Continuing Education and Graduate Scholarships
Scholarships for Continuing Education and Graduate Students
The following scholarships are available exclusively to Continuing Education and/or Graduate Students. Carefully check the requirements of each scholarship to ensure you are qualified before submitting an application.
- John F. Donnelly Scholarship
- Masters of Management Alumni Scholarship
- Norbert J. Hruby Scholarship for Community Service/Volunteerism
- Ada Business Association Discount
- Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce Discount
- West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Discount
John F. Donnelly Scholarship
(Continuing Education and Graduate Students may apply)
One must be employed with a participating school district or area corporation. If received, the scholarship is available for seven consecutive years or until graduation, whichever occurs sooner, as long as one remains an employee. The scholarship may be used whether or not you qualify for employer tuition reimbursement. It can be used by both degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students in any field and can also be used in non-consecutive semesters. Post-traditional learners approximately 23 years or older are eligible to apply.
If you work for one of the organizations listed below, contact your human resources department for further information regarding the Donnelly Scholarship. You may also address questions to Aquinas College by emailing donnelly@aquinas.edu.
Belding Area Schools
Byron Center Public Schools
Caledonia Community Schools
Cedar Springs Public Schools
Comstock Park Public Schools
Coopersville Area Public Schools
Diocese of Grand Rapids
Diocese of Kalamazoo
East Grand Rapids Public Schools
EDUStaff, LLC
Forest Hills Public Schools
Godfrey Lee Public Schools
Godwin Heights Public Schools
Grand Haven Area Public Schools
Grand Rapids Christian Schools
Grand Rapids Public Schools
Grandville Calvin Christian Schools
Grandville Public Schools
Grant Public Schools
Greenville Public Schools
Holland Christian Schools
Holland Public Schools
Hudsonville Public Schools
Ionia ISD
Jenison Public Schools
Kelloggsville Public Schools
Kenowa Hills Public Schools
Kent City Community Schools
Kent Intermediate School District
Kentwood Public Schools
Lakewood Public Schools
Lowell Area Schools
Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System
Muskegon Public Schools
National Heritage Academies
Newaygo Public Schools
Northview Public Schools
Pentwater Public Schools
Reeths-Puffer Schools
Rockford Public Schools
Saranac Community Schools
Sparta Area Schools
Spring Lake Public Schools
The Center for Sound Literacy
Thornapple-Kellogg Schools
Tri County Area Schools
Wayland Union Schools
West Ottawa Public Schools
Wyoming Public Schools
Zeeland Christian School
Zeeland Public Schools
Advance Local
AECOM
Autodie, LLC
Bissell
Borgess Health Alliance
Butterball Farms, Inc.
Cascade Engineering
Catholic Charities West Michigan
Catholic Charities Diocese of Kalamazoo
Cherry Health
City of Grand Rapids
Consumers Energy
Credit Union ONE
Dean Transportation
Dematic
Diocese of Grand Rapids
Diocese of Kalamazoo
Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids (Associates, Employees, Former Members, Sisters)
East Grand Rapids Public Safety
EDUStaff, LLC
Eisele Connectors, Inc.
Farmers Insurance Group
Federal-Mogul, LLC
Feyen Zylstra, LLC
Fifth Third Bank
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
Gill Industries, Inc.
Gordon Food Service
Grand Rapids Fire Department
Grand Rapids Public Library
Grand Valley Health Plan
GROW
Haworth
Heart of West Michigan United Way
Hope Network
Irwin Seating Company
Kent County
Kent District Library
Knape & Vogt
L3Harris Commercial Avionics
Lacks Enterprises, Inc.
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
Marywood Health Corporation
Meijer, Inc.
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)
Michigan Family Resources/Head Start for Kent County
MillerKnoll
MLive
MOKA
Oliver Healthcare Packaging
PADNOS
Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
Progressive AE
Rapid Engineering
Rapidparts, Inc.
The Salvation Army Grand Rapids Kroc Center
Schuler Books
SpartanNash
Spectrum Health
Spectrum Health Pennock
Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital
Steelcase
SUSPA, Inc.
