The Swenson Scholarship
Purpose
Made possible by the generosity of a couple who are members of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Dana Point, California, the Swenson Scholarship program was designed to encourage members of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) congregations in Orange County, California, to attend California Lutheran University (CLU). The donors are strongly committed to making an undergraduate education in a college of the church affordable.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Swenson Scholarship, the student must meet the following:
- Member of an ELCA congregation in Orange County, California
- U.S. Citizen
- Demonstrated motivation, drive, and financial need
- 3.0 academic GPA
- Admitted to CLU by March 15. 2009
To keep the Swenson Scholarship while at CLU, a student must meet the following:
- Full-time student (12 or more units per semester)
- 3.0 cumulative GPA
Scholarship Availability and Amount
Four half tuition scholarships are awarded to eligible incoming freshman and transfer students.
For incoming freshmen, this scholarship is renewable for up to three additional years following the first year, provided the student maintains the GPA and unit requirement above. For incoming transfer students, the scholarship is renewable for one additional year following the first year at CLU, provided the students maintains the GPA and unit requirement above.
Procedure
Interested students should print and complete the Swenson Scholarship Application. In addition, the applicant should request the pastor or youth minister of his/her congregation complete the letter of recommendation form at the end of the application. Please mail or fax the application and recommendation to:
CLU Office of Admission
Attn: Rebecca Keenan
60 West Olsen Road #1350
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
Fax: 805.493.3114
Both the application and the recommendation must be received in the Office of Admission by 5:00 p.m. PST on February 27, 2009. No late applications will be accepted. Recipients will be notified on or before April 15, 2009.
Recipients of the Swenson Scholarship who also receive an Academic Scholarship from CLU may receive up to $18,500 between the two scholarships. For example, Jaime receives an Academic Scholarship in the amount of $10,000 when she is admitted. She then applies for and receives the Swenson Scholarship for half tuition ($13,925 in 2008-2009). When Jaime receives her financial aid award, it will read:
- Swenson Scholarship $13,925
- Academic Scholarship $4,575
($13,925 +$4,575 = $18,500 - the maximum a student may receive between the two scholarships).
Those who are Presidential Scholars who receive the Swenson Scholarship will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
In addition, we highly encourage all students who are interested in the Swenson Scholarship to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to the priority deadline of March 1, 2007. The FAFSA can be filed online at: www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Questions
If you have any questions regarding the Swenson Scholarship, please contact Rebecca Keenan via e-mail rkeenan@callutheran.edu or phone 805.493.3139.