Undergraduate Scholarship

Undergraduate Scholarship: $4,000 ($2,000/semester)
For undergraduates who have shown positive impact and commitment through service, community involvement, leadership, and action.

Leadership Award: $6,000 ($3,000/semester)
For several exceptional students entering their final year (“rising seniors”) who have made a demonstrated impact on campus in one or more of these areas: Social Justice, Environment, Interfaith Cooperation, Global Engagement, or Democracy and Citizenship. There is no separate application. Every eligible rising senior who applies is automatically considered. A second reference is optional but encouraged, because this award is very competitive.

Quick Links:

Apply November 15-February 15

Preview the written questions

View the evaluation rubric

Who can apply?

• Current or incoming UIUC undergraduates for NEXT academic year. Students graduating this spring or summer are not eligible.
• Past recipients may reapply if they show continued commitment to service and/or activism, academic commitment and growth, and personal development.
• If you will graduate in December of the award year, you may apply but would receive half the award ($2,000, or $3,000 for a Leadership Award).

How are applications evaluated?

Bailey Readers (University YMCA board members, Y alumni, community leaders and activists, and UIUC faculty and staff) read your entire application, then score it on seven equally weighted criteria using this rubric. The written portions of the application give you the biggest opportunity to explain your involvement. To summarize, Readers look at:

• Sustained commitment to service, volunteering, or activism
• Concrete, measurable progress for people, communities, or institutions
• Leadership and initiative
• Understanding of the issues and their root causes
• Creativity, ambitious goals, and a thoughtful plan
• Academic commitment and growth, and how your studies connect to the change you want to make
• Potential to make a meaningful impact as a campus or community leader

Financial need is considered only as a tiebreaker. There is no income requirement.

November 15 - Applications open

February 15 - Application submission deadline

February 18 - Recommendation form submission deadline

April - Applicants notified of decisions

How to Apply:

1. Start your application. Enter your graduation year, educational, demographic, and financial information. The system checks your eligibility automatically. If you believe you qualify but the system says otherwise, contact Bailey Staff.
2. Complete the written responses. If you qualify, you can begin right away: a short bio, two short-answer questions, and one essay. Preview the questions now to work ahead.
3. Provide your educational background: Upload a PDF of your transcript or academic history.
4. Request your reference(s). Enter contact information for at least one reference. A second is optional (encouraged for rising seniors). Your references are emailed as soon as you save your draft with their information, so ask them first. Recommendations are due 3 days after the application deadline (February 18).

Have ready: Resume details to paste in (campus and community involvement), your cost of attendance and financial information, and your references’ contact information.

References: A good reference knows your involvement and impact. This could be an advisor, instructor, fellow organization member, volunteer supervisor, or community leader. References do not write a letter. They complete a short applicant evaluation sent by the application system (see example). Let them know to watch for that email. One strong reference that speaks to the criteria is better than two that don’t. A second is worth adding if you’re involved in multiple organizations or are a rising senior.

Scholars complete at least 2 leadership and 2 enrichment activities during the year, and half of those must be through the University YMCA's events and programs. Virtual participation is allowed. Choose from the pre-approved list (shared with Scholars upon acceptance) or get approval from the Bailey Staff. Returning scholars and Leadership Award recipients may instead lead a presentation or workshop in place of the leadership requirement, developed with Bailey Staff. Presentations are encouraged during the annual Bailey Symposium on Spring Reading Day.

Do I need an official transcript? No. Upload a PDF of your unofficial academic history from Self Service or an official transcript. Incoming students should contact their school’s guidance office. If it doesn’t offer electronic transcripts, scan a copy or contact Bailey Staff.

Will this affect my financial aid? Bailey awards are reported to UIUC Student Financial Aid and count toward your total aid. Effects vary by student, and we can’t see your award details. Contact finaid@illinois.edu or (217) 333-0100.

Questions? Contact Bailey Staff at bailey@universityymca.org or (217) 337-1500. Interested in volunteering as a Bailey Reader? Email the same address.