Nationally Competitive Scholarships

Henry Luce Foundation Scholarship

Purpose of the Award: The Luce Scholars Program is intended to increase awareness of Asia among future leaders in American society. To that end, the program provides stipends and internships for eighteen young Americans to live and work in Asia each year.

Nature of the Award: The Luce Scholarship consists of a monthly cost-of-living stipend, as well as funding for all travel required by the program. In addition, funds are provided for language study both before and during the tenure of the scholarship.

Eligibility Requirements: Candidates must be American citizens who have earned at least bachelor's degrees before taking part in the program. Candidates may not be older than twenty-nine years at the time they enter the program and cannot have had significant exposure to Asian culture or studies.

Selection Criteria: Scholars are selected on the basis of strong career interests (except for Asian Affairs), motivation and potential for accomplishment, outstanding academic achievement, capacity for leadership, openness to new ideas, and personal characteristics deemed critical to success in another culture.

Application Procedures: Luce applicants are required to secure the endorsement of their respective institutions. University of Arizona applicants must meet both the UA deadline and the Luce deadline (see important dates). Applicants must submit application materials, including the Luce application form, a personal statement (1000 words), academic transcripts, two passport-sized photographs, and four letters of recommendation, by the UA deadline to Dr. Karna Walter, the Luce Faculty Representative for the University of Arizona. Applicants nominated by the University of Arizona will have several weeks after the UA deadline to strengthen their applications before they are submitted to the Luce Foundation.

Nomination Procedures: The University of Arizona may nominate up to two applicants for the Luce. A UA screening committee will determine which applicant(s) will be nominated. The nominees will interview with the Foundation in December or January, and forty-five finalists will be invited to appear before one of three regional selection committees in late February or early March. Each committee will select six Luce Scholars.

Important Dates:

• November 3: UA deadline
• December 5: application materials due to Luce Foundation
• Late January/early February: initial interviews of applicants
• Late February/early March: regional interviews for selected candidates
• Mid-March: selection of Luce Scholars

Contact Information: Potential applicants should consult the Henry Luce Foundation website to obtain specific details related to the Luce Scholarship. UA students considering applying for the Luce should contact Dr. Karna Walter, Assistant Director of International Studies and Scholarships, at 621-6546 or karna@u.arizona.edu. Dr. Walter is available to discuss application procedures and essay ideas.