LARES First Year Scholar Award
Application window for the 2026-2027 academic year opens June 22, 2026 and closes August 7, 2026.
The LARES First-Year Scholar Award was established to support the academic success of incoming first-year UIC students. Recipients are recognized for their leadership and high school involvement. The $1,000 award must be applied toward tuition, fees, and educational related expenses.
Eligibility:
- Must be a first-year incoming UIC student.
- Must be enrolled in the LARES program. Please visit the following link to sign up for the program: lares.uic.edu/about/get-connected/
- Must have a minimum high school G.P.A. of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Must be enrolled full-time (at least 12 credit hours) throughout the first academic year at UIC.
- Must qualify for in-state tuition.
To be considered for this award, students will need to:
- Complete the online LARES Web Application.
- Respond to the following questions:
- Describe your educational and career goals. How can the LARES program support you in achieving your goals? (200-250 words)
- Share an experience where you demonstrated leadership in high school or were involved within your community. (100-150 words)
- Please note: recipients will be notified and awarded no later than the 3rd week of the fall term.
Recipients of the LARES First Year Scholar Award will be expected to:
- Attend at least one academic advising session with their LARES advisor during the semester the award is distributed.
- Attend a LARES-sponsored event on campus.
The application must be submitted by Friday, August 7, 2026 no later than 11:59 PM CT. Late submissions will not be accepted.
