The Wartburg College International Scholarship Program recognizes the academic achievement of international students, their contribution to campus and community life, and their financial need. Students may qualify for a Ruppe Scholarship awarded at the time of admission and/or a High Performance Scholarship awarded after the completion of two academic terms.
The scholarship program honors the late Loret Miller Ruppe, former director of the Peace Corps and U.S. Ambassador to Norway, whose conviction was that "peace work needs to be everybody's work."
Appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, Ruppe headed the Peace Corps for eight years, the longest tenure of any director in its 37-year history. When she took over, the volunteer force had shrunk from a high of 15,000 in 1966 to about 5,000, and budget cuts threatened the organization's very existence.
Under Ruppe's direction, the Peace Corps budget allocation consistently increased, and the number of volunteers grew by 20 percent. She developed short-term programs that enabled skilled professionals to volunteer overseas while on sabbaticals or long vacations. She increased nearly four-fold the percentage of volunteers over age 50. When Ruppe went on national television in 1985 to announce that the Peace Corps needed 600 volunteers for famine relief work in Africa, more than 7,000 people contacted the agency.
Ruppe traveled extensively during her years as Peace Corps director, visiting volunteers in more than 60 countries in Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and South and Central America. In 1989, President George Bush appointed her ambassador to Norway, a position she held until 1993. In recognition of her ambassadorial work, she received the Grand Cross of the Norwegian Order of Merit.
Loret Ruppe died of cancer in August 1996 at the age of 60. In addition to her husband, Philip, she is survived by five daughters. Her daughter Loret, who served in Nepal, was the first director's child to join the Peace Corps.
Upon meeting entrance requirements, international students may be awarded a scholarship of up to $12,000. The following guidelines apply to International Scholarships:
To qualify, you must have a TOEFLscore of at least 480, except as authorized in writing by the Associate Director of International Admissions (ADIA) or designee.
Awards are based upon your scholastic achievements, participation in such extracurricular activities as music, sports, or drama, voluntary community service, and economic need.
Scholarships are awarded at the time of admission and are renewable each academic year if you maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Exceptions must be approved in writing by the ADIA or designee.
A student will lose his or her scholarship after two consecutive terms on academic probation. Restoration of the scholarship will be considered only if the student is removed from academic probation, except as otherwise authorized by the President of Wartburg College.
Students are expected to complete their degree within four nine-month academic terms. Transfer students will have credits from other institutions, thereby reducing the time it takes to complete their degree at Wartburg. Scholarships will not be awarded beyond the expected time required for degree completion, except as authorized in writing by the ADIA. Example: You enroll as a first-year student in September 1999 with a scholarship of $3,000 per academic year. Your scholarship can be renewed and awarded through May 2003.
After completing two full academic terms at Wartburg, international students who have participated in campus activities and achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above may request a High Performance Scholarship of not more than $2,000. (Two summer school sessions count as an academic term; the May Term does not count as an academic term.) Requests should be made in writing to the ADIA. The following additional guidelines apply:
You must be full-time, degree-seeking student.
The award will be effective in the next academic term in which you are enrolled full-time toward degree fulfillment. The High Performance Scholarship is in effect as long as your cumulative GPA remains at 3.0 or above.
Students applying for High Performance Scholarship Awards should submit a letter of request to the ADIA, along with the following materials:
1. An official transcript of grades for the past two academic terms. (Two summer sessions count as one term; May Term does not count as a term).
2. A letter from a faculty or staff member describing your participation in campus activities.
3. A letter from academic adviser attesting to your progress toward the BA/BS degree or other academic objective.
Requests are due within three weeks after the end of the academic term. The ADIA or designee will evaluate each application and provide a written decision to the applicant within four weeks after the end of the term.
International students may be eligible for additional Wartburg College scholarships. These include:
1. Sibling Tuition Grant ($1,000 per year): For students with a brother or sister who currently attends or has graduated from Wartburg.
2. Alumni Tuition Grant ($1,000 per year): For full-time students with alumni parent(s).
3. Other Scholarships, Fellowships: A list of additional scholarship opportunities is published in the Wartburg academic catalog and is also available upon request from the Financial Aid Office.
For more information, contact: International
Admissions
webmaster: [email protected]