Thurgood Marshall Graduate Fellowship

ANTICIPATED RELEASE DATE FOR PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT: JANUARY 14, 2008

The Graduate School will announce its call for nominations for the 2008-09 Thurgood Marshall Graduate Fellowship honoring the first black American to serve as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. This one-year fellowship provides a stipend of $4,000 and full tuition remission for the 2008-09 academic year.

OSU's eligibility requirements align closely with the intent of the national Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Program and acknowledge Marshall's life-long commitment to justice, equality, and education. The recipient will be determined by the Dean of the Graduate School. Nominees will be evaluated based upon the following fellowship criteria:

• US citizen or permanent resident
• meritorious academic achievement as reflected in grade point average, GRE or other test scores, publications, presentations, and/or other professional activity
• new or continuing full-time graduate student status for the upcoming academic year
• documented financial need (based upon FAFSA application process) with consideration of low income status
• first generation to attend a University
• demonstrated community service, leadership, and/or involvement in diverse communities

There are no special application forms; however, the nominating academic unit should submit the following material:

• a nominating letter from the department chair, head or program director
• two additional letters of recommendation. Letters submitted for admission purposes may be utilized for nomination of incoming students.
• the student's resume or curriculum vita
• the student's statement of academic goals
• the student's statement of philosophy describing her or his demonstrated commitment to community, diversity and education
• transcripts of all post-high school academic work (not required of students currently enrolled at OSU, but must be supplied for incoming students)

Nominations must be submitted to the Graduate School by February 11, 2008. The recipient will be announced by March 1, 2008.