The VanNahmen Student Excellence Award will be granted to five students for the 2026-2027 academic year. This $1,000 award may be used for educational expenses such as tuition and books, or towards other costs of attendance like childcare or educational technology.
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"Receiving this award will have a meaningful impact on both my education and my ability to continue serving youth. As a full-time employee, graduate student, homeowner, and founder of a community-based initiative, balancing financial responsibilities while pursuing my degree can be challenging. This award will help offset tuition and educational expenses, allowing me to remain focused on my academic goals and professional development. More importantly, it will enable me to continue applying what I learn to develop high-quality, evidence-based youth programs that create meaningful opportunities for young people in my community. This investment will not only support my success but also strengthen the positive impact I strive to make through my work and service." Casey Hulbert, Youth Development, Michigan State University, award recipient 2026-2027 |
2026-2027 Applicant Qualifications and Requirements
Students can apply annually; however, preference will be given to students who have not received previous financial support from IDEA. Five $1,000 awards will be granted for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Applicant Qualifications
Students must:
- Have been admitted to an IDEA member university
- Have been admitted to an IDEA degree-granting program (bachelor's, master's, or certificate)
- Have completed a minimum of two (2) IDEA courses
- Have an academic plan for degree completion
- Be enrolled during the 2026-2027 academic year (starting fall 2026)
Application Requirements
The application process will include submission of the following:
- Application form submitted online
- Unofficial transcript
- Academic plan for degree completion
- One (1) page resume or curriculum vitae
- 500-word essay describing the student's professional and academic goals and achievements, plan for degree completion, and a description of expected uses/benefits of scholarship funds
- Endorsement from an IDEA faculty member, the student's faculty academic advisor, or IDEA campus coordinator. Endorsers will be provided an online form to complete once the student has submitted their application. This form includes six statements to rank and a brief (500-word max.) statement of support.
Award Guidelines and Information
Application Deadline
Applications for the 2026-2027 award are now closed.
Application Evaluation
Each program will select two finalists whose applications will be evaluated by three IDEA Cabinet members. A rubric will be used to evaluate applications and determine award recipients. The rubric focuses on how well the personal statement highlights the student's professional and academic goals, including how these goals align with the student’s program, as well as a clearly outlined plan for degree completion. Evaluation also includes how the applicant articulates the direct contribution of the financial support to their academic success. The strength of the endorsement is also a factor in the overall scoring of applications.
Use of Awards Funds
Funds may be used for educational expenses, such as tuition and books, or towards other costs of attendance, like childcare, educational technology, or cost of living.
Questions
Contact Amanda Burris for answers to your questions.
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"Receiving the VanNahmen Student Excellence Award is a true encouragement to me and my family. As a mother of four and a nontraditional student, continuing my education has required commitment, sacrifice, and perseverance. This award helps ease the financial burden of finishing my degree and allows me to stay focused on my goals in early childhood education. It also reminds my children that hard work matters and that it is never too late to keep learning, growing, and reaching for something meaningful." Jennifer Sullivan, Early Care & Education, Oklahoma State University, |
About the Award
The VanNahmen Student Excellence Award is named in honor of former IDEA Executive Director, Carol (Gould) VanNahmen. Over her 15-year tenure at IDEA, VanNahmen was instrumental in the growth of the alliance and in fostering collaboration across institutions. Under her leadership, IDEA added a new human sciences master's degree and bachelor's degree program, as well as seven agriculture programs. Human sciences program enrollment increased by 51 percent, and agriculture program enrollment increased by 863 percent.
In March 2015, VanNahmen was recognized by the IDEA Cabinet with the Distinguished Service Award, the first and only time this honor has been given by the alliance. VanNahmen made a tremendous impact on the alliance and students, which will continue through this award.
