The Bellarmine Scholar Award
The Bellarmine Scholar Award recognizes first-year students with a four-year, full-ride scholarship. In addition, this award comes with a study abroad stipend and enrollment in Bellarmine’s Honors Program, a community of excellence that provides students with opportunities in and outside of the classroom to achieve at the highest possible level while forming lifelong friendships with others who share their love of learning.
The Bellarmine Fellow Award
The Bellarmine Fellow Award provides first-year students with four years of full tuition. In addition, this award comes with a study abroad stipend and enrollment in Bellarmine’s Honors Program, a community of excellence that provides students with opportunities in and outside of the classroom to achieve at the highest possible level while forming lifelong friendships with others who share their love of learning.
The Application Process
To apply to the Honors Program (and be considered for the Bellarmine Scholar and Fellow awards), simply complete the standard Honors Program application by December 1.
The application includes three short written responses:
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Challenge and Growth (500–750 words)
Honors students embrace self-discovery and lifelong learning. Share a moment when you faced a challenge, took a risk, or pushed yourself beyond what was expected. How did you grow from the experience, and how do you hope to continue growing in the Honors Program?
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Showcase of Work (250–500 words)
Upload something you’ve created that you’re proud of—this could be an essay, project, video, artwork, research sample, etc.—that reflects your critical thinking, creativity, or interdisciplinary approach. In your short explanation, describe what you created and how it demonstrates curiosity, a willingness to take on challenges, or a commitment to excellence.
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Goals and Aspirations (400–600 words)
Honors students set ambitious goals and seek out opportunities to grow. What do you hope to gain from the Honors Program? Identify 2–3 goals you’d like to pursue and explain how the program will support your progress. How will you know you’re making progress toward these goals?
Please also submit:
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A letter of recommendation from a teacher or guidance counselor who knows you well and can provide specific insight into your strengths, character, and potential to thrive in the Honors Program.
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Your resume, highlighting your academic achievements, service, extracurricular involvement, and any honors or awards
Your application will be reviewed holistically by the Honors administration team. Applications received after December 1 will still be considered for admission to the program; however, you will no longer be eligible for scholarship consideration unless the deadline has been officially extended.
Timeline
Students selected to participate in the scholarship competition will be notified in early January. The competition will be held February 6 and 7, 2026.
Competition
Bellarmine Scholars and Bellarmine Fellows recipients are selected based on a rigorous weekend competition. The competition will include a faculty interview, writing sample session, and a mock classroom experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear?
Because the competition includes professional interviews, we encourage students to dress anywhere from business casual to business professional. A good rule is to wear what you would to a job interview.
Who selects the winners?
A council of faculty members from different departments and programs will interview students, lead the roundtable discussions, evaluate the writing samples, and determine the recipients of the award.
Can international students compete for the Honors Scholarships?
Yes, international students are indeed eligible to apply for our Honors scholarships. Interested students must complete the standard application form online. Undergraduate applicants who have attended secondary, and post-secondary schools, colleges, universities, or professional institutions outside the United States must submit their academic records to SpanTran or World Education Services, Inc. (WES) for a course-by-course evaluation. International students must also submit documented evidence of English language proficiency. This can be met through testing (TOEFL, MELAB, Duolingo English Test, ACT, SAT), language training at an approved center, or prior educational experiences in TOEFL Exempt Countries. Additionally, international students must submit a bank statement or letter of commitment demonstrating the ability to fund the cost of attending Bellarmine University for one academic year and at least one letter of recommendation from a prior teacher, professional academic counselor, or another individual whose professional standing is appropriate to access the student’s ability to succeed in college and who is aware of the student’s language skills.
Who do I contact with additional questions?
With questions about the scholarship, please contact honors@bellarmine.edu.
With questions about the competition, please contact Hailee Golden, Student Recruitment and Admission Officer, at hbray@bellarmine.edu or 502.272.8351
The application for the 2026 Scholarship Competition will open soon. Please continue to check back.