Scholarships and Financial Aid

The Summer Writing Program offers at least eight scholarships each year. Zora Neale Hurston and Aimee Grunberger scholarships are available to non-Naropa students.

Download the SWP Scholarship Application.

All scholarship applications are due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1. All applicants will be notified
of scholarship decisions via phone no later than
May 1, 2009.

Naropa students may also be eligible for financial aid and work-study. Details appear below.

Summer Writing Program Scholarships

The Zora Neale Hurston Awards are given annually to two to three students who can demonstrate experience in, or working with, populations of color, and who will be attending the Summer Writing Program for BA credit, MFA credit or noncredit. Awards cover partial to full tuition for the four weeks of the SWP and may include housing for non-local award recipients.

The Aimee Grunberger Memorial Award will be given to one nontraditional student who demonstrates excellence in the field of poetry. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their personal, artistic, and professional commitment to furthering respect for the lives and voices of women. It covers $500 towards your SWP tuition.

The Institute of American Indian Arts Award is given annually to one current undergraduate student enrolled at the Institute of American Indian Arts, who will be attending the Summer Writing Program. The award covers full undergraduate tuition for the four weeks of the SWP and includes housing.

For second-year Writing and Poetics residential students enrolled at Naropa University, the Ted Berrigan Award and the Jack Kerouac Award are available annually, covering full SWP tuition.

Second-summer MFA students in poetry or poetry translation may apply for the Berrigan Award. Second-summer MFA students in prose or prose translation may apply for the Kerouac Award. For returning Naropa University low-residency MFA students in Creative Writing, the Robert Creeley Scholarship is available annually, covering full SWP tuition.

The SWP Scholarship in memory of kari edwards was available in 2007 and 2008 to any credit or noncredit student at Naropa University's Summer Writing Program. This prize has been established in memoriam of W&P alumni and friend, kari edwards. In honor of kari's life and work, eligible students should be involved in gender activism and writing experimental works. We are currently fundraising to make this award a permanently endowed scholarship. To make a donation, visit our Advancement Office Website or call 303-245-4847.

For inquiries about any of the above SWP scholarships, please contact Julie Kazimer at 303-245-4600. Scholarship information for 2009 will be available on this website after January 1, 2009. The application process for 2009 scholarships will be conducted through the Financial Aid office.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

Each year AWP's Writers’ Conferences & Centers offers one scholarship each in poetry and fiction to attend one of our member programs. (The SWP is a member program) Two scholarships of $500 will be awarded. These scholarships are granted to attend WC&C programs only and as such we are currently accepting entries. The deadline for submissions is March 30. The competition is open to all of SWP past, current or future attendees.

For complete rules and guidelines please visit: http://writersconf.org/scholarship/index.php

SWP Student Financial Aid and Work-study

Naropa Students
Degree-seeking students taking the program for graduate or undergraduate credit may be eligible for federal financial aid if enrolled for at least 6 credits (four weeks undergraduate credit, three to four weeks for graduate credit). Naropa BA and MFA student should complete the FAFSA by March 1. The FAFSA is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Students who request aid to attend the Summer Writing Program (SWP) are generally awarded enough aid to cover the cost of tuition and fees, with some funds available for books and/or living expenses. Federal regulations prohibit the release of student aid until a student is officially attending at least half-time (enrolled for at least 6 credits). Since undergraduate students do not become half-time until the beginning of week four of the Summer Writing Program, their aid and refunds will become available at the beginning of that week. Graduate students become half-time at the beginning of the third week of classes and their aid and refunds will be available at the beginning of week three.

Students who need their refunds before this time, may fill out an advance request form from the Financial Aid Office. The earliest that a student may receive an advance is during week one of the SWP.

Work-study
Eligibility for work-study is based on financial need. Students must be registered for at least 6 credits during the SWP to be awarded summer work-study. Students must file the FAFSA or the International Student Financial Aid application by March 1 to be awarded work-study for the coming year.

Non-Degree Seeking Students
Students who are enrolled as degree-seeking students at another institution and are taking the SWP for credit, should contact the financial aid office at their home institution for information regarding eligibility.

Click here for additional information regarding
financial aid.