The Department of Human Development and Family Sciences and the College of Education and Human Development offer many scholarship and award opportunities.

The application deadline is April 6, 2025

HDFS students may apply directly for following awards:

Catherine Bieber Scholarship for Academic Achievement and Leadership in Human Development and Family Studies

A monetary award (up to $650) to a student who has demonstrated academic achievement and provided leadership in human development and family sciences.

Lila C. Murphy Community and Family Services Scholarship

This monetary award (up to $1,200) is presented to a Human Services major who has demonstrated outstanding service to the local community through voluntary involvement in programs benefiting children, youth, older adults and/or their families.

Lila C. Murphy Award for Women’s Equity and Leadership

This monetary award (up to $1,200) is presented to a student in Human Development and Family Sciences in acknowledgement of student leadership activities and/or contributions to women’s equity issues.

HDFS faculty may nominate students for the following honors:

Jane I. Davidson Lab School Award

A monetary award (up to $350) given to a junior, senior, or master’s student in Early Childhood Education to honor the memory of Jane I. Davidson for her extraordinary ability to teach young children and families. The student exemplifies the philosophy of the Lab School and has demonstrated desire and skill in teaching children with special needs and/or extraordinary ability to create and implement curriculum through play.

Alice P. Eyman Professional Development Award

A monetary award (up to $350) presented to a junior, senior or graduate student in Early Childhood Education. The award recipient demonstrates a strong commitment and passion for building effective partnerships with children and their families and exemplifies, through their work with children and families, the philosophy of the Lab School. Exceptional qualities of professionalism including advocating for the needs of children and families, participating in professional growth experiences and ability to use reflection as a learning tool will be considered. Criteria: Minimum GPA of 3.0. Student must have participated in a placement at The Lab School at some time in their college career.

Robin J. Palkovitz HDFS Internship Award

This is a monetary award (up to $1,000) to support students majoring in human services and who will be completing the required internship for the major. The recipient will follow Dr. Palkovitz’s example of providing support and opportunities to enhance the lives of individuals and families who face challenging circumstances.

Amy Rextrew Award

A monetary award (up to $1,500) presented to a junior in Human Development and Family Sciences who possess outstanding qualities of scholarship, leadership and character, plus an appreciation of the values that are basic to success in their chosen fields. Students who receive this award as a junior will automatically receive the same award as a senior.

Susan McLaughlin Scholarship 

A monetary award (up to $2,000) to a student in Human Development and Family Sciences who has demonstrated outstanding character, motivation, discipline, and promise in the pursuit of their undergraduate degree. Past recipients continue to be eligible. Students with less than a 3.0 GPA are considered.

Irma Ayers Scholar Award

A monetary award (up to $2,000) to a sophomore in Human Development and Family Sciences with the highest cumulative GPA for the first three semesters of enrollment at the University with a minimum of 9 credit hours in CEHD.

The College of Education and Human Development may recognize students with the following honors and aid:

Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (deAEYC) Student Leadership Award

A two-year membership in a selected chapter of the Association for the Education of Young Children is awarded to the student who has shown leadership skills and contributed to the advancement of the goals of deAEYC.

Outstanding Teacher Award

Delaware Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Preprofessional/Graduate Award 

The purpose of this award is to recognize and promote commitment and leadership in the preprofessional/graduate student section of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Delaware Association of School Administrators Award (DASA)

An award presented by the Delaware Association of School Administrators to a graduating senior in education who has demonstrated outstanding qualities of scholarship, leadership and character and gives promise of making a meaningful contribution to the teaching profession.

University-Wide Awards

The University Diversity Initiative offers several awards for students whose activity mirrors their mission.

The University of Delaware Alumni Association offers scholarships for outstanding students.

AAUP Undergraduate Student Award

Each year, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) presents two undergraduate student awards to outstanding seniors who plan to attend graduate school in preparation for an academic career in university or college teaching or research. Each award is $2,000 and is to be used to defer expenses related to graduate school.

Criteria: be in senior year, demonstrate outstanding academic work, exhibit a high level of involvement in campus life, have a commitment to a career in teaching and research in higher education, and have applied to graduate school.

All students eligible for this award will be contacted by the AAUP office.

Application are sought in January.