Macken Collegiate Forensics Scholarships

Our Scholarships:

SMC Forensics Honors Award, $13,000

Who Can Apply: Very well qualified incoming first-year students who have competed successfully in debate for at least two years.

Criteria: In addition to meeting the Initial Requirements (listed below): Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5; outstanding competitive, leadership, and service record in the program; meet all initial and continuing eligibility requirements. This scholarship requires an audition, either in person or recorded, and an interview with the director.

General Forensics Debate Award, $2,000-6,000

Who Can Apply: All full-time undergraduates who actively participate in Macken Forensics and incoming first-year and transfer students who will participate in Macken Forensics.

Criteria: See “Initial Requirements,” for first-time applicants (listed below) and “Continuing Eligibility Requirements” for continuing team members (in application materials). For first-year students, this scholarship requires an audition, either in person or recorded, and an interview with the director.

Kurt W. Simon Memorial Scholarship, award amount varies by academic year

Who Can Apply: All full-time undergraduates who actively participate in Macken Forensics and incoming first-year and transfer students who will participate in Macken Forensics.

Criteria: Contact Director of the Macken Forensics Team.

Initial Eligibility Requirements (for all scholarships):

• Submit all required forensics scholarship application materials.
• High school or community college cumulative grade point average no less than 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale), unless award specifically requires a higher minimum GPA.
• Commit to registering for full-time SMC enrollment.

Other Information Related to Forensics Scholarships:

• Most scholarships are based on academic and competitive ability, not financial need.
• All scholarships are renewable.
• All team members who receive any scholarship must enroll as a full-time student at SMC.
• Team members enroll in both sections of Comm 191-Forensics Lab and agree to abide by the rules and procedures set forth in the syllabus. The fee for these upper-division labs is waived for team members on scholarship.
• Scholarship recipients are expected to actively participate in Macken Forensics activities and to make significant contributions in the following areas:
  • Participation in, and work during, on-campus activities including, but not limited to, high school and college tournaments, public debates, outreach programs, and regular team meetings, as determined by the coaching staff.
  • Research, practice, and other needs of the team, as determined by the coaching staff.
  • Generation and maintenance of an appropriate image for the College and Macken Forensics while participating in officially sanctioned activities.
  • Scholarship recipients are expected to be team leaders and exhibit a commitment to Macken Forensics beyond that of team members not on scholarship.

How To Apply:

All students must complete the Macken Collegiate Forensics Scholarship Application.

Apply Now!

All students must complete their admissions application in order to be considered for any Forensics Scholarship: For more information about the admissions application process and deadlines, find out more here!