First Year Student Scholarships

Merit Based Scholarships- Admission's Office

UW-La Crosse awards more than 400 merit-based scholarships to incoming students each year through a competitive scholarship awarding process. Incoming freshmen students who are admitted by the priority application date of February 1 will be considered for incoming freshmen merit-based scholarships. There is no separate application to apply.

More information on Admissions Scholarships can be found on the Admissions page.

See below to learn more about two merit based scholarship programs awarded by the Admissions Office (Eagle Apprenticeship & UWL First! Scholars)

 Eagle Apprenticeship

• Awarded to 25 top notch freshmen
•  The average ACT score of these students is 31, and they are the top 5% of their high school class
• These students are paid $1,000 their first year, and $1,000 their second year to work with a faculty mentor on their research
• Engaging the students with a mentor gives them valuable experience in their discipline, and helps them make educated career decisions early in college

Testimonials about the program

From the Apprentices:
Mitchell Malecha, Fairbault, MN, Biochemistry major
My faculty Mentors have been extremely helpful throughout the past two years. I am thankful that I have been an Eagle Apprentice because of the information I have learned and, more importantly, the memories I have made.

Haley Klundt, Sartell (MN), sophomore in the College of Liberal Studies - "So far I am really enjoying this opportunity. My mentor is very helpful and the project is very interesting. I think it is going to be a great learning experience."

Kim Trochlil, Rhinelander (WI), sophomore majoring in Biochemistry - "Mitch Malecha and I are working together to provide cell stocks to be used in the Biochemistry labs. We do some plasmid transformations and lately we have been learning how to do protein preps for Dr. Weaver's work on red blood cells in sheep's blood. ... I am loving it, and I'm so happy to stay with it."

Mikala Mlsna, Spencer, WI Psychology
I was able to figure out my career path in large part because of the Eagle Apprenticeship opening the door for communication with my mentor. 

Zachary Porior, Oshkosh (WI), sophomore majoring in Microbiology with a Chemistry minor - "I am working with the drug SK-09-23 and determining if its minimum inhibitory concentration is greater when glycerol is added. I am working with a novel fish virus and helping characterize it. ... The best thing about the apprenticeship is getting to work in my field of study and learn more about my chosen field."

Megan Eberle, Spring Green (WI), sophomore in the College of Science & Health - "This semester I worked with Dr. James Pierce and Dr. Eric Eager who are creating a calculus course that has biological applications, which differs from the normal calculus applications in physics and engineering. I would work through problems for them and decide if they were good biology applications. ... I liked learning how calculus can be applied to biology because I have only learned physics and engineering applications. I also liked being able to talk about calculus in a different setting that made me think about calculus in a different way that it is talked about in the classroom. At this point, I can't think of anything I would change, and I want to continue working with Dr. Pierce and Dr. Eager."

Jordan Pellett, New Freedom (WI), sophomore majoring in Mathematics - "Dr. Hertel has been very helpful with this project as well as with other things such as class scheduling and is always open to talking about anything that is going on in my life." Quarterly Council on Undergraduate Research 

UWL First! Scholars

Mission

The “UWL First! Scholars Program” is designed to assist select first generation/low income students to succeed academically through a coordinated system of support, integrating college readiness, financial aid, advising and career development.  The program hopes to address the social and economic barriers to higher education for select students who demonstrate intellectual promise and financial need.

Who are they?

UWL First! Scholars are high performing, first generation students who have been hand selected by the UWL Admissions Office to participate in this scholarship and retention program. First! Scholars have a bright future at UWL and this program helps establish firm roots here.

Benefits to the Scholars

Each cohort of up to 25 first generation students will have the unique opportunity to enroll in this scholarship program. Students are offered a $2,000.00 scholarship for the first and second year of enrolled. The program streamlines office visits, making it easier for our students to stay on track. Students will reside in a living learning community, though not all that live in this community will be members of the UWL First! Scholars, most will be. We also try to arrange a class that all Scholars take together. Scholars will also have the opportunity to develop work experience through on-campus internship opportunities. Through camaraderie, students will develop a sense of belonging, which will assist with their transition to the university. 

Learn more about UWL First! Scholars HERE

First Year Research Exposure (FYRE) 

First Year Research Exposure (FYRE) is an academic diversity initiative in the UWL College of Science and Health. Every year, 15 undergraduate students get the opportunity to participate in career and major exploration activities and enroll in gateway classes together. All FYRE students are matched with peer mentors and tutors to help them make a smooth transition to college life. Students who meet program expectations receive a $1000 scholarship during their second year at UWL.

We recruit incoming first year students to our program every Spring. For more information check out the website.