VanAkin Burd Memorial Scholarship in English

Established through a gift by Dr. Van Akin Burd, Distinguished Professor in English, Emeritus, at SUNY Cortland. Award will be split evenly between the fall and spring semesters. Funding is based on availability.

Selection Criteria

  • awarded to a matriculated junior, senior, or graduate student level student in good academic standing at SUNY Cortland
  • has a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average in English Coursework
  • is majoring in English
  • enrolled full-time (at least 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester)
  • student must have at least one full academic year remaining at the start of the fall semester of award year
  • has demonstrated financial need per FAFSA

Requirements

  • two letters of recommendation from English faculty

Renewal Information

  • this scholarship is a one-time award and is non-renewable

Recipient will be recognized at honors convocation.

Scholarship funding is determined by the Cortland College Foundation. Scholarship amounts and availability are subject to change.

Award
$1,000 - $3,000
Deadline
02/01/2025
Supplemental Questions
  1. In essay format (250 words minimum) please answer the following: What are your educational/academic goals? What are your future career plans? How to do you plan to use your studies to achieve your future career plans?
  2. Reference Request (2)
    • Please list the name and email address of the individual serving as your second reference.
    • You are required to provide letter(s) of recommendation for this scholarship application. Be sure to read the scholarship information regarding the required reference person qualifications (i.e. faculty, staff or other). Then carefully add the Name and Email Address of your first reference provider below (verify the email address prior to submitting). The person you list will receive an email from SUNY Cortland. The email will ask them to log into our system and complete the reference questionnaire, composed of four questions. *PLEASE contact your reference and make them aware they will receive an email request and which scholarship you are applying for. If they do not receive a request in their regular email, have them to check their spam mailbox. *If you are applying for more than one scholarship that requires a reference and it makes sense to ask the same person to complete a recommendation on your behalf, please let them know they may receive multiple requests and will need to respond to each.