Multicultural Vison Program
Multicultural Vision Program Scholarship Award
The Multicultural Vision Program (MVP) Award grants full-tuition for eight (8) semesters of full-time study to one hundred (100) incoming students of color each year. The scholarship is open to high school seniors of color, who are residents of the state of Iowa and who demonstrate academic potential in ways that go beyond class ranking or test scores. MVP Applications are available online and are reviewed by the MVP Advisory Council each year. Announcements for the recipients of the MVP Award are made by the 1st of May each year.
Criteria for Eligibility
To meet eligibility requirements for MVP, students must:
- Be a resident of the state of Iowa.
- Be admissible to Iowa State University.
- Identify as African American, Latino/a American, Asian American/Pacific Islander, or American Indian or Alaskan Native.
- Demonstrate financial need.
- Have faced personal and/or financial challenges or hardships.
Application Process
Student interested in applying for the MVP Award must:
- Complete and mail the application for the MVP Award by February 1.
- Complete and mail the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 1. Iowa State University's code is 001869.
- Complete the Iowa State University admission process by February 1.
- Submit a recommendation letter from a guidance counselor, teacher, or community leader based on the Criteria for Eligibility. See Recommendation Guidelines.
- Interview with MVP and Iowa State University.
Award Renewal
The MVP scholarship is renewable for an additional three (3) years provided that the student maintains full-time enrollment and a 2.00 cumulative grade point average at ISU, completes twenty-four (24) new credit hours each academic year and files a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.
MVP and the University Studies Course
The programs and activities offered to MVP Award Recipients are designed to promote the retention and success of students of color at Iowa State University (ISU). The MVP Seminar (University Studies 115) is a one-credit course that provides an orientation to MVP and an introduction to college life and resources at ISU. In an atmosphere that is less formal than traditional college courses, University Studies 115 provides a support system for examining difficulties associated with the first-year college experiences and college learning processes.
MVP Leadership Seminar
The MVP Leadership Seminar (University Studies 311) is a two-credit course designed to give junior and senior MVP students the opportunity to facilitate discussion in the first-year MVP Seminar course. Seminar leaders complete an intensive training program prior to fall semester and serve as peer mentors and role models for first-year students in the spring. In addition, seminar leaders help instructors develop and implement lesson plans and facilitate activities centering on a multitude of topics including ISU history and traditions, test taking, study habits, stress management, identity development, time management, diversity and adapting to change.
MVP Mentors
At the sophomore level, MVP students have the opportunity to serve as mentors for first-year MVP students. MVP Mentors share positive experiences as first-year students at Iowa State University.
MVP Family Activities
Families are an important part of the Multicultural Vision Program. Parents and families are invited to the Iowa State campus each semester to participate in receptions and activities with MVP students.
MVP-Cargill Partnership
The Cargill Corporation, out of Minneapolis Minnesota has generously provided MVP with a gift to support students designated as MVP-Cargill Scholars. Student scholars develop on-going relationships with Cargill representatives. The MVP-Cargill Scholars participate in on-campus workshops and take field trips to one of the four Cargill sites. The Cargill Corporations also contributes to some of the personal, professional, and career development training and resources for scholars to prepare them for the professional world.
MVP-Cargill Leadership Program
In addition to financial support received through the scholarship award, MVP scholars may participate in the MVP-Cargill Leadership Program. The program is designed to help MVP scholars in their career development, skill set regarding their career paths, understand diversity issues in the workplace, and increase competencies in oral, interpersonal and written communication.
More about Cargill Corporation
Visit http://www.cargill.com/
Recommendation Guidelines (PDF)
Guidelines for recommending a student for the Multicultural Vision Program Scholarship Award.