The Center for Sound Literacy
Trinity Health Medical Group West Michigan
Trinity Health Saint Mary's Grand Rapids
United Bank
University of Michigan Health - Sparrow
University of Michigan Health - West
Van Andel Institute
Wedgwood Christian Services
Williams Group
Wolverine World Wide, Inc.
WXMI - FOX 17
X-Rite
(Graduate Students Only)
Thanks to generous Masters of Management Alumni donations, Aquinas College is offering partial tuition on scholarships for students in the Masters of Management Program. Further information is available by emailing atkinlyn@aquinas.edu
Norbert J. Hruby Scholarship for Community Service/Volunteerism
(Application is for Continuing Education and Graduate Students only)
Hruby Scholarships are available to students enrolling for the first time in their current program or to students who have had at least a 2-year break since last attending Aquinas. Alumni changing program type from undergraduate to graduate and graduate education alumni returning for additional endorsements are also eligible to apply. A selection committee awards the scholarships based on community service/volunteerism. If received, the scholarship is available for seven consecutive years or until graduation, whichever occurs sooner; and it provides a 50% tuition scholarship. Up to 10 scholarships are awarded each year.
Please read the information below thoroughly prior to applying to ensure you understand the scholarship and the eligibility requirements fully.
Applications for students beginning the Spring 2025 term must be received by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. This is a firm due date and time. Further instructions are on the application form. Applicants will be notified of the results by 5 p.m. Wednesday, December 18.
(Note: The selection process for those beginning classes in the Fall of 2024 has concluded. If you are a new student beginning in the Fall of 2024, email hruby@aquinas.edu to request a one-time exception for permission to apply by the November due date. Please include your first name, last name, phone number and request details in your email. If you are selected to receive the scholarship, it will begin with the Spring 2025 semester and not be retroactive.)
Four documents are required:
- Your service/volunteerism experience table
- Your applicant’s statement
- Two (2) letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your community service/volunteerism activities. (Do not submit more than two.)
Further details about these are on the application.
- The scholarship will fund up to 50% of tuition for seven consecutive years or until graduation, whichever occurs sooner. The eligibility period of seven years/graduation will begin the term immediately following notification of a successful application.
- Programs eligible for the Hruby Scholarship: (Traditional undergraduate (e.g. student
type “R”), Detroit Mercy Nursing, and non-credit bearing courses, certificates or
similar programs are ineligible.)
- Continuing Education (CE - Adult Undergraduate)
- Master of Management (MM)
- Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MAC)
- Master in the Art of Teaching (MAT)
- Master in Education (Traditional M.Ed.)
- Master in Education (Accelerated AME)
- Criteria:
- Individuals who will be new students at Aquinas College, those who have experienced a two-year break since last attending Aquinas, alumni changing program type from undergraduate to graduate and graduate education alumni returning for additional endorsements are eligible to apply for this partial tuition scholarship.
- Current Aquinas students are not eligible.
- Employees, spouses of employees and dependents of employees who receive some amount of tuition remission are ineligible.
- Aquinas College will determine admission eligibility based upon the program requirements in which the student is enrolling.
- The scholarship recipient must enroll in classes within one calendar year of notification that his/her application was successful.
- Important Financial Aid Details:
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office at 616-632-2893 to determine eligibility for state or federal aid.
- The scholarship will be applied to the remaining tuition balance after state and/or federal grants have been applied.
- The scholarship amount will be determined by grant aid and employer reimbursement so that all funding sources do not exceed actual tuition charges.
- The scholarship applies to tuition itself and not to any other kind of fees.
- The scholarship does not apply to courses that already have a reduced tuition rate, such as those receiving the Diocesan remission.
- The Hruby Scholarship can be combined with privately-funded scholarships; however, it may not be used in conjunction with others, such as the Donnelly Scholarship or athletic aid. It may not be combined with discounts, such as the Ada Business Association discount.
- Terms of Renewal:
- The scholarship is renewable for seven consecutive years or until graduation, whichever occurs sooner.
- The recipient must remain in good academic standing in the program in which he/she is enrolled based on established policy.
- Responsibilities of Hruby Scholarship Recipients:
- The scholarship recipient must notify the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@aquinas.edu each time he/she registers for classes, according to the directions in the initial congratulatory email. It is only upon notification that scholarship funds will be applied to the student’s account.
