A diverse group of students standing in front of a banner during a scholarship awards ceremony.

Scholarships provide additional financial support for eligible students. Through the UWM Foundation and the generosity and vision of friends, alumni and faculty, the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare has established scholarships for the benefit of its students.

Update
The Helen Bader School of Social Welfare Conditional Application for the 2024-2025 academic year is now live! Don’t miss your chance to apply – the portal will be open from November 1, 2023, to February 1, 2024. Seize this opportunity to invest in your future! 

To take advantage of these opportunities, use your Panther ID and email to log in to the UWM Panther Scholarship Portal. Make sure to complete the General Application and the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare Conditional Application. Your thoroughness is key – both applications must be completed to be eligible for Helen Bader School of Social Welfare scholarships. 

Mark your calendars: the deadline for submissions is February 1, 2024. After careful consideration, award notifications will be sent out to students by March 1, 2024. Apply today! 

*Please Note: ROTC Scholarships are separate from HBSSW and have different deadlines. 

Scholarship Eligibility:

  • Undergraduate students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (including transfer credits). 
  • Most (but not all) scholarships through the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare are offered based on financial need. To be considered for need-based scholarships, you must have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file for the 2024-2025 academic year. Students who are not eligible to complete a FAFSA may contact scholarship coordinator, Michaela Kaiser at kaisermr@uwm.edu, to talk about alternative options. 
  • All students who have applied and been accepted into UWM, and are in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, are welcome to apply. 
  • In addition, the Scholarship Committee, made up of faculty and staff from HBSSW, bases its decision on the strength of your academic career, the information listed in the job/volunteer experiences, and any unique or unusual circumstances in relation to the scholarship eligibility requirements.  
Note that added eligibility requirements specific to each scholarship and an explanation of the criteria used in making the awards are shown within the description of individual scholarships.  

ScholarshipAward AmountEligibilityArea of StudyStudent Type
Ann Aversa Memorial Scholarship$1,000• Demonstrated financial need
• Demonstrated interest in or commitment to promoting equity, inclusion or social justice for women/womyn
• Open to all UW-Milwaukee students
AnyUndergraduate
Harry and Esther Kovenock Award$1,000• Social Work student; Senior standing in Fall 2023
• Academic merit
• Financial need considered

Note: This is an auto-match opportunity. You will be automatically considered based on your completed General Application in the Panther Scholarship Portal.
Social WorkUndergraduate
Helen Bader School of Social WelfareAmount VariesAwarded to select students as determined by the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare (HBSSW).

Undergraduate students must have demonstrated excellence in the classroom and shown a commitment to promoting social justice through volunteer and/or fieldwork in the community.

Graduate students must have demonstrated academic excellence and a commitment to service through volunteer and/or field work in the community.
Social WorkUndergraduate and Graduate
Kathleen Scheller Memorial ScholarshipMin. $1,000• Social Work major
• Nontradtional student (40+ years)
• Financial need considered
Social WorkUndergraduate
Barbara Atchison Community and Organization Leadership Scholarship$2,000• MSW Student
• Interest in career in community and organizational leadership
• Nontraditional student
Social WorkGraduate
Judy Kramer Scholarship for Bilingual StudentsMin. $1,000• Social Work major
• Fluent in more than one language
• Demonstrated commitment to working in the U.S. in a setting needing bilingual social workers
Social WorkUndergraduate and Graduate
Karin Schmidt Nontraditional Student ScholarshipMin. $1,000• MSW student
• Previous employment or volunteer experience
• Noncontinuous student with a substantial gap in his/her educational timeline
Social WorkGraduate
Helen Bader Age & Community ScholarshipAmount varies• Pursuing a Graduate Certificate in Applied Gerontology, Undergraduate Certificate in Healthy Aging, or Social Work minor in Aging
• 3.0 or higher GPA
• Junior or senior standing for undergraduate applicants
Varies, but generally Social WorkUndergraduate and Graduate
Max and Kay Kurz ScholarshipMin. $1,500• MSW Student

Note: This is an auto-match opportunity. You will be automatically considered based on your completed General Application in the Panther Scholarship Portal.
Social WorkGraduate
Stan Stojkovic Criminal Justice Scholarship FundMin. $1,000• Criminal Justice & Criminology student
• 2.5 or higher GPA
• Financial need considered

