The Award

Any U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (federal guidelines) who applies as a first-year college student to Ithaca College for an undergraduate major within the Roy H. Park School of Communications

Note: Transfer students are not eligible for the award.

In previous years, the Park Scholar Program has received approximately 300–400 applications.

Each year, very few scholarships are awarded. The number varies from year to year. In 2023, seven Park Scholar Awards were given. 

No numerical limits are set. All applications will be reviewed. The award is extremely competitive, however, and applicants should understand that dedication to academic excellence and intellectual curiosity will be weighed heavily, along with demonstrated commitment to service and leadership.

The online application requires the following: three essays that are unique to the Park Scholar application; two letters of recommendation that are unique to the Park Scholar application, meaning the letters must be from people who did not already submit a letter of recommendation on your behalf in support of your application to Ithaca College on the Common App; and a resume that includes volunteer, leadership, and employment activities. 

For more information on the application process, visit How to Apply.

Yes. Applicants must submit the names of two additional people who will write recommendation letters specifically for the Park Scholar application.

Yes and no. The three essays and the resume must be submitted together, along with names and contact information for the two new people writing letters of recommendation. Those people will submit the letters directly to the college. Applicants are not permitted to forward letters of recommendation that were sent first to the applicant.

The Park Scholar application needs to be received by January 15, 2024. It is advisable to complete the application to study in the Roy H. Park School of Communications, using the Common Application, as early as possible and well before January 15, 2024. The Park Scholar application in IC Connect will not be accessible until the Common Application to Ithaca College is complete, and all applicants are advised to give themselves enough time to complete that application.

For information on the college application process, visit Admission.

The Finalist Weekend is an opportunity (1) for applicants who were selected as finalists for the award to learn more about the program, through information sessions and individual and group activities, and (2) for the review committee to learn more about each applicant, through a series of individual and group interviews. All students selected as a finalist for the Park Scholar Award are expected to participate in the Finalist Weekend. Finalists will be emailed with the dates and other details for the Finalist Weekend, which is typically held at the end of March. 

Approximately 12–15 finalists are invited to participate in “Finalist Weekend.” 

All applicants (including those not selected as finalists) are notified of their finalist status in writing by early March 2024. Award recipients will be notified in writing in April 2024.

The Park Scholar Award must be renewed and is renewable for up to a total of eight semesters, provided the following eligibility requirements continue to be met:

• enrollment in one of the undergraduate degree programs offered through the Roy H. Park School of Communications
• full-time enrollment (a minimum of 12 credits hours per semester)
• a 3.50 or higher cumulative grade point average
• a strong, continued record of leadership on campus and significant, meaningful service in the community
• participation in Park Scholar academic programming and enrichment activities
• good judicial standing