SCHOLARSHIPS
Our mission is to advocate for and financially support immersive educational travel experiences for DPS students.
Overview: Scholarships are given to a set number of individuals and groups in DPS each year. Scholarship amounts vary by year and are dependent on the fundraising budget and the application assessment score.
Application Process: This is a competitive process, and all applications are reviewed and scored based on the Levels of Intercultural Immersion - Application Scoring Criteria. NOTE: Not all individuals or groups who apply will be awarded a scholarship.
Eligibility:
GROUP SCHOLARSHIPS: Any DPS middle school or high school group. Travel (national or international) must be completed while the students are still in middle or high school.
INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIP: Any individual DPS high school student in good standing (2.5 cumulative GPA or above). Travel (national or international) must be completed while the student is in high school.
Role of the School: We believe in the care and leadership of schools and educators. Schools are responsible for all trip decisions, the itinerary, and applications. If awarded, group scholarship checks are given to the school for money management and distribution. The DCIS Foundation is not involved with any aspect of trip development; we focus solely on fundraising and travel advocacy.
Definition of Intercultural: Relating to, involving, or occurring between two or more cultures. Intercultural education nurtures the following characteristics: being open-minded, being tolerant, having empathy, being able to change perspective, being linguistically proficient, having an optimistic attitude, and having good communication and leadership skills.
Group Travel Scholarships | Winning Groups Receive $5,000-$10,000
Teachers actively collaborate with their students to decide on a trip location, develop group-specific curriculum goals, and work on the itinerary. Group scholarship winners will receive between $5,000 and $10,000/group. Schools and students can refer to our PLAN A TRIP page for ideas. This application window is open once a year in the fall. All applications are reviewed and scored based on the Levels of Intercultural Immersion (chart above). The application has two parts: PART 1: Lead Teacher Application for a DPS Group Trip, and PART 2: Student Applications + In-Person Student Presentations.
Lead teachers complete Part 1 first. Edits and changes can be made to the applications up until the deadline. If a group makes it into the finals, all students will submit their own applications, and a student-led presentation is given to the DCIS Foundation board members as the final application step. Finalist groups will be notified to coordinate the student presentation date and time.
Travel Level: BEGINNER to INTERMEDIATE. These students get experience planning, traveling, and gaining independence while learning about cultures, languages, traditions, history, and people.
Group Application Portal - Key Dates: In 2026, Part 1 (teacher submission) will close on Friday, November 6 at 11:59 PM. Groups not making it into the final round will be notified within 2 weeks. For finalists, Part 2 (student applications) and student-led presentations will be in December and January. Awards are given in February. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Individual Travel Scholarships | Winning Students Receive $1,000+
The DCIS Foundation will offer a set number of Individual Scholarships for DPS high schoolers each year. All schools in DPS are eligible. Scholarship winners will receive $1000+. This application window is open once a year from November to February.
Process: Students work with their parents, teacher, counselor, or school travel director to evaluate travel vendors, costs, and options. Together, they create a travel plan, budget, and personal goals. Scholarship winners are selected based on the merit of their application. Students looking for vendor ideas can refer to our RESOURCES & INSIGHT page.
Travel Level: INTERMEDIATE to ADVANCED. These students often take full responsibility for planning, fundraising, and travel logistics while gaining confidence, self-reliance, critical intercultural skills, and a well-rounded, thoughtful perspective.
Individual Application Portal - Key Dates: For 2027, applications will close Friday, February 26 at 11:59 PM. Interviews for finalists will be in March. Awards are given live and in-person at the Gala on April 24. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
What to Expect for the Application: The application is short and straightforward. It includes the following sections: 1) Instructions, 2) “About the DCIS Foundation” short video to watch, 3) Student Information (you’ll need to attach a PDF of your transcript), 4) Trip Information and Logistics, 5) Approximate Budget and Costs, 6) Short student essay (see the prompt below), 7) Letter of Recommendation, and 8) Travel Agreement. Note: After submitting your application, you will receive an email notification, and you can make changes any time before the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Short essay questions prompt: What are your hopes and aspirations for this trip? How do you believe this experience will shape your future goals?
“The dream of opening opportunities to student travel is magic. We must appreciate the impact it has on their lives and how it can reform education.”
“This trip changed my life. I hadn’t been away from my family before but studied Italian for six years. I did a homestay, practiced my Italian, and actually lived in a place I had learned so much about in my classes. It was life-changing. I hope to study abroad in Italy while in college.”
DCIS FOUNDATION DBA Denver Center for Intercultural Scholars Foundation | PO BOX 9044 | DENVER CO 80209
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