Merit-Based Scholarships

Barbara Hirschi Neely Scholarship

The Barbara Hirschi Neely Scholarship, Lewis & Clark’s highest merit award, is a full-tuition scholarship, recognizing incoming first-year students of exceptional academic achievement in the Northwest. Only students who attend high school in Northwest Oregon and Southwest Washington (including the greater Portland Metro area) are eligible to be considered for the Neely Scholarship.* To be eligible for the Neely Scholarship, students must apply to L&C through the Common Application using either our Early Action or Early Decision program by the applicable deadline

Five, full-tuition scholarships are awarded to entering first-year students based on academic accomplishments, leadership qualities, community impact and participation in a day-long, on-campus program and group interview. Scholarships are renewable annually, provided the student maintains satisfactory academic progress.

The Neely Scholarships are made possible by Barbara Hirschi Neely, who established numerous trust funds to benefit Lewis & Clark College. When she died in January 1990, these trust funds were designated as endowment funds for student aid.

In addition to the scholarship, each Neely scholar is granted a $2,000 stipend that may be used after the fourth semester at Lewis & Clark on projects approved by the scholar’s faculty advisor and the director of academic awards and grants. Possible applications for the stipend include research, internships, or artistic projects related to the scholar’s academic program and civic engagement initiatives. Projects must be completed prior to the scholar’s graduation from Lewis & Clark.

*Students who attend high school in the following counties are eligible to be considered for the Neely Scholarship: Benton, Clackamas, Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, Yamhill counties in Oregon and Clark County in Washington.

Tuition Exchange

A merit-based institutional award is available to students who are dependents of eligible employees at institutions participating in Tuition Exchange, Inc. The amount of the award is determined in accordance with Tuition Exchange, Inc’s guidance. A limited number of these awards are offered each year and recipients are identified by the Office of Admissions. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress and continue to be certified as eligible by the participating institution to retain this award.

Note: Students receiving Tuition Exchange are not eligible to receive other institutional merit-based scholarships. Receipt of Tuition Exchange Scholarship may require the reduction of previously awarded institutional need-based aid.

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Performance-Based Scholarships

Music Scholarships

Awards are given annually to students who have outstanding talent in music. Application includes an audition. To renew the scholarship, students must participate in activities within the Music Department and maintain satisfactory academic progress. For further information, contact:

Department of Music
503-768-7460
music@lclark.edu

Speech & Debate Scholarships

Speech & Debate Scholarships are available to students who have an outstanding record of achievement in debate and forensics. Students must participate in speech & debate competition and maintain satisfactory academic progress to remain eligible to receive the scholarship. For further information, contact:

Professor Joseph Gantt
Speech & Debate Program Director
503-768-7615
jgantt@lclark.edu

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External Scholarships

External scholarships, many of which are based on merit or special criteria, are an increasingly important source of funding for students. Last year, Lewis & Clark students garnered almost $1.4 million in external scholarship money awarded by businesses, community groups, and religious and fraternal organizations. Your high school counselor should be able to refer you to local scholarship sources. There are also several online resources to aid in your scholarship search.

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Taxability of Scholarships and Grants

Scholarships and grants from all sources received in a calendar year in excess of the amount of tuition and books/supplies for that calendar year are subject to federal income tax. The college is not responsible for notifying students of the taxable amounts of grants and scholarships. The Office of Financial Aid cannot serve as a tax consultant or adviser, but detailed information concerning the taxability of scholarships and grants can be found in IRS Publication 970 Tax Benefits for Education, on www.irs.gov, or by consulting a personal tax adviser.

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For more information about these merit-based scholarships, contact:

Office of Admissions
503-768-7040
800-444-4111 toll free
admissions@lclark.edu