Note: This is an auto-match opportunity. You will be automatically considered based on your completed General Application in the Panther Scholarship Portal.
Criminal Justice & CriminologyUndergraduate and Graduate
Creative Corrections Education Foundation ScholarshipVaries• Student with an incarcerated parent or parent on parole
• Open to all UW-Milwaukee students
AnyUndergraduate
Marcelena Lemanski Memorial ScholarshipMin. $1,000• MSW student
• Interest in a career in family social welfare
Social WorkGraduate
Dean's New Freshman ScholarshipMin. $1,000• Newly admitted freshman
• Full-time enrollment for Fall
• 3.5 or higher GPA
• Social Work or Criminal Justice & Criminology Major

Note: This is an auto-match opportunity. You will be automatically considered based on your completed General Application in the Panther Scholarship Portal.
Social Work, Criminal Justice & CriminologyUndergraduate
National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)Min. $1,000Awarded to select students as identified by the awarding unit according to the donor’s criteria.Criminal Justice & CriminologyUndergraduate
Robert L. Stonek Memorial AwardMin. $1,000• Criminal Justice & Criminology major

Note: This is an auto-match opportunity. You will be automatically considered based on your completed General Application in the Panther Scholarship Portal.
Criminal Justice & CriminologyUndergraduate and Graduate
Irene Frye Scholarship for GerontologyMin. $3,000• Financial need.
• Experience overcoming adversity or barriers to achieving higher education.
• Experience interacting with other cultures and/or ESL populations.
• Understanding of the value of diversity in social work professionals.
Social WorkGraduate
The Pitman ScholarshipMin. $1,000• Social Work or Criminal Justice & Criminology student
• 2.5 or higher GPA
• Financial need considered

Note: This is an auto-match opportunity. You will be automatically considered based on your completed General Application in the Panther Scholarship Portal.
Social Work, Criminal Justice & CriminologyUndergraduate and Graduate
Stowell Associates' Scholarship Fund for Care ManagementMin. $1,000• MSW student
• Academic merit
• Financial need considered
• Demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in care management

Note: This is an auto-match opportunity. You will be automatically considered based on your completed General Application in the Panther Scholarship Portal.
Social WorkGraduate
Greater Milwaukee Association of Realtors Youth Foundation ScholarshipMin. $1,000• Social Work or Criminal Justice & Criminology student
• Interest in career working with youth
• Academic merit
• Financial need considered
Social Work, Criminal Justice & CriminologyUndergraduate and Graduate
Aileen Rockjordan ScholarshipMin. $1,000Awarded to select students as identified by the awarding unit according to the donor’s criteria.Social WorkGraduate
Lynde B. Uihlein ScholarshipMin. $1,000• MSW student
• 3.0 or higher GPA
• Financial need considered

Note: This is an auto-match opportunity. You will be automatically considered based on your completed General Application in the Panther Scholarship Portal.
Social WorkGraduate
Carole Stewart & Family ScholarshipMin. $1,000• Concentration in either Behavioral and Mental Health or Child and Family Welfare.

• Academic merit considered.
Social WorkGraduate
Chancellor's Graduate Student Award in Social WorkAmount variesGraduate students in Social Welfare as chosen by the Department. Students do not need to submit an application to be considered for this award.Social WorkGraduate
Fredlyn Kruglak Viel '72 ScholarshipAmount variesUndergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare’s (HBSSW) Social Work programs. Academic excellence
Financial need
Social WorkUndergraduate and Graduate
Helen Bader School of Social Welfare Deans ScholarshipAmount variesDisbursed at the discretion of the Dean of the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare.
Helen Bader School of Social Welfare Provost's Student Success ScholarshipAmount variesDisbursed at the discretion of the Dean of the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare.
Note: This is an auto-match opportunity. You will be automatically considered based on your completed General Application in the Panther Scholarship Portal.
Marianne & Joseph Nothum Scholarship for International StudyAmount variesGraduate students enrolled in the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare to attend international study programs approved by HBSSW.Social Work, Criminal Justice & CriminologyGraduate