$3 Million Gift Funds New Scholarships for Working Students at the University of Houston

A new, $3 million gift has been announced to establish the Houston Works Scholarship Fund at the University of Houston, aimed at providing scholarship support to working junior and senior students in select majors. Senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at UH, Diane Chase, emphasized the importance of the gift, stating, “It is no secret that the University of Houston is home to hard working students, and that goes double for those Cougars holding down full-time jobs while taking classes.”

The generous donation, funded by an anonymous donor, will provide $4,000 per academic semester, or a maximum annual award of $8,000, to full-time students who work at least 20 hours per week. This scholarship fund is part of the University's broader initiative to raise $300 million for scholarships. Eloise Brice, vice president for advancement and alumni at UH, highlighted the significance of scholarships, stating, “Scholarships are more than financial support; they are a testament to the belief in our students' potential.”

Dean Paul A. Pavlou of Bauer College expressed gratitude for the gift, emphasizing its impact on students' educational pursuits and career success. He stated, "These scholarships will reduce students' financial burden and allow them to take advantage of all the experiential learning opportunities available at Bauer College, where The Future Is Our Business!"

Pradeep Sharma, interim dean of the Cullen College of Engineering, also lauded the gift, noting its role in fostering innovation and leadership among students. He stated, “Thanks to this gift, our students are not just learning, they are innovating, leading, creating, exploring and discovering.”

The Houston Works Scholarship Fund aims to empower working students to achieve their academic and career goals, with donations to the fund being matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1 million. Recipients of the scholarship awards will be selected by the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid based on students’ applications and working hours. Students pursuing degrees in specified majors within the College of Engineering, Bauer College of Business, and Division of Technology are eligible to apply for the scholarships for the Fall 2024/Spring 2025 academic calendar through the UH Scholarship Universe portal.