Awards have ranged from $500-$3,000
Qualifications
This O. Ruth McQuown Scholarship Award is available on a competitive basis to Liberal Arts and Sciences graduate and undergraduate students. Previous recipients are not eligible to apply. Students must be registered for Fall of the current year to receive the award.
Successful applicants must demonstrate excellence in academic achievement in one or more of the qualifying disciplines. Among other qualifications, reviewers will favorably consider, regardless of an applicant’s own race or gender:
- study in the fields of Humanities (e.g., Classics, English, History, Philosophy, Religion and Languages), Social Sciences (e.g., Anthropology, Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology and Sociology), Individual Interdisciplinary Studies (that include social sciences or humanities) and Women’s Studies;
- an applicant’s commitment to break down barriers, create a welcoming environment, and include individuals who are racial minorities or women (or otherwise reflect broad diversity) in academic, co-curricular, and/or research endeavors;
- an applicant’s success in overcoming barriers—or helping others to overcome barriers (including low socio-economic background)—to academic achievement; and
- an applicant’s commitment to contribute to the student’s university, local or larger community.
We will holistically and individually assess applicants under all criteria to select those students who best qualify.
Applying for the Award
The following must be submitted by February 23 at 4:30 p.m. For questions, contact the Scholarship Application Coordinator at applications@clas.ufl.edu.
- A completed online application.
- Two (2) letters of recommendation may be sent separately by email directly to the Scholarship Application Coordinator at applications@clas.ufl.edu.
- Undergraduates only: A 500 word essay describing your academic program of study and future career plans (.doc, .docx, or .pdf to be uploaded during the online application process).
- Graduates only: A 750 word essay describing your scholarly work and research indicating, when applicable, areas where your values and aspirations reflect those exemplified by O. Ruth McQuown (.doc, .docx, or .pdf to be uploaded during the online application process). If you are among those who receive an interview, you should expect to provide information on the following during the interview:
- Regardless of your own race or gender, your record or promise to break down barriers, create a welcoming environment, and include individuals who are racial minorities or women (or otherwise reflect broad diversity) in academic, co-curricular, and/or research endeavors
- Your success in overcoming barriers—or helping others to overcome barriers—to academic achievement (including low socio-economic background)
- Your record or promise to contribute to the university, local or larger community
About the Award
In memory of this friend and colleague (1920-1984), the O. Ruth McQuown Scholarship Award has been established to aid scholars who best exemplify her values, achievements and commitment to social issues (including addressing issues and fostering opportunities for women, racial minorities and those of low socio-economic background).
These scholarships are made possible through the private donations of numerous friends of O. Ruth McQuown, the estate of O. Ruth McQuown and of her sister, Johanna Watts, and matching funds from the State of Florida.
Each awardee’s name will be inscribed on a plaque that will be displayed in the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies in Ustler Hall.
About Dr. McQuown
To those who had the privilege of knowing Dr. O. Ruth McQuown, she is remembered as follows:
- An outstanding student of Political Science both at the University of Kentucky from which she received her bachelor’s degree with honors in 1942 and at the University of Florida from which she received her doctorate in 1961.
- An active professional colleague who taught convincingly, did research on urban politics administration, published, and often served as a consultant on government policies.
- One of the first women to become a dean at the University of Florida.
- A female faculty member who asked the question, “Why can’t women belong to Blue Key?” and then proceeded to work on the answer; in 1978 she was awarded the Florida Blue Key Distinguished Faculty Award.
- An administrator with a rare combination of competence and humanity.
- A human being with a marvelous infectious laugh.
- A Gainesville resident whose involvement in all aspects of local government where equal opportunity and fairness were issues was recognized by the Gainesville City Commissioners proclaiming special recognition to Dr. O. Ruth McQuown on August 6, 1984.