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Mary Gates Endowment For Students

2025-26 Mary Gates Scholarship Application Cycle Updates

We made some changes to the application process for 2025-26.

Inspired by exploration, community investment, opportunity and impact, the values that guide the Mary Gates Endowment, these changing and expanding programs encourage and support undergraduate students to become independent learners and community leaders through research, leadership and mentorship.  

Starting in 2025-26 Academic Year:

  • Mary Gates Endowment Research and Leadership Scholarship will change to offering one application cycle per year, during Fall quarter only.  
  • Applications for 2025-26 scholarships will open Aug. 4, 2025 with a deadline to apply of Oct. 20, 2025.  
  • Over 100 Research Scholarships and over 50 Leadership Scholarships will be awarded in this cycle, for a total of over $900,000 in scholarships. With one cycle, we are awarding all at once the total we previously spread over two cycles. We expect this will have many positive outcomes, including:  
    • Awarding more students earlier. 
    • Allowing us to expand our programming for Mary Gates Scholars. Having one application cycle per year will allow us to create more opportunities for Scholars to connect with each other, mentors, and alums. Our goal is to support Scholars to get closer to the educational and long-term goals they have. 
    • Better aligning with the applications for the Undergraduate Research Symposium and the Spring CELEbration. Awards will be announced before the applications to present at these events close. 
    • We will not offer an application process during Winter quarter, only Fall. 

New Offerings

New Offerings

    • The Office of Undergraduate Research is excited to launch the Undergraduate Research Collective, a campus-wide, interdisciplinary research initiative designed for first year, second year, and new transfer students to explore research in a supportive and welcoming environment. 
    • Scholars enroll in a two-quarter seminar focused on research preparation and community-building and are matched with a faculty mentor to conduct research for 5-10 hours per week. Ten students in the program will receive an $8,000 Mary Gates Research Scholarship over the course of their two-year participation. 

      • Advanced undergraduate students deeply engaged in community efforts will be able to apply for up to $10,000 to support creative and unique projects in communities and serving community-derived goals. Two Community Investment Scholarships will be available each year starting in Spring 2026. 
      • Visit our website in Winter 2026 for more details about the winter/spring application process. 
      • Please note: For the 2026 application cycle (year 1 of the program), applications will be accepted only from students who are either:
        • MGE Leadership Scholarship Awardees (past or present)
        • CELE Program Participants
        • Enrolled in the Leadership Minor

      • The Community Engagement & Leadership Education (CELE) Center CCRA interns will support and deepen the work of the current Dream Project mentorship model and support partner school College and Career Counselors in targeting and supporting high school and middle school students with multiple college readiness indicators. 

Continuing Partnerships

The Mary Gates Endowment also has continuing partnerships that provide unique and valuable academic and research experiences for students, which you may want to consider: 

We hope you will plan ahead for your future applications, and we look forward to seeing you at our upcoming information sessions and workshops!