The Laurel Scholarship and Mentorship Program provides robust co-curricular experiences and financial support for a small cohort of Chicago residents annually, inclusive of pre-arrival engagement, a full-tuition scholarship, and additional need-based financial aid to help with the cost of housing and food for those who qualify. Grinnell will award up to 10 scholarships annually. The scholarship is renewable for eight total semesters of enrollment.
Through this program, students will benefit from the opportunity to bond with a cohort and prepare for the college transition with mentorship from faculty, alumni, staff, and returning Laurel Scholars. Cohort members will reflect a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds, exhibit cultural affinities with or perspectives on underrepresented identity groups of color, and/or be from families that have been historically excluded from higher education (i.e., first generation and/or low income).
The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’s Intercultural Affairs team supports Laurel Scholars, in partnership with select faculty mentors. As a Laurel Scholar, you will be invited and expected to engage in the following co-curricular experiences:
Annual All-Cohort Experiences
- Summer retreat in Chicago
- Fall dinner with the president
- End of fall celebration
- Spring kickoff with chief diversity and inclusion officer
First-Year Experiences
- Bi-weekly cohort meetings with Laurel Scholars Mentor Team (14 meetings per year)
- One-on-one meeting with Laurel Scholars specialist once each semester (twice per year)
- One-on-one meeting with Laurel faculty mentor once each semester (twice per year)
Second-Year Experiences
- Quarterly cohort meetings with Laurel Scholars Mentor Team (four times per year)
- One-on-one meeting with Laurel Scholars specialist once each semester (twice per year)
- One-on-one meeting with Laurel Scholars faculty mentor once each semester (twice per year)
Third-Year Experiences
- One-on-one meeting with Laurel Scholars specialist (at least once per year)
- One-on-one meeting with Laurel Scholars faculty mentor (at least once per year)
- Weekend excursions
Senior Experiences
- One-on-one meetings as needed with Laurel Scholars specialist and faculty mentor
- Alumni mentor engagement
- Senior celebration
