by Joy Esiemokhai
With the cost of getting a college education rising rapidly, incoming freshmen often seek out scholarship opportunities to supplement their financial needs. As part of its efforts to help such students pursue their academic dreams, UWG organized a scholarship program on President’s Day. The event allowed eligible students who are already accepted to UWG to interview for various scholarship awards offered by the university.
The event, which took place at University Stadium, started at 9:00 a.m. with registration and refreshments, before the interviews began at 10:00 a.m. Eligible applicants participated in 30-minute general interviews in front of a committee comprised of UWG faculty and staff from various departments. There were a total of 10 interview sessions, four sessions for the morning group of students and six sessions for the afternoon group. Candidates interviewed for scholarships such as the Emerging Leader Awards, the Goizueta Scholarship for students of Hispanic and Latino lineage, Transfer Student Foundation Scholarships, and Housing Ambassador Scholarships. In addition, qualifying students with superior grades and test scores vied for the highly competitive Presidential Scholarship.
Prospective students and their parents were invited to explore the UWG campus through driving tours. Between the morning and afternoon interview sessions, participants were treated to a complimentary luncheon at the Z-6 dining hall, with Dr. Kyle Marrero, the UWG president, delivering the welcome address, and Dr. Michael Hester, the dean of the Honors College, delivering the keynote speech. The event also included an academic department and organization fair, which allowed students to meet with representatives from approximately 14 departments and seven colleges about the academic opportunities offered on the UWG campus.
This year’s Scholarship Day event was the second edition of the event and the first in six years. The event is a way of allowing incoming students a chance to compete for the hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships available each year. “Last year, the Office of Admissions awarded over $300,000 for incoming students through our combined Scholarship awards, which we hope to match again this year,” says Ketty Hubbell, UWG’s associate director of admissions for recruitment.
For more information on scholarships offered at UWG, visit www.westga.edu/scholarships or contact the Office of Admissions at 678-839-5600.
