Overview 

CDCE offers scholarships to assist students in meeting their professional goals.

Professional Development Scholarship


The Professional Development Scholarship assists with expenses associated with:

  • Professional attire for interviews and networking
  • Travel for job interviews or academic/professional conferences
  • Costs associated with internships, co-ops, service learning, or research
  • Supplies or fees required for qualifying activities that support academic or professional advancement in your field of study
  • Supplemental childcare needed while participating in these activities 

While professional attire can be purchased year-round with scholarship funds, our annual initiative, Argos Suit Up! a partnership with JCPenney allows students to take advantage of additional discounts for the duration of the event. 

Eligibility

Financial assistance is available to currently enrolled, degree-seeking UWF students and recent Alumni (graduated within the last 3 semesters)

NOTE: If you receive financial assistance through the Professional Development Scholarship, it will be considered estimated financial assistance (EFA) as part of your Financial Aid package. You may only receive the award once per academic year from the Professional Development Fund 

Application Period

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis from the first day of the fall semester through May 21st of each year or while funding is available. 

Applicants submit one application per academic year, and the CDCE committee evaluates responses to grant appropriate award amounts based on student needs and career goals

Application Status

The Professional Development Scholarship is open now until May 21, 2027 or until all funding have been awarded

How to Apply


Current degree-seeking students can apply for financial assistance by submitting a short video discussing how they will be positively impacted by receiving financial assistance for professional attire, professional development, or other career-related expenses. Please follow the instructions below to submit your application for financial assistance. 

  • Visit MyUWF and search for Big Interview (click the link)
  • In Big Interview, click the "Assignments" tab (in your top navigation bar)
  • In the "Have an assignment code?" box, enter the 6-digit assignment code 692cff in the code field
  • Click the blue button labeled "Go"
  • Record your responses by selecting “Start recording”
  • Select “Stop recording” when you are done. A green check mark indicates your response has been successfully saved. Select “Re-record” if you aren’t satisfied with your response. This will overwrite your existing recording
    • Be sure to review your recording-if you submit a video with no audio you will not be awarded 
  • When you finish recording all responses, select “Submit Assignment.”

Note: To access Big Interview, you will need access to your UWF student email account and a computer with a webcam and a microphone. Please contact the Office of Career Development & Community Engagement at career@uwf.edu or 850-474-2254 if you are unable to access Big Interview and/or you need access to a computer with a webcam and/or microphone.

Steps for Alternate Submission Instructions

If you are unable to complete the recorded interview portion using Big Interview, please use these alternate submission instructions to submit your Professional Development Scholarship Financial Assistance Application.

  • Using either Microsoft Word or Google Docs, respond to the following prompts:

    • Tell us about yourself.

    • Please describe what type of professional development... and how receiving this funding will assist you in achieving your future goals

  • Email your typed application document to Heather Seitz (hseitz@uwf.edu) by May 21, 2027, 5 p.m. (CDT). We recommend sending it as a PDF to avoid formatting issues; however, Google/Word documents are also acceptable.

    • Please proofread your application before submitting. Strong applications are well-organized, error-free, and clearly outline fund usage, financial need, and expected career impact

Award Process 

If you are selected for a Professional Development Scholarship, your funding will be processed according to the following steps:

  • Notification: You will receive an official award notification via your UWF email with the details
  • Disbursement: Student Accounts will transfer the awarded funds directly into your Cashnet account.
  • Timeline: Please allow 3–5 business days from the date of your notification for the transfer to complete
  • Important Note on Account Balances: If you currently owe an outstanding balance to the university, the award funds will automatically be applied to that balance first. Any remaining funds after your balance is cleared will then be available to you. Check your account here


High-Impact Practices Scholarship


Eligibility

The UWF High-Impact Practice Scholarship will be awarded to an active, undergraduate, degree-seeking UWF student who has an overall GPA of at least 2.5 and has completed at least 15 credit hours at UWF. The scholarship committee will look to award applicants who are currently pursuing, have secured, or are seeking to secure a high-impact practice (HIP) experience. Experiences that qualify as a HIP include:

  • Internships,
  • Co-ops,
  • Research with faculty,
  • ePortfolio creation,
  • Service-learning with a class,
  • Study abroad/study away, and
  • Capstone projects

How to Apply

Applicants must submit:

  1. A copy of their resume
  2. An essay that:
    1. provides a brief biographical information,
    2. highlights activities, clubs, and/or awards and honors,
    3. identifies professional goals and how they relate to the HIP experience, and
    4. describes the financial need and impact of the scholarship award on participating in a HIP experience.
  3. One recommendation letter

Special consideration will be given to those who have already secured a HIP experience for the upcoming semester.

Visit the UWF Scholarship Portal (accessed via MyUWF) and search for "UWF High-Impact Practice Scholarship" to learn more and apply.

Argos Community Impact Scholarship

The Argos Community Impact Scholarship supports students involved in unpaid internships or community-based research with government or non-profit organizations. These $1,000 scholarships are designed to help cover some of the expenses associated with these unpaid experiences. Our goal is to ease the financial burden so you can focus on your studies and professional growth. Don’t let financial concerns hold you back from gaining valuable internship experience- apply now!

Eligibility

  • Must be a full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student at UWF.
  • Must be enrolled in an associated course during the semester the internship or community-based research occurs.
  • Be actively engaged in an unpaid internship* or community-based research project with a government, non-profit, or mission-driven organization serving the public interest
  • Preference is given to students seeking their first internship experience in their major field.
  • Applicants must submit a 1-2 page essay outlining their internship or community-based research project, its impact on the community, and how the scholarship will help them achieve their academic and professional goals.
  • Letter from internship supervisor stating internship is unpaid.

*At UWF, “internship” is synonymous with practicum, clinicals/clinical placement, preceptorship, student teaching, co-op, and field experience/placement

Application Cycle

  • Fall Internships: June 1 – July 15
  • Spring Internships: November 1 – December 1
  • Summer Internships: March 1 – April 1 

Visit the UWF Scholarship Portal (accessed via MyUWF) and search for "Argos Community Impact Scholarship" to learn more and apply.


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