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 7, 2024

HDFS students may apply directly for following awards:

Lila C. Murphy Community and Family Services Scholarship

A monetary award ($200) to a Human Services major who has demonstrated outstanding service to the local community through voluntary involvement in programs benefiting children, youth, elderly, and/or their families.

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

A monetary ($200) award to a student in Human Development and Family Sciences acknowledging student leadership activities and/or contributions to women’s equity issues.

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

A monetary award to a student who has demonstrated academic achievement and provided leadership in human development and family studies. The award is made possible by the late Catherine Bieber, M.S., a former University of Delaware faculty member, Associate Dean and Acting Dean of the College of Human Services.

Barbara Halliday Settles Family Futures Student Support Fund in Family Sciences

This award is intended to provide financial support for undergraduate and graduate students in Family Sciences to attend conferences or conduct research, giving preference to students who are traveling internationally to do so. A personal statement demonstrating why internationalization matters to you and how it will help you in your professional career path along with projected costs and budget for the conference they would like to attend can be uploaded in the application form. A faculty recommender will also be required.

HDFS faculty may nominate students for the following honors:

Alice P. Eyman Professional Development Award

A monetary award ($200) 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 Laboratory Preschool. Exceptional qualities of professionalism including advocating for the needs of children and families, participating in professional growth experiences and ability to use reflection as learning tool will be considered. Criteria: Minimum index of 3.0. Student must have participated in a placement at The Laboratory Preschool at some time in his/her college career.

Jane I. Davidson Laboratory Preschool Award

A monetary award ($200) 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 Laboratory Preschool and has demonstrated unusual desire and skill in teaching children with special needs and/or extraordinary ability to create and implement curriculum through play.

Amy Rextrew Award

A monetary award presented to a senior and a junior in fashion and apparel design; hotel, restaurant and institutional management; human development and family studies; leadership; or nutrition and dietetics who possess outstanding qualities of scholarship, leadership and character, plus an appreciation of the values that are basic to success in their chosen fields.

Vancamp/Remage Teacher Education Merit Award

This award is presented to an early childhood education major who demonstrates academic ability, exhibits an ability to overcome special problems, and demonstrates potential for future contributions in the field of education and the community.

Robin J. Palkovitz HDFS Internship Award

This is a monetary award to support students annually 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.

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

Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (DAEYC) 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 DAEYC.

Susan McLaughlin Scholarship 

The Susan McLaughlin Scholarship is awarded annually to a student in CEHD who 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.

Wallace H. Maw Scholarship

Awarded ($1,000) to an undergraduate student majoring in either the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences or School of Education. Criteria:  Based on Academic merit and financial need.

Irma Ayers Scholar Award

The Irma Ayers Scholar Award is an intercollege monetary award to a sophomore (28-59 credits) in the department with the highest cumulative index for the first three semesters of enrollment at the University with a minimum of 9 credit hours in the College.

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.

Community and Family Services Award

A monetary award to an undergraduate student who has demonstrated outstanding service to the local community through voluntary involvement in programs benefiting children, youth, the elderly, and/or their families. The student also should demonstrate a commitment toward pursuing a career in the human services through involvement in such campus activities as the Community and Family Services Club.

Phi Delta Kappa Award

An award presented by the Delaware Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa to an undergraduate teacher education student who shows evidence and promise of excellence in educational research.

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.