The Ralph and Judith Sidman Memorial Scholarship Fund

HISTORY:  Established by Mrs. Judith Sidman in memory of her husband, a former University at Albany employee, this scholarship is presented to a UAlbany student who has shown a commitment to community service and has completed at least 160 hours of volunteer work through the Community and Public Service Program.

CRITERIA:  The scholarship is awarded annually to an undergraduate student from the Capital region who has completed at least two sections of the Community and Public Service Program (CPSP) in two different semesters. The Capital Region includes the following counties: Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington. It is open to students in all academic disciplines. The committee will consider each candidate on the basis of the following items:

1. Commitment to the public good
2. Contribution to the Capital Region
3. Good academic performance.
4. Financial need
5. A letter of support from your Organization supervisor for your application

An application form may be obtained from the Community and Public Service Program office (SS112).  A notice will be posted for students on the listserv.  All applications must include a statement by the candidate of how he/she meets the criteria of the award.  Documentation of academic achievement and extracurricular activities is also required.

The decision for the award will be made by a selection committee which will include faculty and student representation in the School of Social Welfare to be appointed by the Dean of the School of Social Welfare.  The committee will review all nominations and will grant the award in May at the commencement ceremony.

You will be notified of the Selection Committee’s decision later in the spring semester.

WHO CAN APPLY

• Any undergraduate student who has completed at least two sections of the Community and Public Service Program (CPSP) in two different semesters. 
• You need to be a current student at the University.
•  If you have received this award in the past, you are not eligible to apply again.

PLEASE NOTE:  Scholarships are considered financial aid for the same academic year in which they are received.  The financial aid office will make every attempt to allow the scholarship to be an additional financial aid resource in cases where the student has other financial aid awards.  However, federal regulations may require other financial aid awards to be reduced.  In these cases, student loans will be the first aid award to be adjusted to allow for the receipt of the scholarship.

Download The PDF Application Form - Click Here

WHAT YOU NEED TO APPLY

1. Read through the information provided about the award.  If you decide to apply, you will need to compile a full application including:
• Cover sheet: a completed, typewritten, cover sheet.  Choose the Student Applicant Information Cover Sheet.  Provide all the information required.
• Letter: a one to two page letter addressed to the SSW Selection Committee stating your qualifications and future career goals. Describe specifically how you meet the criteria for this award.  Include any background information that could be useful to the committee.
• Letters of recommendation:  two letters of recommendation, one of which should be a letter from your Organization supervisor, not from family or close friends.  Choose people who know you and your qualifications.  Faculty members, supervisors, field instructors or work colleagues are the most desirable letter writers. Choose appropriate persons to write your recommendation letters. Letters should be from people in your recent life, especially at the University at Albany.  These letters should reflect on you since they are used to learn more about you.  Your letters must be included in your application and need not be confidential. Do not have your letters mailed separately.
• Résumé or curriculum vitae: an up-to-date listing of your education, work, and service activities.  Students must include their grade point average (GPA).  You should show where you are in your program.
2. You should type all materials and review them to eliminate any errors. 
3. Make sure your application is complete (including your letters of reference) and in order.
4. Follow the directions in “How to Assemble Your Application.”

HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR APPLICATION

You must provide 3 complete sets of your application materials:  the original and two copies.  For each set, put the materials in the following order:

1. Completed Student Applicant Information Cover Sheet on top.
2. Letter from applicant.
3. Letters of recommendation.
4. Résumé or curriculum vitae.  Make sure you have included your GPA.

Clip each set together and submit all three sets with the original copy on the top.

Questions:  Call the Community and Public Service Program office at (518) 442-5683.

FINAL CHECKLIST

Check over your application carefully.  Make sure you have:

• Typed all materials neatly and checked for errors.
• Compiled a complete application.  (Please do not mail letters of reference separately.)
• Made 3 sets of your complete application (the original plus two copies).
• Put the materials in each set in order as specified above.
• Secured each set with a clip.
• Placed the original set on top.

DEADLINE:

To Be Announced...

SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION:

Mail or hand deliver the application to:

Selection Committee
Ralph Sidman Memorial Scholarship
Community and Public Service Program
University at Albany-SS112
1400 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY   12222