Dr. Scholl Foundation Cardinal First Scholarship

Please note that this opportunity application is for students completing a co-curricular experience in the SPRING 2026 semester.

There is a separate application for students completing a co-curricular experience in the FALL 2026 semester posted on the scholarship portal. Make sure you are completing the application for the semester in which you will personally be completing a co-curricular experience.

The Dr. Scholl Foundation Cardinal First Scholarship was established to help meet a financial gap for first-generation, Cardinal First students who show exemplary scholastic passion and drive, as well as interest in a study abroad program, internship, or meaningful volunteer experience they otherwise could not participate in because they would be working an outside job to cover their financial gap. The selected recipient(s) will need to submit final plans for approval to Julie Carballo (jmcarballo@noctrl.edu) 30 days before the start of the term in which they plan to participate in a co-curricular experience.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Current Student at North Central College (currently attending North Central)
  • Sophomore, Junior, or Senior status
  • Active Participant in North Central College’s signature Cardinal First Program
  • First-Generation (For North Central, first-generation means “neither parent having a four-year degree”)
  • Financial need (If applicable, please fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the scholarship application deadline.)

Please note the following RECIPIENT requirements:

  • Recipients must be active participants and continue to actively participate in North Central College Cardinal First Program

The spirit of the scholarship is to assist students financially so that they may participate in meaningful programs (study abroad, internship, volunteer experiences) that they otherwise would not be able to because of their need to work to support their academic pursuits. Please note that the scholarship will be awarded for the same semester as the recipient’s co-curricular experience.

Award
Varies
Deadline
12/01/2025
Supplemental Questions
  1. Are you a FIRST-GENERATION student? (For this scholarship, "FIRST-GENERATION" means "neither parent has a four-year college degree".)
  2. Do you plan to be involved in North Central's Cardinal First program, which helps build community among first-generation students, faculty and staff and connects first-generation students with resources, experiences and opportunities to enhance their North Central experience and beyond?
  3. If you are seeking this scholarship so you can pursue an internship or volunteer experience, please share the estimated hours per week you plan to devote to the internship or volunteer experience.
  4. If selected as a recipient of this scholarship, do you agree to continue to be an active participant in North Central's Cardinal First program during the semester you receive this scholarship? By answering "yes," you are agreeing to this scholarship contingency.
  5. Please include an ESSAY describing how receiving this scholarship would allow you to reduce the hours you would need to work during the semester you would receive the scholarship and allow you to participate in a co-curricular activity (such as studying abroad, internship, volunteer experience). Also include how the co-curricular activity would support securing employment or pursuing graduate school after graduation.