Division of Student Affairs > Student Services > Financial Awards > Multicultural Financial Awards

Multicultural Financial Awards

OMSS provides scholarships to facilitate the retention, persistence, and graduation of first-generation students and students of color who demonstrate financial need and a commitment to service and academic excellence. Announcements are posted and applications can be submitted through the DePaul Scholarship Connect website. If you have any questions about scholarships, please email Monica Hurtado, Scholarship Coordinator at mhurtad4@depaul.edu.

OMSS Scholarship Opportunities

Award Amount: $10,000
Target Audience: Incoming freshman DePaul student
Application Period: November - February
Renewable Scholarship Opportunity?: Yes

The Beeson Scholarship is awarded to incoming traditional freshman students. The scholarship was created to support highly promising seniors from Chicago Catholic High Schools in meeting their academic and personal goals. To be considered, you must be from a Chicago-area Catholic High School with a cumulative high school GPA of 2.7 or higher, maintain good academic standing, and demonstrate appropriate progress toward degree completion in order to maintain eligibility for award renewal. In addition, need must be demonstrated as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA. Applicants must have leadership skills as well as a commitment to social justice. Recipients are required to commit to social activism, serve as a community leader, fulfill community service projects, and participate in workshops and programs determined by coordinators in the Office of Multicultural Student Success, including sessions with staff for advising, mentoring, and assessment.

Award Amount: $5,000
Target Audience: Incoming freshman DePaul student
Application Period: November - February
Renewable Scholarship Opportunity?: Yes

The Bobby Simmons Scholarship was established to provide recognition and financial assistance to incoming, high-potential students with financial need. To be considered, you must maintain good academic standing and demonstrate appropriate progress toward degree completion in order to maintain eligibility for award renewal. In addition, need must be demonstrated as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA. Applicants must have leadership skills as well as a commitment to social justice. Recipients are required to commit to social activism, serve as a community leader, fulfill community service projects, and participate in workshops and programs determined by coordinators in the Office of Multicultural Student Success, including sessions with staff for advising, mentoring, and assessment.

Award Amount: $10,000
Target Audience: Incoming freshman DePaul student
Application Period: November - February
Renewable Scholarship Opportunity?: Yes

The Rita and John Canning Scholarship supports highly promising seniors from Chicago Big Shoulders High Schools or Big Shoulders Fund Scholars in meeting their academic and personal goals. To be considered, you must be from a Big Shoulders High School or a current Big Shoulders Fund Scholar with a cumulative high school GPA of 2.7 or higher, maintain good academic standing, and demonstrate appropriate progress toward degree completion in order to maintain eligibility for award renewal. In addition, need must be demonstrated as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA. Applicants must have leadership skills as well as a commitment to social justice. Recipients are required to commit to social activism, serve as a community leader, fulfill community service projects, and participate in workshops and programs determined by coordinators in the Office of Multicultural Student Success, including sessions with staff for advising, mentoring, and assessment.

Award Amount: $5,000
Target Audience: Incoming freshman DePaul student
Application Period: November - February
Renewable Scholarship Opportunity?: Yes

The Corboy Dempsey Endowed Scholarship was established to provide recognition and financial assistance to incoming, high-potential students with financial need. To be considered, you must maintain good academic standing and demonstrate appropriate progress toward degree completion in order to maintain eligibility for award renewal. In addition, need must be demonstrated as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA. Applicants must have leadership skills as well as a commitment to social justice. Recipients are required to commit to social activism, serve as a community leader, fulfill community service projects, and participate in workshops and programs determined by coordinators in the Office of Multicultural Student Success, including sessions with staff for advising, mentoring, and assessment.

Award Amount: Varies, between $5,000 - $6,000
Target Audience: Rising junior/senior DePaul student
Application Period: May - July
Renewable Scholarship Opportunity?: Yes

The Doyle Endowed Scholarship was established to provide recognition and financial assistance to current, high-potential DePaul University students with financial need. To be considered, you must maintain good academic standing and demonstrate appropriate progress toward degree completion in order to maintain eligibility for award renewal. In addition, need must be demonstrated as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA. Applicants must have leadership skills as well as a commitment to social justice. Recipients are required to commit to social activism, serve as a community leader, fulfill community service projects, and participate in workshops and programs determined by coordinators in the Office of Multicultural Student Success, including sessions with staff for advising, mentoring, and assessment.

