piggy bank in hand

The scholarship process for all undergraduates and all scholarships (both major specific ones and all general scholarships) begins with UWM’s Panther Scholarship Portal. Graduate students can also follow this process, though most of the available scholarship funding is for undergraduates. See the graduate student funding page for more information.

How and when to apply:

  1. Log into the portal and your general application. This must be done a minimum of once per school year but we recommend doing this twice a year at the start of each semester (September and January).
  2. In the portal, complete the Letters & Science scholarship application. Here is where you will upload a copy of your transcript (also recommended to be done in September and January).

    Completing steps 1 and 2 will match you to most scholarships based on the information you enter.
  3. You may see scholarships on your Panther Scholarship Portal dashboard that you can “Apply To.” These are scholarships which require additional information beyond steps 1 and 2. Complete any of these you wish to apply for.

The Panther Scholarship Portal can also be used to find non-UWM (private) scholarships that have registered with UWM. These may be scholarships sponsored by local or national organizations, fraternal clubs or other companies outside of UWM.

Students are responsible for reading and understanding UWM’s policies regarding scholarship applications. Please pay particular attention to the section on the use of AI (such as Chat GPT).


In the portal, the African and African Diaspora Studies Department offers these scholarships and awards just for their students.

Africology Graduate Fellowship

Awarded to select Africology PhD students by the College of Letters & Science.

Award: $1,000.00

View in Portal

Chancellor's Graduate Student Award in African & African Diaspora Studies

Chancellor’s Award for graduate students in the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies as chosen by the department. Students do not need to submit an application to be considered for this award.

Award: Varies

View in Portal

George W. & Winston A. Van Horne Prize

When funding is available, this prize is given to a graduate student in the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies.

Award: Varies

Donor: The late Winston Van Horne

View in Portal

Lorenzo Henderson Scholarship

The Lorenzo Henderson Scholarship supports an African & African Diaspora Studies major or minor with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. Applications are typically reviewed in early spring and awards given in spring are for the following school year so students graduating that same spring or summer are not eligible.

Award: $1,000

Donor: Dr. Laretta Henderson

View in Portal

Mildred Marie Foster Fellowship

This award is given to a graduate student in African and African Diaspora Studies with demonstrated academic merit.

Award: Varies

Donor: Multiple Donors

View in Portal

Monyana Carroll Interdisciplinary Fellowship

Awarded to meritorious students in a graduate program in the Department of African & African Diaspora Studies as chosen by the faculty.

Award: Varies up to $2,000

Donor: Kidiocus Carroll

View in Portal

W. Michael Ross Scholarship

The W. Michael Ross Scholarship supports a meritorious undergraduate student majoring in African & African Diaspora Studies who has demonstrated their commitment to investigating issues related to justice and equality for African Americans. Factors such as academic study, research, advocacy, volunteerism, or community service will be considered to assess commitment to justice and equality. Demonstrated financial need as shown on the FAFSA is also required.

Applications are typically reviewed in early spring and awards given in spring are for the following school year. Students graduating that same spring or summer are not eligible. E.G. applications reviewed in Spring 2025 are for Fall 2025; students graduating in May or August 2025 are not eligible.

Award: varies up to $3,000

Donor: DA Leonard

View in Portal

UWM Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge in Milwaukee that we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland along the southwest shores of Michigami, North America’s largest system of freshwater lakes, where the Milwaukee, Menominee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.   |   To learn more, visit the Electa Quinney Institute website.