In the Spring of 2014, the Center of the American West awarded its first two Beardsley Family Scholarships to ²ÊÃñ±¦µä undergraduates enrolled in the Western American Studies Certificate Program. Since then,Ìýawards ranged fromÌý$1,000 – $4,000ÌýperÌýscholarship depending on funding availability.
For the 2025-26 academic year we are offering
four merit-based scholarships ofÌý$2,000 each
Requirements:
- Eligible students must be full time, degree-seeking undergraduate students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Applicants MUST also be enrolled in the Center’s Western American StudiesÌýcertificate program.
The 2025-26 application period is OPEN:
- To apply, log into the , on or after November 1st, 2024Ìýclick on the drop down magnifying glass icon / hamburger menu option to the left of the screen and select "Finances."
- From there,Ìýclick on the "Scholarship"Ìýsystem link (graduation cap icon) and, when available,Ìýsearch the word “Beardsley.â€
- Follow the instructions from there.
The Story Behind the Scholarship
The Beardsley Family Scholarship was established in 2013 to honor the memory of George Beardsley, a Center of the American West board member and community leader dedicated to the American West. During his time on the board, George advocated for reaching out to motivated students who could benefit from engagement with the Center. His widow, Pam Beardsley, created this scholarship to provide financial support to students with a passion for learning about and working on Western American topics and issues.
