard Haven Memorial	3	$2,500	letter	GPA of 3.0+; child of a missionary, pursuing pre-seminary or education	yes
Jennie and Sylvia Stielstra	1	$2,800	letter	intention to serve in either elementary education or missions; preference may be given to children of missionaries	yes