Navigating Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide

The Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation offers various scholarships and grants to support its members' academic and personal growth. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the scholarships, eligibility requirements, application process, and other essential details to help Alpha Gamma Delta sisters navigate these opportunities successfully.

Introduction

Academic achievement is a priority in Alpha Gamma Delta. The Alpha Gam Foundation awards scholarships each year to sisters pursuing a full-time undergraduate or graduate degree. These scholarships provide financial assistance and recognize the academic achievements and commitment of Alpha Gamma Delta members.

Eligibility Requirements

Initiated collegiate and alumnae members of Alpha Gamma Delta in Good Standing with the Fraternity are eligible to apply for Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation scholarships for undergraduate and graduate study.

Undergraduate Scholarships

Undergraduate scholarships are awarded to students going into their junior or senior year. Fifth-year seniors are also eligible. A new member must have a current grade point average of at least 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent to be initiated. Each member must work to maintain the chapter's scholarship requirement of 2.9 to remain in Good Standing with the International Fraternity.

Graduate Scholarships

Graduate fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to qualified initiated members pursuing graduate/professional degrees.

Other Requirements

Be classified as an undergraduate Junior, undergraduate Senior, or Graduate Student for the academic term in which the scholarship is awarded.
Maintain Good Standing with the Fraternity.

Application Process

The Foundation Scholarship application typically opens on January 1st. It is crucial to start the application process early to allow ample time for thoughtful responses. The application usually closes on March 3rd. To ensure you are the first to hear about the launch of this year’s scholarship application, please keep your contact information up to date with the Fraternity.

Key Steps

Review Questions: Carefully review the questions on the application and spend time writing thoughtful responses.
Official Transcript: Submit an Official Transcript that includes your Fall grades. Ensure your fall grades are posted before requesting the transcript from your university.
Recommendations: The application requires two recommendations-one from an Alpha Gamma Delta alumna and one from a professional contact, like a professor or boss. Ask your references if it’s okay ahead of time and don’t wait until the last minute to submit the recommendation request. The application makes this step easy for you.
Tell Your Story: Make sure your narrative stands out. Be sure to answer the question posed on the application in a thoughtful manner.
Highlight Chapter Involvement: This scholarship is only available to members of Alpha Gamma Delta, so highlight your chapter involvement.
Check for Endowed Scholarships: Determine if your chapter has an Endowed Scholarship. If your chapter is listed, it increases the odds you’ll be considered for a scholarship from the Foundation. Each year, scholarships go unawarded simply because no one from the chapter applied.

Evaluation Criteria

The scholarship committee evaluates applications based on academic performance, chapter and community involvement, need, and letters of recommendation. All candidates are evaluated equally and considered for all scholarships for which they are eligible. Some scholarships do have criteria that apply to specific members or chapters, which will be considered in the application evaluation process. In some years, certain scholarships may not be awarded.

Types of Scholarships and Grants

Merit-Based Undergraduate Scholarships

Merit-based undergraduate scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis to qualified, initiated members pursuing undergraduate degrees. Undergraduate merit-based scholarships may be restricted to members of certain chapters, regions, or fields, but many scholarships are open to any initiated member of Delta Gamma. You will be considered for all merit-based scholarships for which you are eligible.

Need-Based Scholarships

The Delta Gamma Foundation supports collegiate members who have proven financial need and student loan debt through our Sisters Helping Sisters: Need-Based Scholarships. Scholarships are awarded to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis, as funds permit.

Graduate Fellowships

Delta Gamma Foundation graduate fellowships are awarded on a competitive basis to qualified initiated members pursuing graduate/professional degrees.

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Crisis Grants

Crisis Grants assist members who find themselves in extreme financial need created by job loss, health crisis, natural disaster, or other unexpected life circumstances. Crisis Grants are awarded throughout the year, as funds are available.

Other Grants and Recognitions

Grant to a Rho Chapter: In years that the Founders’ Academy or other national leadership takes place, this scholarship will be used to provide a grant to a Rho Chapter to attend the event.
Alumnae Development Grants: This grant provides financial assistance to Alpha Xi Delta alumnae seeking personal or professional development through conferences, programs, or seminars that are not for credit. Applications must be filed sixty days prior to the program.
Outstanding College Chapter Service Award: This recognizes the alumna member who demonstrates the most outstanding current service to a college chapter.
Outstanding College Chapter Financial Advisor Award: This recognizes college chapter financial advisors who demonstrate outstanding guidance to a college chapter.

The Marguerite Shepard Program

The most visible component of the Marguerite Shepard Program is its scholastic recognition. As one of Alpha Gam’s 11 Founders, Marguerite Shepard showed a great commitment to both academics and the Fraternity. She graduated magna cum laude and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. She later became Alpha Gam’s first Grand Vice President then second Grand President. We offer a variety of scholastic recognitions for both our members and our chapters.

Impact of Scholarships

Scholarships provide crucial financial support, allowing members to focus on their academic studies and reduce financial stress. Receiving an award like this not only helps me financially but has given me the gift of reassurance that I’m doing something right. As collegians, there are so many paths to take and pressures to succeed. This need-based scholarship will impact me tremendously. I currently help my family relieve financial stress by working more than 20-30 hours a week, so I will hopefully be able to work less and focus on my academic studies more. This fellowship is a financial blessing and a testament to the support and belief Delta Gamma has in my potential.

Additional Opportunities

NPC has announced the recipients of the third annual Centennial Scholarship. The program was created in 2023 to help young women achieve their undergraduate education more affordably. To be eligible, applicants had to be current high school seniors with plans to attend an undergraduate university in the fall of 2025. The National Panhellenic Conference Foundation (NPC Foundation) has announced the recipients of its scholarship grants for 2025. The NPC Foundation awarded scholarships, totaling $6,600, to six sorority women to help offset their undergraduate or graduate education costs.

Maintaining Academic Standards

Each chapter has an officer committed to the scholastic strength of its members.

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Contact Information

For more information, contact the Foundation Office here or call 317.663.4242.

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