Department of Spanish

The WMU President’s Incentive Scholarships for Graduate Students

Todos los nuevos estudiantes de posgrado internacionales provenientes de España o México que cumplan los requisitos pueden solicitar una de estas becas. Las solicitudes deberán ser recibidas antes del 1 de abril de 2009.

(The WMU President’s Incentive Scholarships are awards available to new international graduate students from Spain and Mexico who meet the selection criteria. To be considered, the application must be received by April 1, 2009.)

Awards, scholarships, and Special recognition in Spanish

For current Western Michigan University students with 3000-level foreign language status a single application form for any or all fall semester scholarships is now available in the Department of Spanish, 420 Sprau Tower.

Scholarships & awards requiring application

Spanish department travel/study abroad award

The Spanish Department Travel/Study Abroad Award provides eight awards of approximately $700 for declared Spanish majors or minors, given to encourage students to further develop their Spanish language skills and broaden their understanding of other cultures. The awards may be used for travel/study abroad during any part of the summer or academic year. The next application period: Spring 2010.

President's award and scholarships for study abroad

The President's award for study abroad provides one award of $2,500 given during fall semester every year. To be used by a Spanish major to study at a foreign university, or in a study abroad program sponsored by an American university, for a minimum of one semester. The next application period: Fall 2009.

The President's Scholarships for Study Abroad provide an annual total of eight scholarships of $2,000 each, four awarded during fall semester and four during spring semester. To be used by a Spanish major for study abroad for a minimum of one semester in a University-approved program abroad. The next application period: Fall 2009.

Ruth Y. Kirby scholarships in Spanish

The Ruth Y. Kirby scholarships in Spanish provide annual scholarships of $1,000 each, although the number and amount of these awards vary from year to year. Usually six awards are for study abroad in a Spanish speaking country. Awards may be used for an approved summer program, semester-long program or full-year program. As many as six more awards may be used for Spanish study either abroad or on campus. This financial assistance for Spanish majors was made possible by a bequest of the late Ruth Y. Kirby, a greatly admired Spanish teacher of the Kalamazoo community. The next application period: Fall 2009.

Sue C. Mardis Scholarship: Study abroad in Spanish

The Sue C. Mardis Scholarship: Study abroad in Spanish provides one $2,500 award for study in a Spanish-speaking country, provided through a generous gift in memory of Sue C. Mardis, an outstanding teacher and advocate of the study of foreign languages. Applicant must be an undergraduate Spanish major or a graduate student in Spanish. Study needs to begin within one year of award and must be for at least one full semester.

Scholarships & awards not requiring application

Recipients are selected by Spanish faculty on the basis of academic excellence and dedication to foreign language study.

Mathilde Steckelberg Scholarship

Total of four: one in Classics, French, German and Spanish, approximately $500 each, awarded during spring semester.

Herb B. Jones Scholarship in Spanish

Approximately $500, honoring the beloved section head and professor of Spanish at WMU, awarded during spring semester.

Lori Beth Pattison Scholarship for Literature in Spanish

$1500, in honor of a WMU Spanish graduate and professor of Spanish, awarded during spring semester.

Other prizes given annually by our Department

Department Presidential Scholar
Premio Octavio Paz
Premio Jorge Luis Borges
Premio Joan Coromines
Premio Rosalía de Castro
Premio Inca Garcilaso de la Vega
Premio Miguel de Cervantes
Premio María Moliner
Premio Suzanne M. Wheatley
Premio Alfonso X el Sabio
Premio Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
Premio Antonio de Nebrija
Premio Rubén Darío