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Students can apply for several competitive scholarships awarded by the MPA Alumni Society each year. Current scholarships include:

  • MPA Alumni Endowed Scholarship: A tuition scholarship to a deserving student from the MPA Program.
  • Dr. Mary Guy Endowed Scholarship: A tuition scholarship to a deserving student from the MPA Program.
  • MPA Alumni Nonprofit Management Scholarship: This scholarship will be used to assist deserving students who are enrolled in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program in the College of Arts and Sciences at UAB with a career focus on nonprofit management.
  • Joshua I. Harvey and Friends Diversity Scholarship: The Joshua I. Harvey and Friends Diversity Scholarship provides support to students for whom affordability may be an obstacle, and who might otherwise be unable to attend the University. Preference is given to minority students in one of the following groups: African American/Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, or Native American.
  • MPA Study Away (Take a Leap) Scholarship: This scholarship is donated by a UAB MPA Alumni who believes it is important to support UAB MPA students through service-learning opportunities in Washington, D.C. This scholarship will be awarded to a student who is working a summer internship in D.C.

Students will receive communication—typically in spring semesters—about these scholarships and how to apply for them.

Recent Scholarship Winners

Year MPA Alumni Dr. Mary Guy Nonprofit Management Harvey & Friends Take a Leap
2024 Aly Carroll, Brandi Niles, Lane Stefurak Jayla Carr Megan Cheek, Meg Lovett Sydni Hamilton Not awarded
2023 April Alvarez, Libby Hill, Fatima Jehangir Saiful Islam E’Shandae Thomas TBD Faiza Mawani
2022 Shaniqua Hunter N/A April Alvarez E'Shandae Thomas Not awarded
2021 Nusrat Fatima, Mhamuda Khatun, Michael Wise N/A Endia Harris April Alvarez, Kameryn Thigpen Caitlin Cruz
2020 Sam Sider N/A Kaily Ford-Davis Latrice Green, Endia Harris KaShunti Farmer

Awards

In the spring, the MPA program also presents several awards to students graduating during that calendar year. Students are nominated by MPA faculty and staff. These awards include: 

  • The Outstanding Student Award is given to a student from the MPA program for academic excellence and service accomplishment. 
  • The Outstanding Student Service Award is given out each year to a student from the MPA program who shows outstanding leadership and service to the MPA program and the Graduate School Senate.
  • The Outstanding Student Practitioner award is given each year to a full-time practitioner-student who excels in academic achievement in the MPA program and shows leadership in the practitioner world.  Their dedication to service and education is a role model for our next generation of students.

Recent Award Winners

Year Outstanding Student Student Service Student Practitioner
2024 Faiza Mawani* April Alvarez Julie Rowe
2023 Banks Stamp* Jamie Holdsambeck Jane Akins
2022 Machelle Campbell* Endia Harris Latrice Green
2021 Erica Techo Kaia Greene Ollie Davison
2020 Trey Gordon* Amy O’Dell Briana Chisham Bryant

*Indicates recipient of UAB Graduate School’s Barker Award.