Scholarship Competitions

Award amount: Up to $64,000

The Distinguished Scholarship Invitational is one of the area’s most prominent scholarship competitions, including three $64,000 Harry Gore Memorial Scholarships—three of the largest annual undergraduate scholarships in Kansas.

Currently, we are planning to host DSI on campus. If plans change due to the evolving nature of COVID-19, we will notify students, parents, and high school counselors. If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Admissions at 316-978-3085 or email us at dsi@wichita.edu. 

To be eligible to compete, you must:

1. Be a 2022 high school graduate
2. Submit Wichita State application materials by Oct. 15, 2021
3. Meet one of the following criteria:
   
   • Have a minimum unweighted 3.5 GPA, or
   • Have a minimum ACT composite score of 27, or
   • Have a minimum SAT composite of 1280, or
   • Rank in the top 10 percent of your class at the end of your junior year

Scholarship materials deadline: Nov. 1, 2021

Competition: Nov. 20, 2021

Apply for the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational

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Learn more about the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational (DSI)

In 1952, Theodore and Ralph Gore established the Harry Gore Memorial Scholarship in memory of their father, Harry Gore, a Russian immigrant who placed a high priority on education. This extraordinary scholarship has been awarded annually since 1954 to freshmen entering WSU who display outstanding potential for leadership. It has become one of the most prestigious and coveted awards in the United States and encourages personal growth and involvement in leadership positions.

Through the DSI process, three students will ultimately be awarded with $64,000 to attend Wichita State University in the fall. Gore Scholars are highly involved in student activities and are leaders across the Wichita State campus. There is not one type of person who makes a successful Gore Scholar. Each is unique and able to express their opinions through activities they pursue on campus. 

Application

In addition to the group activities, you will submit the scholarship competition application. Take your time on this – it’s the other half of your score in the DSI competition! Some tips as you think about the application: 

• Write your essays in Word and transfer them into the application.
• Have someone proofread your essays several times.
• Brag about yourself! If you’re going to brag, a scholarship application is the place to do it.

Competition day

If you choose to participate, you can expect to take part in the activities below on the day of the competition. These activities make up half of your score for the DSI competition!

Consensus-Building

In this session, your group will be given a scenario and asked to solve the problem. Observers will be watching how your group interacts with one another. Things to think about: 

• Are you listening to others’ ideas?
• Are you participating in the discussion? 

Group Interview

In this session, observers will ask each student in your group a question. The questions are opinion-based, so there are no right or wrong answers. Things to think about: 

• Are you answering the question with confidence and showing your personality?
• Are you making good eye contact?
• Are you answering in a concise manner? 

Timeline of events

• November 2021 – Applications are reviewed and scored.
• Nov. 20, 2021 – DSI competition held on campus.
• By Dec. 3, 2021 – Students will receive notification about moving forward as a DSI semifinalist.
• By Dec. 17 2021 – Semifinalists will receive notification about moving forward as a DSI finalist. 
• Jan. 20, 2022 – DSI finalists will participate in a final interview with the Gore selection committee. 
• Jan. 28, 2022 – Announcement of 2022 Gore Scholars

Award amount: Up to $50,000

Eligible students compete for scholarships in various amounts—including the $48,000 Clay Barton Scholarship.

To be eligible to compete, you must:

1. Be a 2022 high school graduate
2. Submit Wichita State application materials by Oct. 15, 2021
3. Declare a business major
4. Meet one of the following criteria:
   • Have a minimum unweighted 3.5 GPA, or
   • Have a minimum ACT composite score of 27, or
   • Have a minimum SAT composite of 1280, or
   • Rank in the top 10 percent of your class at the end of your junior year

Scholarship materials deadline: Nov. 1, 2021

Competition: Nov. 19, 2021

Apply for the Allen, Gibbs and Houlik L.C. Scholarship competition

Award amount: Up to $20,000

The Doris and Ralph Klose Scholarship competition is available to high school seniors who declare a major in math or science education at WSU. Winners will be offered a financial aid package that includes a combination of scholarships. The Klose Scholarship covers the average cost of tuition, books and fees during junior and senior years at WSU as long as eligibility is maintained.

To be eligible to compete, you must:

1. Be a 2022 high school graduate
2. Submit Wichita State application materials by Oct. 15, 2021
3. Declare a major in math or science teacher education
4. Meet one of the following criteria:
   
   • Have a minimum unweighted 3.5 GPA, or
   • Have a minimum ACT composite score of 24, or
   • Have a minimum SAT composite score of 1180, or
   • Rank in the top 10 percent of your class at the end of your junior year

Scholarship materials deadline: Nov. 1, 2021

Competition interviews: Nov. 19, 2021

Apply for the School of Education Klose Scholars competition

Award amount: 10 awards of $28,500 each

Each fall, the Wallace Invitational for Scholarships in Engineering (WISE) awards 10 prospective engineering students scholarships for four years of study.

