Born to Be a Warrior program offers 100% free tuition for employees’ children
A new Wayne State University program will allow children of full-time employees to receive 100 percent free tuition/general fees for four years. The Born to Be a Warrior pilot scholarship program is for freshmen and transfer students who do not have a bachelor’s degree.
Implemented by the Office of the Provost, Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid, the goal is for employees to consider all the amazing opportunities available at the university and allow Wayne State to be part of their educational plans.
“We are pleased to announce this outstanding scholarship program for our Wayne State employees,” said Wayne State President M. Roy Wilson. “As the state’s only urban research institution, Wayne State must attract and retain bright people to Detroit. By piloting the Born to Be a Warrior scholarship, we can provide many students and Wayne State parents the opportunity for a world-class education close to home.”
The award is renewable for up to four years for those who qualify as freshmen (consideration can be given by the Office of Student Financial Aid for additional time). Students should apply by May 1 to be eligible for the fall 2019 semester, when the awards will first be given. More information — along with the Born to Be a Warrior scholarship application — can be found here.
Questions should be directed to Undergraduate Admissions and to the Office of Student Financial Aid. This scholarship does not negate the current staff benefit of covering 50 percent of the cost of tuition for eligible dependents.
“At Wayne State, we value our faculty and staff and believe that many of them have children who would like to attend our university,” said Provost Keith Whitfield. “It has always been my goal to create an academic environment where people want to send their family members. In tandem with our amazing academic offerings, I believe that this scholarship will allow them to do just that. I also believe it will be a fantastic recruitment tool for professionals considering teaching or working with us.”
Under the Born to Be a Warrior pilot program, incoming freshmen must have a 24 ACT/1180 SAT score and a 3.5 GPA in high school. They must remain enrolled full time and maintain a 3.0 GPA to renew the scholarship. For transfer students, they must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA from their current college or university and meet the incoming freshman test score and GPA criteria at the time they graduated high school.
Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), although need is not a determining factor. This award will be on top of any outside scholarship, merit, benefit or need-based award, up to the full cost of tuition and fees without loans.
Dawn Medley, associate vice president of enrollment management, understands competition for students in Michigan is tight, which is why she wants Wayne State to be a Sunday night dinner conversation for university employees and their children. The Born to Be a Warrior program will help facilitate that.
“As a research-intensive institution with great student support, new residence halls, outstanding student activities and fantastic study abroad opportunities, we are a destination school for many students. Plus, Detroit is amazing,” Medley said. “This scholarship will encourage employees and their children to choose Wayne State and allow them to consider living on campus so they can have the full college experience.”