Scholarships and Awards

Roy Arthur Swanson Comparative Literature Merit Scholarship

The Roy Arthur Swanson Merit Scholarship in Comparative Literature is awarded to a UWM full-time student with a declared Comparative Literature major or minor and a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher in Comparative Literature courses. Recipients will be selected by comparative literature faculty, and there is no student application process.

Emmanuelle Leah Fetter Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded in memory of Leah Fetter, who was a gifted French student at UWM. The scholarship is awarded based on academic achievement and demonstrated financial need. Applicants must be full-time French majors and have FAFSA information showing financial need to be eligible.

Students who have an up-to-date Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application will be considered, typically in spring each year. No additional or separate application is required; students should thoroughly fill out the Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application. Awards given in spring are for the following school year so 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.

Mariele Schirmer Scholarship in French

The scholarship is open to declared French majors enrolled in at least 9 credits during the period of the scholarship. The selection of the recipient is based on academic performance in French and overall academic performance across all courses.

Students who have an up-to-date Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application will be considered, typically in spring each year. No additional or separate application is required; students should thoroughly fill out the Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application. Awards given in spring are for the following school year so 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.

Martha Best / Martine Meyer Scholarship

This scholarship is offered in the names of two highly esteemed former professors in the UWM French program. Their excellence and dedication set a high standard that our program strives to maintain. The scholarship is awarded based on academic achievement and demonstrated financial need to a full-time undergraduate who is studying French. Enrollment in French coursework is required at the time of application and during the period of the scholarship, but students do not have to be a French major or minor. Preference will be given to students planning to become French teachers. Applicants must have FAFSA information showing financial need to be eligible.

Applications are typically accepted in January for the following Fall semester. Awards given in spring are for the following school year so 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.

Leah Fetter Merit Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded in the name of Leah Fetter, a bright and dedicated former student in French at UWM. The scholarship is awarded based on academic achievement and demonstrated financial need to a French major who is going to participate in one of UWM’s study-abroad or exchange programs in a French-speaking country. Applicants must be full-time and have FAFSA information showing financial need to be eligible.

Applications are typically accepted in February and March for study abroad in summer or fall and will include a brief essay on the planned study abroad. Students must also meet the March 1 deadline to apply for study abroad through the UWM Center for International Education.

NOTE: This scholarship is for Milwaukee-campus students planning to study at a program outside of Milwaukee and outside of the United States. This is not for international students coming to the Milwaukee campus to study.

Ian J. Elliott Memorial Scholarship

The Ian J. Elliott Memorial Scholarship is a $1,000 award intended to help cover expenses related to overseas internship or an overseas study abroad. Students must be enrolled as a UWM student and a declared major in Global Studies or International Studies. Qualified applicants will also have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and will have been approved (or be in the process of seeking approval) for a Summer 2024 or Fall 2024 study abroad or internship program through the UWM Center for International Education.

Applications are typically accepted in February for study abroad in summer or fall and will include a brief essay on the planned study abroad. Students must also meet all application deadlines to apply for study abroad through the UWM Center for International Education.

NOTE: This scholarship is for Milwaukee-campus students planning to study at a program outside of Milwaukee and outside of the United States. This is not for international students coming to the Milwaukee campus to study.

Roberta & J. Martin Klotsche Scholarship

The Roberta and J. Martin Klotsche Scholarship is given to a small number of outstanding juniors or seniors who are declared majors in International Studies or Global Studies. Eligible students will have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher.

Students who have an up-to-date Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application will be considered, typically in fall each year in October. No additional or separate application is required; students should* thoroughly* fill out the Panther Scholarship Portal General Application and the College of Letters & Science Scholarships and Awards Application. Awards given in fall are for the following spring so students graduating that same semester are not eligible. E.G. applications reviewed in November 2025 are for Spring 2026; students graduating in December 2025 are not eligible.

Giovanni Carini Memorial Scholarship

The Giovanni Carini Memorial Scholarship supports a UWM undergraduate accepted into an approved study abroad experience to Italy. This opportunity is open to any UWM undergraduate student in any major (does not have to be an Italian major) with demonstrated academic merit and demonstrated financial need as shown on the FAFSA. Only bachelor’s degree students are eligible. Associate degree students are not eligible for this scholarship. Students interested in applying will need to submit an essay on their interest and reasons for studying abroad in addition to a transcript.

Applications are typically accepted between February and March each year for study abroad planned for summer or fall of that same calendar year. Students must also apply to the UWM Center for International Education>/a> for approval for summer abroad by their March 1 deadline and must be approved to receive this scholarship.

NOTE: This scholarship is for Milwaukee-campus students planning to study at a program outside of Milwaukee and outside of the United States. This is not for international students coming to the Milwaukee campus to study.

Hilda Becher Modern Language Scholarship in Italian

Students who make exceptional progress in their Italian studies, Italian 203 to 204, are nominated by faculty for these awards which are given when funds are available. There is no student application process.