SCHOOL FUNDING + SCHOLARSHIPS
“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.”
Our mission is to advocate for and financially support immersive K-12 student educational travel, whether local, national, or international.
Overview: Scholarships are given to a set number of individuals and groups each year. Scholarship amounts vary by year and are dependent on the fundraising budget, the application assessment score, and the number of applications.
Application Process: This is a competitive process, and all applications are reviewed and scored based on the n Levels of Intercultural Immersion - Application Scoring Criteria (chart pictured here). NOTE: Not all individuals or groups that apply will be awarded a scholarship. Group Travel Scholarships are open each October, and Individual Travel Scholarship applications are open each March.
Step 1: Fill out the online application while the portal is open. For groups, there are two parts (one for the lead teacher and one for the students). The application links will appear below.
Step 2: Applications not making it to the “final round” are notified within 30 days. Finalists for all scholarships are notified, and a date and directions for in-person student presentations of the trip plan are scheduled.
Step 3: Final scholarship award winners are notified via email, and a date for an in-person ceremony is scheduled with the lead teacher for Group Travel Scholarship winners. Individual Travel Scholarships winners are given their award each year at the Gala in late April.
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 cum GPA or above). Travel (national or international) must be completed while the student is in high school, and this is ONLY for students traveling alone.
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 Between $5,000-10,000
Group Travel Funding for Grades 6-12.
Process: Teachers actively collaborate with their students to decide on a location, develop group-specific curriculum goals, and work on the itinerary. Group scholarship winners will receive between $5,000 - 10,000/group. Schools and students can refer to our RESOURCES & INSIGHT 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 Online Application, and PART 2: Student Online Application. If a group makes it into the finals, there is a student trip presentation given to the DCIS Foundation as the final application step. Finalist groups will be notified in the first week of December to coordinate the student presentation date and time.
Travel Level: INTERMEDIATE. These students get experience planning and traveling while learning about cultures, languages, traditions, history, and people.
Fall Application Portal Opens: The month of October. Groups not making it into the final round will be notified within 30 days. Student presentations for finalists will be in early December. Awards are given in January. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Individual Travel Scholarships for DPS High School Students.
Individual Travel Scholarships | Winning Students Receive $1000
The DCIS Foundation will offer a set number of Individual Scholarships for DPS high schoolers each year. Eligible DPS Schools: traditional, magnet/specialized, and innovation schools in DPS. Ineligible schools in DPS are charter or alternative schools. Eligibility is subject to change. Scholarship winners will receive $1000. This application window is open once a year in the early spring.
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: ADVANCED. These students take full responsibility for planning, fundraising, and travel logistics while gaining confidence, self-reliance, critical intercultural skills, and a well-rounded, thoughtful perspective. This application is not for groups; it is only for individual students traveling alone and engaging in full-time educational travel. (Vendor options for individual travel might include: CIEE, Adelesco, high school study abroad, etc.)
Spring Application Portal Opens: The month of March. Interviews for finalists will be in early April. Awards given at the Gala (last Saturday in April) in front of a live and prestigious audience. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Application Preparation: The application button will be posted here and includes the following sections: 1) Instructions, 2) “About the DCIS Foundation” short video, 3) Student Information (you’ll attach a PDF of your transcript), 4) Trip Information, 5) Budget, 6) One-page student essay (see the prompt below; you’ll attach a PDF), 7) Letters of Recommendation, and 8) Travel Agreement. Note: After submitting your application, you will receive an email notification and you can make changes anytime before the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Essay questions prompt: What are your hopes and aspirations for this trip? How do you believe this experience will shape your future goals? FORMAT: one-page, typed, double-spaced, 12-point type, saved as a PDF and attached to your application.
“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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