Women in Science Scholarship Program
The Women in Science (WIS) Scholarship Program encourages women to undertake collegiate studies in the sciences and technology—areas in which they are historically underrepresented. St. John’s University established scholarship programs for students who identify as female who intend to major in one of the following disciplines:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Physical Science
- Physics
- Toxicology
The Women in Science Scholarship Program, in coordination with the Office of Financial Services, combines a specified financial award with innovative academic programs to provide young women with special preparation for success in the sciences and technology. Along with their financial award, scholarship recipients also enjoy a wide range of academic opportunities, including participation in mentoring programs, workshops, and lectures.
St. John’s University offers a limited number of partial scholarships to high school seniors pursuing a designated major in the natural and applied sciences or computer science. Eligibility is determined by the Office of Financial Services. These awards are offered when the student is accepted and finalized upon enrollment. Recipients must complete a minimum of 24 credits each academic year and maintain at least a 3.0 grade point average each year.
Clare Boothe Luce Scholarship Program
Clare Boothe Luce truly was a Renaissance woman. Her remarkable career spanned seven decades and nearly as many professional interests: journalism, politics, diplomacy, the theater, and intelligence. In each of those fields she excelled. In each, she broke new paths for women to follow.
She served as Associate Director of Vogue, Associate and Managing Editor of Vanity Fair, and as a newspaper columnist. She was a US Congresswoman from Connecticut and, later, US Ambassador to Italy. Twice she was elected to the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. In addition, she authored six plays, most of which were produced on Broadway.
By the time of her death in 1987, Ms. Luce had become a national symbol of women's accomplishments and potential. Not content with her achievements, she was always eager to consider new topics, to test new hypotheses, and to encourage other women to achieve their own potential.
Characteristically, she declined to restrict her vision to the fields in which she had established her reputation. Under the terms of her will, she chose instead to establish the legacy which is now known as the Clare Boothe Luce Fund. The fund benefits current and future generations of women who possess talent and ambition in areas in which they continue to be grossly underrepresented.
Shaping Careers
St. John’s University awarded Ms. Luce an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree in 1964. Ms. Luce designated St. John’s among the beneficiaries of the Clare Boothe Luce Fund.
With support from the fund, the University established the Clare Boothe Luce Scholarship Program for undergraduates; the Clare Boothe Luce Undergraduate Research Program, supporting summer research; the Clare Boothe Luce (CBL) Graduate Fellowship Program, supporting select master’s and doctoral degree programs; and the Clare Boothe Luce Professorship, which provides support for the first five years of a beginning tenure-track faculty appointment.
The CBL Graduate Fellowship program supports women who pursue a Ph.D. with a major in biology, or a M.S. degree with a major in chemistry, biology, or toxicology, at St. John’s. The objective of this program is to encourage women to prepare for careers in teaching and research in the sciences and technological fields.
Learn more about funding opportunities available through the Clare Boothe Luce Program.