Naef Scholarship Program

Explore this scholarship program for juniors and seniors of Seattle University who are committed to social justice.

student walking through the quad

What is the Naef Scholarship Program?

The Naef Scholarship Program provides support and enrichment for rising juniors and seniors of Seattle University who are committed to social justice. Made possible by an endowment gift from the estate of Sue M. Naef (+1982), the program recognizes outstanding students from diverse backgrounds in the undergraduate schools and programs of the University. Each Naef Scholar receives a need-based award of $3,000 or $4,500 and joins a tight-knit community of peers in conversation with one another and the communities to which they belong.

Qualifications

Any undergraduate* at Seattle University is eligible for this award if that student meets the following requirements:

  • Is committed to social justice.
  • Makes a binding commitment to participate in the Naef Scholars Program.
  • Will have completed at least 90 credit hours before Fall Quarter 2025. Transfer credits can be included.
  • Has a Seattle University GPA of 3.4 or above.
  • Intends to enroll as a full-time (45 credits) student at Seattle University during the 2025–2026 academic year.
  • Has not been a Naef Scholar for more than two years.
  • Is not a Sullivan Scholar or a fifth-year senior.
  • Is not exclusively enrolled in the College of Science and Engineering. (The Bannan Scholarship Program serves a similar purpose for students in this college.)

* If you receive financial aid from programs where your full tuition or financial need is already covered, you may not be eligible for additional scholarship funding.

Application Materials

Download, complete, and sign the application form.

Explain in a one page, single-spaced statement why you are a good fit for the Naef Scholarship program based on the background and qualifications above. The statistical material — GPA, credit hours, and so on — in your transcript speaks for itself. Instead, use this statement to convey how your life experiences, your academic work, and your commitment to social justice leadership have shaped who you are and the impact you want to make on the communities to which you belong.

Next provide a one-page resume of your non-academic activities — work, extracurricular and personal commitments, activist work, hobbies, athletics, etc.

Once you have completed these documents, please solicit two letters of recommendation, at least one of which should be from a faculty member or academic advisor. (Providing your personal statement and non-academic resume to your recommenders will help them craft their letters.) Have your recommenders send their letters directly to naef@seattleu.edu with your name in the subject line.

Finally, download and submit a transcript taken from your SU Online account; be sure that it includes winter 2025 grades.

All applications and recommendations are due by April 7, 2025. Send all materials via email to naef@seattleu.edu.

Interested in Applying?

We encourage all eligible students to apply for the Naef Scholarship. We are committed to creating an environment of learning and support for a diverse population of students, and building a community of scholars who thrive and lift each other up.

Questions?

Dr. Natalie Cisneros

Associate Professor, Philosophy