Scholarships for Continuing Education and Graduate Students

The following scholarships are available exclusively to Continuing Education and/or Graduate Students. Carefully check the requirements of each scholarship to ensure you are qualified before submitting an application. 


John F. Donnelly Scholarship

(Continuing Education and Graduate Students may apply)

One must be employed with a participating school district or area corporation. If received, the scholarship is available for seven consecutive years or until graduation, whichever occurs sooner, as long as one remains an employee. The scholarship may be used whether or not you qualify for employer tuition reimbursement. It can be used by both degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students in any field and can also be used in non-consecutive semesters. Post-traditional learners approximately 23 years or older are eligible to apply.

If you work for one of the organizations listed below, contact your human resources department for further information regarding the Donnelly Scholarship.  You may also address questions to Aquinas College by emailing donnelly@aquinas.edu.

 

Belding Area Schools

Byron Center Public Schools

Caledonia Community Schools

Cedar Springs Public Schools

Comstock Park Public Schools

Coopersville Area Public Schools

Diocese of Grand Rapids

Diocese of Kalamazoo

East Grand Rapids Public Schools

EDUStaff, LLC

Forest Hills Public Schools

Godfrey Lee Public Schools

Godwin Heights Public Schools

Grand Haven Area Public Schools

Grand Rapids Christian Schools

Grand Rapids Public Schools

Grandville Calvin Christian Schools

Grandville Public Schools

Grant Public Schools

Greenville Public Schools

Holland Christian Schools

Holland Public Schools

Hudsonville Public Schools

Ionia ISD

Jenison Public Schools

Kelloggsville Public Schools

Kenowa Hills Public Schools

Kent City Community Schools

Kent Intermediate School District

Kentwood Public Schools

Lakewood Public Schools

Lowell Area Schools

Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System

Muskegon Public Schools

National Heritage Academies

Newaygo Public Schools

Northview Public Schools

Pentwater Public Schools

Reeths-Puffer Schools

Rockford Public Schools

Saranac Community Schools

Sparta Area Schools

Spring Lake Public Schools

The Center for Sound Literacy

Thornapple-Kellogg Schools

Tri County Area Schools

Wayland Union Schools

West Ottawa Public Schools

Wyoming Public Schools

Zeeland Christian School

Zeeland Public Schools

 

Advance Local

AECOM

Autodie, LLC

Bissell

Borgess Health Alliance

Butterball Farms, Inc.

Cascade Engineering

Catholic Charities West Michigan

Catholic Charities Diocese of Kalamazoo

Cherry Health

City of Grand Rapids

Consumers Energy

Credit Union ONE

Dean Transportation

Dematic

Diocese of Grand Rapids

Diocese of Kalamazoo

Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids (Associates, Employees, Former Members, Sisters)

East Grand Rapids Public Safety

EDUStaff, LLC

Eisele Connectors, Inc.

Farmers Insurance Group

Federal-Mogul, LLC

Feyen Zylstra, LLC

Fifth Third Bank

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Gill Industries, Inc.

Gordon Food Service

Grand Rapids Fire Department

Grand Rapids Public Library

Grand Valley Health Plan

GROW

Haworth

Heart of West Michigan United Way

Hope Network

Irwin Seating Company

Kent County

Kent District Library

Knape & Vogt

L3Harris Commercial Avionics

Lacks Enterprises, Inc.

Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital

Marywood Health Corporation

Meijer, Inc.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)

Michigan Family Resources/Head Start for Kent County

MillerKnoll

MLive

MOKA

Oliver Healthcare Packaging

PADNOS

Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services

Progressive AE

Rapid Engineering

Rapidparts, Inc.

The Salvation Army Grand Rapids Kroc Center

Schuler Books

SpartanNash

Spectrum Health

Spectrum Health Pennock

Spectrum Health Zeeland Community Hospital

Steelcase

SUSPA, Inc.

The Center for Sound Literacy

Trinity Health Medical Group West Michigan

Trinity Health Saint Mary's Grand Rapids

United Bank

University of Michigan Health - Sparrow

University of Michigan Health - West

Van Andel Institute

Wedgwood Christian Services

Williams Group

Wolverine World Wide, Inc.