Award Amount: Varies, between $12,000 - $15,000
Target Audience: Incoming freshman DePaul student
Application Period: November - February
Renewable Scholarship Opportunity?: Yes

The Egan Hope Scholarship Program was created to honor Monsignor John Egan’s lifetime work of social activism and community service and is designed to prepare inner-city students from Chicago to continue that work. To be considered, you must prove residency within the city of Chicago, graduate from a city of Chicago high school, maintain good academic standing, and demonstrate appropriate progress toward degree completion in order to maintain eligibility for award renewal. In addition, need must be demonstrated as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA. Applicants must have leadership skills as well as a commitment to social justice. Recipients are required to commit to social activism, serve as a community leader, fulfill community service projects, and participate in workshops and programs determined by coordinators in the Office of Multicultural Student Success, including sessions with staff for advising, mentoring, and assessment.

Award Amount: Varies, between $2,000 - $3,000
Target Audience: Current DePaul student
Application Period: January - March
Renewable Scholarship Opportunity?: No, one-time, non-renewable scholarship

The Francisco Valencia Scholarship was created to provide scholarship support to a student who has given back to both their DePaul and neighborhood community. Throughout his life, "Frankie" was committed to social justice and service that made a difference in the lives of young people throughout the city of Chicago. In his four years at DePaul, he served as a Chicago Quarter Mentor, a STARS Peer Mentor, a Jumpstart Corps member, a Hoops and Hopes volunteer, a DCSA trip leader, a VOICES Intern, a Resident Advisor, and a student employee with the Men of Color initiative. Just a few days after he was awarded the Lincoln Laureate Award and served as the student keynote speaker at the Diversity Brunch during Family Weekend 2009, Frankie met an untimely death due to senseless gun violence. The Francisco Valencia Memorial Scholarship honors the legacy of this phenomenal young man who gave of himself for the benefit of others and was committed to changing the world. This scholarship will be awarded to one student who displays the commitment to service and leadership that reflects the legacy of Francisco Valencia.

Award Amount: $5,000
Target Audience: Incoming freshman DePaul student
Application Period: November - February
Renewable Scholarship Opportunity?: Yes

The Greer Foundation Scholarship is awarded to incoming traditional freshman students. The scholarship was created to provide recognition and financial assistance to undergraduate students pursuing a STEM-related major. To be considered, recipients must maintain good academic standing and demonstrate appropriate progress toward degree completion in order to maintain eligibility for award renewal. Scholarship need must be demonstrated as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA. Recipients are required to fulfill community service projects and participate in workshops and programs determined by coordinators in the Office of Multicultural Student Success, including sessions with staff for advising, mentoring, and assessment.

Award Amount: Varies, up to full tuition
Target Audience: Incoming freshman DePaul student
Application Period: November - February
Renewable Scholarship Opportunity?: Yes

This John Horan Endowed Scholarship was established to provide recognition and financial assistance to high-potential incoming DePaul University students with financial need. Students who attended North Lawndale College Prep High School will be given a stronger preference. This scholarship will provide support on top of federal, state, and institutional aid to cover recipients’ tuition, room and board, and program support. To be considered, recipients must maintain good academic standing and demonstrate appropriate progress toward degree completion in order to maintain eligibility for award renewal. In addition, need must be demonstrated as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA. Recipients are required to fulfill community service projects and participate in workshops and programs determined by coordinators in the Office of Multicultural Student Success, including sessions with staff for advising, mentoring, and assessment.

Award Amount: $10,000
Target Audience: Incoming freshman DePaul student
Application Period: November - February
Renewable Scholarship Opportunity?: Yes

The Mazza Foundation Scholarship was established to provide recognition and financial assistance to incoming, high-potential students with financial need. To be considered, you must maintain good academic standing and demonstrate appropriate progress toward degree completion in order to maintain eligibility for award renewal. In addition, need must be demonstrated as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA. Applicants must have leadership skills as well as a commitment to social justice. Recipients are required to commit to social activism, serve as a community leader, fulfill community service projects, and participate in workshops and programs determined by coordinators in the Office of Multicultural Student Success, including sessions with staff for advising, mentoring, and assessment.