To be eligible to compete, you must:

1. Be a 2022 high school graduate
2. Submit Wichita State application materials by Oct. 15, 2021
3. Declare an engineering major
4. Meet one of the following criteria:
   
   • Have a minimum unweighted 3.5 GPA, or
   • Have a minimum ACT composite score of 27, or
   • Have a minimum SAT composite of 1280, or
   • Rank in the top 10 percent of your class at the end of your junior year

Scholarship materials deadline: Nov. 1, 2021

Competition: Nov. 19, 2021

Apply for the Wallace Invitational for Scholarships in Engineering (WISE)

Award amount: Up to $30,000

Awards two $30,000 scholarships to future entrepreneurs.

To be eligible to compete, you must:

1. Be a 2022 high school graduate
2. Submit Wichita State application materials by Dec. 1, 2021
3. Declare an entrepreneurship major
4. Meet one of the following criteria:
   
   • Have a minimum unweighted 3.5 GPA, or
   • Have a minimum ACT composite score of 27, or
   • Have a minimum SAT composite of 1280 or
   • Rank in the top 10 percent of your class at the end of your junior year

Scholarship materials deadline: Dec. 17, 2021

Committee review and notification of recipients: Spring 2022

Apply for the Professor Fran Jabara Endowed Scholarship

Mark and Stacy Parkinson Scholarship

Award amount: Up to $34,000

A $8,500 per year scholarship geared toward first generation, immigrant students with preference toward DACA or other undocumented students.

To be eligible to compete, you must:

1. Be a 2022 high school graduate
2. Must be a graduate from a Kansas high school
3. Submit WSU admission materials by Oct. 15, 2021
4. Meet the following criteria:
   
   • Have a minimum cumulative 3.5 GPA
   • Submit the DSI scholarship application by Nov. 1
   • Compete in the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational on Nov. 20

Review period and notification of finalists: December 2021

Apply for the Mark and Stacy Parkinson Scholarship

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Passage Scholars

Award amount: $8,000 - $20,000

This special award will be provided to at least 10 first-generation students with financial need who compete in the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational. Awards are dispersed in amounts ranging from $2,000-$5,000 per year.

To be eligible, you must: 

1. Be a 2022 high school graduate.
2. Submit Wichita State application materials by Oct. 15, 2021
3. Meet one of the following criteria:
   
   • Have a minimum unweighted 3.5 GPA, or
   • Have a minimum ACT composite score of 27, or
   • Have a minimum SAT composite of 1280, or
   • Rank in the top 10 percent of your class at the end of your junior year
4. Meet the WSU priority date of Dec. 1 for submission of the 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 
   • Students who are ineligible to complete a FAFSA will be contacted to provide a separate statement describing their financial need. 
5. Must compete in the Distinguished Scholarship Invitational on Nov. 20
6. Recipients will be required to participate in the Passage 2 Success Program

Scholarship materials deadline: Nov. 1, 2021

Review period and notification of finalists: February 2022

Apply for the Passage Scholars program

Koch Scholars Competition

Award amount: $30,000-$45,000

High school seniors are invited to compete for one of seven merit-based Honors College Koch Scholars scholarships worth up to $7,500 each year for in-state tuition, fees, room and board or up to $11,250 for out-of-state students.

To be eligible to compete, you must:

1. Be a 2022 high school graduate
2. Submit Wichita State application materials by Oct. 15, 2021
3. Submit the Cohen Honors College online application by Nov. 1, 2021. You will check a box within the application to indicate you would like to be considered for the Koch Scholarship.
4. Declare a business or engineering major. Eligible majors include: accounting, computer engineering, computer science, economics, electrical engineering, finance, management information systems and mechanical engineering.

Koch scholarship materials deadline: Nov. 1, 2021

Koch Scholars Competition: Nov. 21, 2021

Apply for the Koch Scholars Program

Lenora McGregor Endowed Scholarship

Award amount: Up to $26,000

Up to $26,000 for up to four years of study to an incoming freshman who has demonstrated academic excellence and intellectual curiosity.

To be eligible to compete, you must:

1. Be a 2022 high school graduate
2. Submit Wichita State application materials by Oct. 15, 2021
3. Submit the Cohen Honors College online application by Nov. 1, 2021. You will check a box within the application to indicate you would like to be considered for the McGregor Scholarship.

McGregor scholarship materials deadline: Nov. 1, 2021

McGregor Scholarship interviews: Spring 2022

Apply for the Lenora McGregor Academic Scholarship

Art, Design and Creative Industries

The School of Art, Design and Creative Industries awards scholarships to incoming students through an online portfolio review process.

Priority deadline: Feb. 20 for the following fall semester.

For more information, contact the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries at 316-978-3555.

Apply at wichita.edu/artscholarships

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School of Music

The School of Music awards scholarships through audition days in the fall, spring and by appointment.

For more information, contact the School of Music at 316-978-6215. 

Apply at wichita.edu/musicscholarships

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School of Performing Arts

The School of Performing Arts awards scholarships through an audition / portfolio review day in the fall, spring and by appointment.

For more information, contact the School of Performing Arts at 316-978-3360. 

Apply at wichita.edu/paday