The Social Work Program has quite a few opportunities for students to apply for scholarships.
All scholarship applications should go through Scholarship Retriever once the opportunity is open for new applications.
Gladys Salpeter Kraft Endowed Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to a student majoring in Social Work who is interested in pursuing acareer in aging. Students who will be seniors entering their field placement in the upcoming fall
semester are eligible to apply. Also, eligible students must plan to be in a field placement in an agency or program that serves older adults and their families, be in good academic standing, and
demonstrate financial need.
The Gladys Salpeter Kraft Endowed Scholarship was established in 2026 by Dr. Besty Vourlekis, Miriam Tillman, and Judith Kraft, to commemorate the life and work of Gladys Salpeter Kraft
who maintained an unstinting commitment to working with older individuals and their families.
Apply Here: Gladys Salpeter Kraft Endowed Scholarship
Rose Careri Endowed Scholarship
This scholarship supports a student majoring in social work who transferred from a participating Community College to UMBC-Shady Grove or UMBC as part of the Social Work
in Action program. The Social Work in Action (SWIA) Program is a specific structured pathway program that some of our students participated in during high school or community college.
Students who completed this SWIA Program are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
The Rose Careri Endowed Scholarship was established by Dr. Nancy and Mr. Eric Kusmaul in
memory of Dr. Kusmaul’s grandmother.
Apply here: Rose Careri Endowed Scholarship
Rose Grabania Tice Scholarship
The Rose Grabania Tice Scholarship is open to students majoring in social work at the
Universities of Shady Grove Campus who meet the following criteria:
- Entering their field placement program in the fall
semester. - The student should be interested in practice or policy related to working with women
or children.
Preference will be given to a first-generation student.
Apply here: Rose Grabania Tice Endowed Scholarship
Susan Bernstein-Charlotte W. Newcombe Memorial Scholarship
The Susan Bernstein-Charlotte W. Newcombe Memorial Scholarship is open to all students who are committed to the support of and advancement of individuals who are returning to college. Special consideration will be given to individuals whose pursuit of their first bachelor’s degree was interrupted/complicated by significant and challenging life circumstances.
Apply here: Susan Bernstein – Charlotte W. Newcombe Memorial Scholarship
Tina D’Angelo Memorial Scholarship
This $1,500 award is to provide scholarships to returning students in the School of
Social work. The scholarship is merit-based, with preference given to first-generation college
students who are interested in social work fields in aging or health.
Apply here: Tina D’Angelo Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Shirley Bembry Scholarship
Memories, stories, and tributes keep our friends and family members in our minds and hearts. This is certainly the case for Shirley Bembry whose remarkable life is remembered and honored by the Baccalaureate Social Work Program. A committee will select a social work student as the recipient of the Shirley Bembry Scholarship. The award recalls Shirley’s commitment to child welfare and supports students who will carry on her advocacy work on behalf of children.
This scholarship is open to all students with an interest in pursuing a career in child welfare. To apply, students must have a 2.5 GPA, a junior standing, and be eligible to go into their field placement in the next academic year.
Apply here: Shirley Bembry Endowed Scholarship Fund
Gust W. Mitchell Scholarship
This scholarship is available to social work majors who have met financial challenges through employment on or off campus while attending UMBC. To apply, students must have a 3.0 GPA, junior standing, and be eligible to enroll in their field placement in the next academic year.
Apply here: Gust W. Mitchell Endowed Scholarship Fund
Tejal Khajuria Memorial Scholarship
This award is available to a UMBC social work student who is entering field placement in the fall and pursuing a career working with people who are vulnerable due to poverty, such as homeless individuals.
Apply here: Tejal Khajuria Memorial Scholarship
Vesta Community Mental Health Scholarship
This scholarship is available to social work majors interested in pursuing a social work career in behavioral health. Students must be entering their field placement in the fall semester and be placed in a social work agency in the behavioral health area and must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above.
Students are required to apply at Scholarship Retriever if UMBC campus student and USG scholarship if Shady Grove campus student.