- The recipient must contact the Financial Aid Office by email with any changes in his/her enrollment status, such as dropping or adding classes, so the proper adjustments can be made to his/her account.
- Report change in employer or tuition reimbursement benefits to the Financial Aid Office.
- Contact Persons:
- Regarding scholarship terms: Brenda Hennink, Director of Adult Student Recruitment: hruby@aquinas.edu
- Regarding administration of scholarship funds: Director of Financial Aid: financialaid@aquinas.edu
Scholarships are awarded to individuals demonstrating a history of leadership through community service/volunteerism. A limited number of scholarships are available each year and are granted by a selection committee.
Ada Business Association Discount
(Application is for Continuing Education and Graduate Students only)
Aquinas College offers a 20% tuition discount to eligible part-time and full-time employees within member organizations of the Ada Business Association (ABA).
Please note:
- The Aquinas College – Ada Business Association discount is specifically for post-traditional
learners, approximately 23 years and above who are entering one of the following programs:
- Continuing Education (CE - Adult Undergraduate)
- Master of Management (MM)
- Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MAC)
- Master in the Art of Teaching (MAT)
- Master in Education (Traditional M.Ed.)
- Master in Education (Accelerated AME)
- An applicant must be a current employee, working at least part time for an organization that is an existing member of the ABA.
- Traditional undergraduate students (e.g. student type “R”), Detroit Mercy Nursing students, and WMU Engineering students, as well as courses that already have a reduced tuition rate are not eligible.
- This discount can be combined with privately-funded scholarships; however, it may not be used in conjunction with others such as the Hruby Scholarship, Donnelly Scholarship or athletic aid. It may not be combined with other discounts.
- The application to become a student at Aquinas College is a separate application and will also need to be submitted.
- Further details will be sent once the discount application is processed.
Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce Discount
(Application is for Continuing Education and Graduate Students only)
Aquinas College offers a 20% tuition discount to eligible part-time and full-time employees within member organizations of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce (WKACC).
Please note:
- The Aquinas College – Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce discount is specifically
for post-traditional learners, approximately 23 years and above who are entering one
of the following programs:
- Continuing Education (CE - Adult Undergraduate)
- Master of Management (MM)
- Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MAC)
- Master in the Art of Teaching (MAT)
- Master in Education (Traditional M.Ed.)
- Master in Education (Accelerated AME)
- An applicant must be a current employee, working at least part time for an organization that is an existing member of the WKACC.
- Traditional undergraduate students (e.g. student type “R”), Detroit Mercy Nursing students, and WMU Engineering students, as well as courses that already have a reduced tuition rate are not eligible.
- This discount can be combined with privately-funded scholarships; however, it may not be used in conjunction with others such as the Hruby Scholarship, Donnelly Scholarship or athletic aid. It may not be combined with other discounts.
- The application to become a student at Aquinas College is a separate application and will also need to be submitted.
- Further details will be sent once the discount application is processed.
West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Discount
(Application is for Continuing Education and Graduate Students only)
Aquinas College offers a 20% tuition discount to eligible student members of the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (WMHCC).
Please note:
- The Aquinas College – West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce discount is specifically
for post-traditional learners, approximately 23 years and above who are entering one
of the following programs:
- Continuing Education (CE - Adult Undergraduate)
- Master of Management (MM)
- Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MAC)
- Master in the Art of Teaching (MAT)
- Master in Education (Traditional M.Ed.)
- Master in Education (Accelerated AME)
- An applicant must be a current student member of the WMHCC in good standing.
- Traditional undergraduate students (e.g. student type “R”), Detroit Mercy Nursing students, and WMU Engineering students, as well as courses that already have a reduced tuition rate are not eligible.
- This discount can be combined with privately-funded scholarships; however, it may not be used in conjunction with others such as the Hruby Scholarship, Donnelly Scholarship or athletic aid. It may not be combined with other discounts.
- The application to become a student at Aquinas College is a separate application and will also need to be submitted.
- Further details will be sent once the discount application is processed.
QUESTIONS? CONTACT US
Financial Aid
(616) 632-2893
financialaid@aquinas.edu