If you are planning to attend and present at a regional, national or international conference related to your professional development as a geography major, our department might be able to provide partial support for your trip.

Please, note that the department financial support is discretional, not guaranteed, and is subject to funding availability.

The Career Center understands that, while completing an internship is necessary to be competitive in today's job market, it can be financially straining. In an effort to help offset the costs of working in unpaid internships, the Career Center provides scholarships to students during each academic semester (Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer semesters).

Candidates for the award must meet the following criteria:

1. Enrolled as a degree-seeking student and participating in a Grand Valley State University-approved, credit-bearing, unpaid internship. To qualify, students must meet criteria required for internship eligibility within their academic department. Preference will be given to students who demonstrate financial need (based on FASFA information), clearly respond to the essay question, and submit a quality resume.
2. Candidates and recipients shall be making satisfactory academic progress according to the norms established by the University.
3. Demonstration of financial need as defined by government programs is required.
4. Candidates must be accepted by Grand Valley State University for enrollment or be attending the University to be eligible to receive this scholarship.

1. This scholarship will be awarded to a candidate only once. Prior recipients may not reapply.
2. Recipients of the award will be obligated to pay back all of the monies awarded within 30 days of occurrence if for any reason they:

• Withdraw/drop their academic credit for the experience.
• Quit or are terminated from their internship work site.

Candidates for this scholarship will complete the online application found on myScholarships.

The recipients will be chosen by a Career Center selection committee in collaboration with the Financial Aid Office of Grand Valley State University. Notifications will be made through the myScholarships website.

Wege Prize is an annual competition that ignites game-changing solutions for the future by inspiring college/university students around the world to collaborate across institutional, disciplinary, and cultural boundaries to redesign the way economies work. Participants contend for over $65,000 (USD) in total cash prizes, all while helping to show the world what the future of problem solving looks like.

Applications will be accepted Fall of 2026 for Wege Prize 2027.

Geography majors in the past were successful in competing for this award!

College/university students from all over the world will compete in transdisciplinary teams of five, representing different academic disciplines and different academic institutions.
Undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level student are eligible to compete.

How can we create a circular economy? 
Each team must leverage its transdisciplinary makeup to collaboratively design and propose a product, service, business/non-profit organization, or other solution to a wicked problem that can help us transition from a linear economic model to a circular economic model. 2026 Design Brief

Winning teams will split the following awards evenly between their five members:
First Place: $30,000 (USD)
Second Place: $20,000 (USD)
Third Place: $10,000 (USD)
Past Winners

The AAG-GTU Travel Award provides support for student members of GTU to attend the national annual meeting of the American Association of Geographers. Travel awards are available with preference to Geography undergraduate and graduate students who are attending an AAG meeting for the first time and who will serve as an author or co-author on a paper or poster being presented at the meeting.

The 2027 Annual Meeting of the AAG will take place in New York City February 8-12. 

Application Deadline: Autumn(Yearly)

GTU website for applications

Undergraduates, don't miss your chance to apply to NOAA undergraduate scholarship programs, which include paid NOAA internships and academic scholarships. Applications for the NOAA Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship and Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) Undergraduate Scholarship are open annually from September through January.

Hollings Scholarship

Up to $40,000, including:

• $9,500 stipend per year for junior and senior year
• A 10-week paid NOAA internship
• Funds for travel and conference participation

Eligibility:

• U.S. citizen
• 3.0 minimum GPA
• Major in NOAA mission fields, including STEM and social science

EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship

Up to $45,000, including:

• $9,500 stipend per year for junior and senior year
• Two 10-week paid NOAA internships
• Funds for travel and conference participation

Eligibility

• Attend a minority-serving institution (MSI)
• U.S. citizen or U.S. national
• 3.2 minimum GPA
• Major in NOAA mission fields, including STEM and social science

These prestigious scholarships provide students with an academic award of $9,500 per year for two years of full-time study. The Hollings Scholarship provides a 10-week, full time, paid summer internship opportunity at any NOAA facility nationwide. The EPP/MSI Undergraduate Scholarship offers two paid summer internships, one in a NOAA office in the Silver Spring, Maryland, metro area, and one at any NOAA facility nationwide. All scholars also receive funding to present their summer internship research at two national scientific conferences. 

APPLY NOW: https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/hollings-scholarship

Scholarships & Funding through the GVSU Office of Sustainability Practices.

Fellowships website

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship (OURS) encourages students to consider and apply for their Scholar & Fellowship Programs:

The GVSU Library Scholars Summer Program provides students with the opportunity to have an immersive research experience using the library's resources and collections. Mentored by a library faculty mentor, the scholar will develop and enhance information literacy skills and an understanding of library studies as a means to engage in a disciplinary, scholarly conversation. This is a half-time summer program. The grant includes student stipend.

The Student Summer Scholars Program (MS3) is geared toward lower division students and first year transfer students. It provides funds for a student and faculty mentor to devote either about 200 hours over twelve weeks, or 200 hours during the Spring or Summer six-week session to a research and/or creative project. Generally, MS3 grants provide a student stipend, faculty stipend, and a small budget for supplies. This is a half-time summer program. The grant includes student stipend and student travels funds.

The Student Summer Scholars Program (S3) provides funds for a student and faculty mentor to devote about twelve weeks/400 hours to a research and/or creative project during the spring/summer semester. Generally, S3 grants provide a student stipend, faculty stipend, and a small budget for supplies. The grant includes student stipend and student travels funds. Information sessions available.

Boren Scholarships and Fellowships support undergraduate (max. $25,000) and graduate students (max. $25,000) to study abroad in language-intensive programs in regions critical to U.S. interests, including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Middle East.

(Western Europe, Canada, Australia & New Zealand are NOT eligible.)

Boren Scholars represent a variety of academic backgrounds, but all are interested in studying less commonly taught languages, including but not limited to Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Indonesian and Swahili. Full list of countries and languages.

Boren Scholars and Fellows commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation in a position with national security responsibilities.

Boren gives preference to applicants who are committed to government service and applying for countries, languages, and fields of study that are critical to U.S. national security.

African Flagship Languages Initiative (AFLI) Boren Fellowship applicants from any U.S. college or university may apply for the African Flagship Languages Initiative (AFLI) to study Akan/Twl, French, Portuguese, Swahili, Wolof or Zulu.

South Asian Flagship Languages Initiative (SAFLI) Boren Scholarship applicants from any U.S. college or university may apply for the South Asian Flagship Languages Initiative (SAFLI) to study Hindi or Urdu.

For more information or to apply for this opportunity, please contact the Frederik Meijer Office of Fellowships at [email protected] or (616) 331-2699.