Award Amount: Varies, between $2,000 - $3,000
Target Audience: Current DePaul student
Application Period: January - March
Renewable Scholarship Opportunity?: No, one-time, non-renewable scholarship

The Peggy Roach Memorial Endowed Scholarship was created to provide financial support to students committed to and involved in social activism. Throughout her life, Peggy Roach was committed to social justice and activism within her surrounding community. This scholarship will be awarded to a student who displays the commitment to activism and participation in group-based projects that reflects the legacy of Peggy Roach.

Award Amount: Varies, up to full tuition
Target Audience: Incoming freshman DePaul student
Application Period: November - February
Renewable Scholarship Opportunity?: Yes

This Phoenix Pact Endowed Scholarship was established to provide recognition and financial assistance to a high-potential incoming DePaul University student with financial need. Student who attended North Lawndale College Prep High School will be given a stronger preference for the Phoenix Pact Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship will provide support on top of federal, state, and institutional aid to cover recipients’ tuition, room and board, and program support. To be considered, recipients must maintain good academic standing and demonstrate appropriate progress toward degree completion in order to maintain eligibility for award renewal. In addition, need must be demonstrated as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA. Recipients are required to fulfill community service projects and participate in workshops and programs determined by coordinators in the Office of Multicultural Student Success, including sessions with staff for advising, mentoring, and assessment.

Award Amount: $17,000
Target Audience: Rising sophomore DePaul student
Application Period: May - July
Renewable Scholarship Opportunity?: Yes

The Riversville Foundation Scholarship was created to support highly promising minority students in meeting their academic and personal goals. To be considered, you must be a full-time rising sophomore student at DePaul, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, maintain good academic standing, and demonstrate appropriate progress toward degree completion in order to maintain eligibility for award renewal. In addition, need must be demonstrated as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA. Applicants must have leadership skills as well as a commitment to social justice. Recipients are required to commit to social activism, serve as a community leader, fulfill community service projects, and participate in workshops and programs determined by coordinators in the Office of Multicultural Student Success, including sessions with staff for advising, mentoring, and assessment.

Award Amount: Varies, up to full tuition
Target Audience: Incoming freshman DePaul student
Application Period: November - February
Renewable Scholarship Opportunity?: Yes

This scholarship was established to provide recognition and financial assistance to high-potential incoming DePaul University students with financial need. Students who attended the Chicago Jesuit Academy middle school will be given a stronger preference. This scholarship will provide support on top of federal, state, and institutional aid to cover recipients’ tuition, room and board, and program support. To be considered, recipients must reside on campus, maintain good academic standing, and demonstrate appropriate progress toward degree completion in order to maintain eligibility for award renewal. In addition, need must be demonstrated as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA. Applicants must have leadership skills as well as a commitment to social justice. Recipients are required to commit to social activism, serve as a community leader, fulfill community service projects, and participate in workshops and programs determined by coordinators in the Office of Multicultural Student Success, including sessions with staff for advising, mentoring, and assessment.

Scholarship Workshop Topics / Resources

Scholar workshops provide culturally relevant opportunities to participate, connect, learn, and center the experiences of marginalized communities at DePaul. Monthly workshops contribute personal and academic success and increased satisfaction with the DePaul experience.

  • Academic Advising Support
  • Campus Recreation Team Building
  • Career Center and Career Services
  • Counseling Services
  • Disability Services
  • Division of Mission and Ministry
  • Financial Fitness
  • Health Promotion and Wellness
  • Leadership Development
  • Peer Mentorship
  • Social Identity Development
  • Social Justice Dialogues and Excursions
  • University Internship Program

Service Opportunities

OMSS staff and scholars immerse themselves in a new city, collaborate on service initiatives, discover new opportunities, and reflect on their shared service experience during the annual Spring Service Immersion Trip.

  • Los Angeles, CA (2010)
  • Chicago, IL (2011)
  • Memphis, TN (2013)
  • St. Louis, MO (2014)
  • New Orleans, LA (2015)
  • Louisville, KY (2016)
  • Washington, D.C. (2017)
  • Milwaukee, WI (2018)
  • Detroit, MI (2019)