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The Russell J. and Dorothy S. Bilinski Fellowships

At a glance
Number Awarded: 
10
Amount Awarded: 
$35,000 plus full base tuition and student health insurance if enrolled
Application Period: 
2021-22
Funding Type: 
Cash Award/Stipend
Tuition Award
Process: 
By Nomination
Eligibility Category: 
Domestic Doctoral Students
About

 The Russell J. and Dorothy S. Bilinski Fellowships – A Program of the Bilinski Educational Foundation

Russell J. and Dorothy (Doro) S. Bilinski's goal in life was to be independent and challenged intellectually. They strongly believed in people being self-sufficient, ambitious, and above all, responsible. Both Russell and Doro were true intellectuals, as well as being adventuresome, independent and driven. Russell was a researcher, academician and an entrepreneur. Doro was an accomplished artist and patron of the arts. Russell and Doro believed that education was a means to obtain independence, and this is the legacy they wished to pass on to others.  The Bilinski Educational Foundation was established to fulfill this legacy by providing fellowship funds for post-secondary education for students who have demonstrated, and are likely to maintain, both the highest academic achievement and good moral character, but who lack the financial resources to pay for the highest caliber post-secondary education.

Award Amount: $35,000 for 18 months of support (see breakdown below) plus full base graduate tuition and student health insurance if enrolled (excludes mandatory fees).

  • Fall 2021-$10,000 plus tuition and student health insurance
  • Spring 2022 - $10,000 plus tuition and student health insurance (spring insurance premium covers both spring and summer)
  • Summer 2022 - $5,000 registration not required
  • Fall 2022 - $10,000 plus tuition and student health insurance

The selected Fellows may not hold concurrent graduate assistant/associateships or student wage positions or defer the award for the following year. Bilinski Educational Foundation funds are used to provide financial support for top PhD students in one of the fields listed below as they complete and defend their dissertations. In no case will funds be awarded if a student’s dissertation already has been substantially completed (substantially completed means no more than 75% of the dissertation has been completed). Fellowship funding may be used by the student for payment of fees, books, field research, materials, and necessary living and educational expenses.

Application Deadline for 2021-2022: December 18, 2020

 

Eligibility

Eligible University of Arizona Ph.D. programs:     American Indian Studies, Communication, East Asian Studies, English (Literature and Rhetoric, Composition and the Teaching of English), Gender and Women’s Studies, History, Linguistics, Mexican American Studies, Middle Eastern and North African Studies, Persian and Iranian Studies, Philosophy, Second Language Acquisition and Teaching, Spanish and Portuguese, Transcultural German Studies

Applicant Eligibility (eligibility based on the applicant's status at the time of award not at the time of application)

  • Be US citizens or Permanent Residents eligible to apply for US citizenship,
  • Have at least a graduate 3.9 GPA,
  • Be a full-time doctoral student in one of the eligible graduate programs listed above,
  • Who is making satisfactory progress toward the completion of the degree
  • Who at the time of award,
    • has passed all comprehensive examinations and course requirements,
    • has completed at least 6 units of dissertation credit, and
    • advanced to candidacy or, at initial selection, be a student who advances to candidacy in the upcoming academic award year, (the dissertation may not be substantially completed),
  • In need of financial support to complete his or her degree demonstrated through the FAFSA and outlined on the application budget form,
  • Has demonstrated exceptional ability and potential in his or her field of study and will maintain good academic standing throughout the award period,
  • Will devote full-time effort toward dissertation completion for each semester (including summer semesters) in which fellowship funds are provided,
  • Be prepared to participate in various professional development workshops offered through the Graduate Center. (Please note that verification of attendance of at least 2 professional development workshops per semester will be required before the following term's fellowship funds are disbursed),
  • Available to present research to the Bilinski Education Foundation Board, and
  • Be willing to provide a semester report showing significant progress towards the completion of the degree.
Instructions
  1. Current FAFSA on file for determining need. Do not send verification. The information is available in UAccess Student. (Please note that if awarded you will be required to file the FAFSA  again for the year of award).
  2. Current Graduate Plan of Study on file - file through UA Grad Path.  Do not send verification. The information is available in UAccess Student
  3. Have your department head or faculty mentor separately submit one (1)  strong letter of nomination/recommendation outlining why you are a priority for this award with detail addressing your scholarly excellence to Dorian Voorhees, Associate Dean.
  4. Submit the following in one (1) pdf file with "lastname, firstname" on top of each page (header) and page numbers at the bottom right (footer) in Times Roman 12 pt single spaced through the online Nomination Form 
    • Cover sheet that lists name, UA student ID (SID), academic program, faculty advisor, and a statement that confirms the term of expected completion that is signed and dated by applicant and faculty advisor,  
    • A budget for 12 months (including cost of living, research travel, research materials), current student loan debt (undergrad/grad), and space to provide a short summary concerning other factors affecting your level of need,
    • Brief student profile (written summary) of your notable accomplishments and academic achievements (to be shared with Bilinski Foundation if awarded) (single space, Times Roman 12 pt. font, header with "lastname/firstname" and footer with page number on bottom right),
    • One page abstract of the dissertation research (single space, Times Roman 12 pt font, header with "lastname/firstname" and footer with page number on bottom right),
    • One page statement of personal and professional goals (single space, Times Roman 12 pt. font, header with "lastname/firstname" and footer with page number on bottom right), and
    • An updated CV.
  5. Transcripts will be reviewed through UAccess Student. Please do not submit transcripts.
  6. If awarded, the Fellow will sign an award acceptance and a release form that includes a statement of commitment that the Fellow will be prepared to participate in various professional development workshops offered through the Graduate Center (presenting research to donors and potential employers, CV writing, and so forth), will present to the Bilinski Education Foundation Board, and that the Fellow will not hold a graduate assistant/associateship or student wage position during the tenure of the award. Registration requirement is at minimum1 unit of 900 level. Please note that verification of attendance of at least 2 professional development workshops per semester will be required before the following term's fellowship funds are disbursed.
Contact

Dorian Voorhees, Associate Dean, Graduate College, (520) 626-6908