Scholarships and Awards

Of the scholarships and awards in the College of Humanities and Sciences database, the following are offered to undergraduate students through the School of World Studies. They are supported by, or endowed in honor of, alums and former members of our faculty, in a tangible representation of their deep commitment to VCU and to World Studies as discipline.

  • Anthropology Scholarship Fund: The Anthropology Merit Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship awarded to a rising sophomore, junior or senior with a declared major in anthropology with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • Dr. Antonio Masullo Italian Studies Scholarship: This scholarship shall support College of Humanities and Sciences students with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher, minoring in Italian Studies and/or planning to complete a study abroad/internship in Italy with preference given to those with a minor in Italian. Students will be required to provide proof of their academic trip to Italy in the application if applicable. Students must be enrolled at VCU during the time of the award.
  • Dr. Christina Turner Award Endowment: The Dr. Christina Turner Writing Award was established in 2008 and commemorates the lifelong achievements of Turner in teaching. Turner was a cherished instructor with a particular passion for improving the writing skills of her students. Many students over the years have thanked Turner for her help with making them better critical thinkers and writers. The aim of this award is to maintain her legacy as a teacher and her focus on writing as a necessary skill in today’s society. The award will be given with preference for a VCU student of anthropology.
  • Italian Studies Fund: The Italian Studies Scholarship is open to students of Italian studies with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher. There are two scholarship opportunities: 1) Travel scholarship to Italy or Italo-phone Switzerland: For students who have excelled in Italian classes and will use the scholarship for travel or study abroad; 2) Academic Recognition Scholarships: Recognizes students excelling in Italian classes but who are not necessarily traveling. Graduating seniors are not eligible unless they are attending a VCU study abroad program in Italy or Italo-phone Switzerland.
  • Janet D. Sheridan Scholarship: This scholarship was established by an anonymous donor in 1998 in honor of adjunct professor Janet Sheridan. It is awarded to a language major with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who demonstrates excellence in his or her area of language concentration. Applicants must be a rising junior or senior majoring in French, German or Spanish in the School of World Studies and have completed coursework through the intermediate level and will have taken at least two foreign language courses at VCU by the end of the semester in which the award is received.
  • Roy E. and Irene S. Roby Scholarship: The Roy E. and Irene S. Roby Scholarship was created to support students in the anthropology program in the College of Humanities and Sciences, and the Department of Painting and Printmaking in the School of Arts (VCUarts). In odd-numbered years, the scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate rising sophomore, rising junior or rising senior in the Department of Painting and Printmaking, with preference for a student majoring in painting in good academic standing pursuing a degree. In even numbered years the scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate rising sophomore, rising junior or rising senior in good academic standing pursuing a degree in the anthropology program. Preference will be given to students who have interest in Native American indigenous culture. To discern the best applicant from the pool, students may be asked to answer an essay question about their interest in Native indigenous culture and history.
  • Volkmar Risch Endowed Memorial Scholarship: The Volkmar Risch Memorial Scholarship was established through gifts made by family, friends, colleagues and previous students of Volkmar Risch, an adjunct professor of German in the School of World Studies. The scholarship continues Risch’s legacy as a teacher of German and a dedicated member of the VCU and Richmond communities. The scholarship will be awarded to a student in the School of World Studies with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 who demonstrates a dedication and commitment to the study of German. Recipient must have taken at least one year of German or be currently enrolled in German 102 and intend to study abroad in the German-speaking world.