Anderson University Scholarship Competition
Compete. Connect. Discover What You Can Do.
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m.
Anderson University Campus
1100 E. 5th St., Anderson, IN 46012
What if one day could help shape your college experience and potentially cover the cost of your tuition?
Anderson University’s Academic Scholarship Competition gives high school seniors the opportunity to explore their future field, connect with faculty and current students, participate in engaging challenges, and compete for one of six full-tuition scholarships.
There is no cost to participate, and you do not need to be an expert in your field. You simply need to be excited about what you might do with it.
Six Academic Areas. Six Full-Tuition Scholarships.
Students will select one academic competition area when registering.
Engineering
Exercise Science
Nursing
Social Sciences (Criminal Justice, Political Science, and Social Work)
Technology (Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Data Science, and Artificial Intelligence)
One participant in each academic area will receive a renewable full-tuition scholarship. That means six students will leave this competition as full-tuition scholarship recipients.
Who Can Participate?
To participate, students must:
- Be a current high school senior
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Intend to major in the academic area in which they are competing
- Complete the required virtual interview
- Attend and participate in the December 5 competition
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Every eligible student who attends and participates in the competition will receive a $2,000 per year scholarship. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years as long as the student maintains satisfactory academic status as outlined in the Anderson University Academic Guidelines. That means the scholarship can total $8,000 over four years! That’s up to $8,000 over four years for participating in the competition and giving it your best.
Yes! The $2,000 per year Academic Competition Scholarship is stackable with other eligible Anderson University scholarships and financial aid.
Six full-tuition scholarships will be awarded, with one recipient selected from each academic competition area.
The scholarship will be used to cover the cost of tuition. The cost of tuition does not include housing, meal plans, university fees, books, or other educational and personal expenses.
Yes! Recipients may renew the scholarship as long as they remain in the academic major connected to their competition area and maintain satisfactory academic standing.
Scholarship recipients will be notified by email within approximately two weeks following the competition. Recipients will also be recognized through a university press release.
No! You do not need advanced knowledge or previous experience in your chosen field. The Innovation Challenges are designed to help faculty see how you think, communicate, problem-solve, collaborate, and approach something new. If you are excited about the field and can see yourself studying it in college, you belong in the competition!
Each academic area will have two Innovation Challenges. Challenges will vary by area and may include individual activities, team-based challenges, hands-on experiences, problem-solving scenarios, presentations, creative projects, or real-world situations.
Yes. Students will complete a 15-30 minute virtual interview with a faculty member from their selected academic area. The interview is a required part of the competition and is included in the full-tuition scholarship process.
Virtual interviews will take place throughout October and November. Interview scheduling links will be available by the end of September and will be sent by your admissions counselor.
Think of it as a conversation. Be prepared to talk about: why you are interested in your academic field, experiences that have influenced your interests, your college and career goals, activities or experiences you have enjoyed, why you are considering Anderson University, and what excites you about the future. You do not need to prepare a speech or memorize answers. Faculty members simply want the opportunity to get to know you.
No. Students must select one academic competition area. Choose the area that best aligns with the major you intend to pursue at Anderson University.
Choose the competition area connected to the major you are most likely to pursue. If you are unsure which area is the best fit, contact your admissions counselor or the Office of Admissions at info@anderson.edu.
No! Participation in the Academic Scholarship Competition is completely free!
Absolutely! Parents, guardians, and family members are encouraged to attend. While students participate in their Innovation Challenges, family members will participate in other programming and panels designed to help them learn more about Anderson University and the student experience. Families will also join students for lunch and may participate in the optional campus tour.
Yes! Complimentary lunch will be provided for registered students and guests. If you or your guests have any dietary restrictions or require accommodations, please email Rebekah Keith at rekeith@anderson.edu.
Students should plan to wear business casual attire. Choose something polished but comfortable enough to participate in activities throughout the day. Keep the weather in mind, as you will be moving from building to building throughout the day. The optional campus tour is also a one-hour walking tour that takes place mostly outdoors.
We understand that schedules can be complicated. If a conflict may affect your ability to participate in part of the competition, please contact info@anderson.edu so our team can talk through your situation.