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Schoenl Family Undergraduate Grant for Dire Needs Overseas

Open to Honors College students

schoenl grant project

The purpose of the Schoenl Family Undergraduate Grant for Dire Needs Overseas is to identify and fund the most outstanding projects which will serve dire human needs in countries other than the U.S. The grants must be used within a 12-month period to make an impact that will help alleviate dire human needs. The amount awarded depends on available funds and project scope. Typical grant funding is $1,200 for a Level I award and $1,800 for a Level II award. The application deadline is February 25.

How to Apply

Please complete the application in the MSU Scholarship system.

The application includes:

  1. Online application form
  2. Project abstract
  3. Project proposal that includes: title, an introduction, description, implementation strategy, projected results, potential impact, and bibliography
  4. Project Budget (Please note: travel is NOT an eligible expense)
  5. Name and contact information for MSU faculty member supervising the project
  6. One letter of recommendation from a faculty member who is familiar with your Schoenl proposal
  7. Letter of support from the community partner (highly recommended)

Questions should be directed to hcglobal@msu.edu.

Past Recipients
Samaiya Imad (2024)
Level I Award
Location: Bangladesh
Project description: Work that enhances efforts to support women trapped in sexual trafficking operations in Bangladesh.
Rachel Drobnak (2023)
Level I Award
Project description: Quinoa and the role it may play in developing countries.
Anushree Ravi (2022)
Level I Award
Angela Yuan (2021)
Level II Award
Location: Kenya
Project description: Clean water initiative for Mfangano Island and sister islands in Lake Victoria, Kenya.
Joy Chepkorir (2019)
Level II Award
Location: Kenya
Project description: Install a water filtration and collection station for communities of Kaptures and Kaptulwa, Kenya.
Aminatou Seydon (2019)
Level I Award
Location: Niger
Project description: Combating malnutrition in Guelado, Niger, by creating a stock box of vitamins and nutrient-rich foods and using UNICEF educational tools.
Jessica DeClercq (2018)
Level I Award
Location: Thailand-Myanmar
Project description: Deliver hygiene products and school supplies to children living in the Loi Tai Leng Refugee Camp.
Ayda Alavi (2017)
Level I Award
Location: Jordan
Project description: Created a Women’s Safe Space in Jordan for refugees.
Carly Daiek (2017)
Level I Award
Location: Belize
Project description: Install a water filtration system.
Arhin Acheampong (2016)
Level II Award
Locations: Kumbungu, Ghana and Tolon, Ghana
Project description: Free vision screenings for 1,500 children.
Sarah Tresedder (2016)
Level I Award
Location: Ghana
Project description: Install a clean drinking water system at the Augustine Larteh Anglican Primary School.
Theresa Abalo (2016)
Level I Award
Location: Lilongwe, Malawi
Project description: Addressing food sustainability.
Joseph Smith (2015)
Level I Award
Location: El Balsamar, El Salvador
Project description: Construction of composting latrines (This project is in coordination with MSU Engineers Without Borders Club).
Laura Bailey (2014)
Level I Award
Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Project description: Drill a well and install a rain catchment system to provide water for drinking and other domestic purposes. (This project is in coordination with Spartans Without Borders).
Elizabeth Brajevich (2014)
Level II Award
Locations: Kompong Speur Province, Cambodia & Kondal Province, Cambodia
Project description: Gave individual farm families gilts to raise for smallholder swine farming in two provinces. The female offspring of the gilts will be returned to the program to sustain the Pass Swine On project by training and supporting new swine farmers.
Tiffany Abrahamian (2012)
Level I Award
Location: Coimbatore, India
Project description: Installed sustainable latrines that produce fertilizer for local crops.
John Suddard-Bangsund (2012)
Level I Award
Location: El Balsamar,El Salvador
Project description: Constructed latrines and sanitation with Engineers Without Borders chapter at MSU.
Gregory Jones (2011)
Level I Award
Location: Ba Phnom, Cambodia
Project description: Helped to complete a four-room school building and construction of a health center.
Priyanka Pandey (2010)
Level I Award
Location: Bedani, India
Project description: Installed three community water pumps in the village.
Kathryn Bonnen (2010)
Level I Award
Location: Huamachuco, Peru
Project description: Designed, built and installed two solar-powered water heaters in two schools, working with an MSU faculty member. (This project built on a similar water heater installation from the previous year)
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