Applied Gerontology Scholarships

Helen Bader Age and Community Scholarship

The Helen Bader Age and Community Scholarship aims to increase the number of people with the knowledge and skills to work with and on behalf of older people. The scholarship provides financial support for undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing a certificate or minor focused on gerontology.

Scholarships may be used to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Scholarships are for one year and students may reapply for additional years of funding. Award amounts vary.

Eligibility Criteria

• Undergraduate degree criteria:
  • Junior or senior standing as determined by undergraduate degree program
  • Pursuing the Social Work Minor in Aging or the Undergraduate Certificate in Healthy Aging
  • 3.0 cumulative GPA
• Graduate degree criteria:
  • Admission to a graduate degree program
  • Pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Applied Gerontology
  • 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA for those without graduate credits or 3.0 cumulative graduate GPA for those with graduate credits
• Graduate non-degree criteria:
  • Pursuing the Graduate Certificate in Applied Gerontology
  • 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA for those without graduate credits or 3.0 cumulative graduate GPA for those with graduate credits

Helen Bader Age and Community Internship Scholarship

Eligibility Criteria

• Open to undergraduate and graduate students in any program.
• Students must be completing an internship or practicum involving direct work with older adults during the Fall 2026 and/or Spring 2027 semesters.
• Eligible programs include, but are not limited to:
  • social work
  • psychology
  • physical therapy
  • recreational therapy
  • speech language pathology
  • nursing
  • kinesiology
  • health care administration
  • public health
  • occupational science and technology

Irene Frye Scholarship for Gerontology

The Irene Frye Scholarship for Gerontology Social Work provides financial support to graduate social work students of the Helen Bader School of Social Welfare pursuing a concentration in gerontology.

Eligibility Criteria

• Pursuing a Master’s Degree in Social Work (MSW), or acceptance to the MSW program for the 2026-2027 academic year
• A commitment to the field of aging
• Preference is granted for students who demonstrate one or more of the following:
  • 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