WXMI - FOX 17

X-Rite


Masters of Management Alumni Scholarship

(Graduate Students Only)

Thanks to generous Masters of Management Alumni donations, Aquinas College is offering partial tuition on scholarships for students in the Masters of Management Program. Further information is available by emailing atkinlyn@aquinas.edu


Norbert J. Hruby Scholarship for Community Service/Volunteerism

(Application is for Continuing Education and Graduate Students only)

Hruby Scholarships are available to students enrolling for the first time in their current program or to students who have had at least a 2-year break since last attending Aquinas. Alumni changing program type from undergraduate to graduate and graduate education alumni returning for additional endorsements are also eligible to apply. A selection committee awards the scholarships based on community service/volunteerism. If received, the scholarship is available for seven consecutive years or until graduation, whichever occurs sooner; and it provides a 50% tuition scholarship. Up to 10 scholarships are awarded each year.

Please read the information below thoroughly prior to applying to ensure you understand the scholarship and the eligibility requirements fully.

Apply for Hruby Scholarship

Applications for students beginning the Spring 2025 term must be received by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. This is a firm due date and time. Further instructions are on the application form. Applicants will be notified of the results by 5 p.m. Wednesday, December 18.

(Note: The selection process for those beginning classes in the Fall of 2024 has concluded. If you are a new student beginning in the Fall of 2024, email hruby@aquinas.edu to request a one-time exception for permission to apply by the November due date. Please include your first name, last name, phone number and request details in your email. If you are selected to receive the scholarship, it will begin with the Spring 2025 semester and not be retroactive.)

Four documents are required:

  • Your service/volunteerism experience table
  • Your applicant’s statement
  • Two (2) letters of recommendation from individuals who can comment on your community service/volunteerism activities. (Do not submit more than two.)

Further details about these are on the application.

  1. The scholarship will fund up to 50% of tuition for seven consecutive years or until graduation, whichever occurs sooner. The eligibility period of seven years/graduation will begin the term immediately following notification of a successful application.
  2. Programs eligible for the Hruby Scholarship: (Traditional undergraduate (e.g. student type “R”), Detroit Mercy Nursing, and non-credit bearing courses, certificates or similar programs are ineligible.)
    • Continuing Education (CE - Adult Undergraduate)
    • Master of Management (MM)
    • Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MAC)
    • Master in the Art of Teaching (MAT)
    • Master in Education (Traditional M.Ed.)
    • Master in Education (Accelerated AME)
  3. Criteria:
    1. Individuals who will be new students at Aquinas College, those who have experienced a two-year break since last attending Aquinas, alumni changing program type from undergraduate to graduate and graduate education alumni returning for additional endorsements are eligible to apply for this partial tuition scholarship.
    2. Current Aquinas students are not eligible.
    3. Employees, spouses of employees and dependents of employees who receive some amount of tuition remission are ineligible.
    4. Aquinas College will determine admission eligibility based upon the program requirements in which the student is enrolling.
    5. The scholarship recipient must enroll in classes within one calendar year of notification that his/her application was successful.
  4. Important Financial Aid Details:
    1. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office at 616-632-2893 to determine eligibility for state or federal aid.
    2. The scholarship will be applied to the remaining tuition balance after state and/or federal grants have been applied.
    3. The scholarship amount will be determined by grant aid and employer reimbursement so that all funding sources do not exceed actual tuition charges.
    4. The scholarship applies to tuition itself and not to any other kind of fees.
    5. The scholarship does not apply to courses that already have a reduced tuition rate, such as those receiving the Diocesan remission.
    6. The Hruby Scholarship can be combined with privately-funded scholarships; however, it may not be used in conjunction with others, such as the Donnelly Scholarship or athletic aid. It may not be combined with discounts, such as the Ada Business Association discount.
  5. Terms of Renewal:
    1. The scholarship is renewable for seven consecutive years or until graduation, whichever occurs sooner.
    2. The recipient must remain in good academic standing in the program in which he/she is enrolled based on established policy.
  6. Responsibilities of Hruby Scholarship Recipients:
    1. The scholarship recipient must notify the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@aquinas.edu each time he/she registers for classes, according to the directions in the initial congratulatory email. It is only upon notification that scholarship funds will be applied to the student’s account.
    2. The recipient must contact the Financial Aid Office by email with any changes in his/her enrollment status, such as dropping or adding classes, so the proper adjustments can be made to his/her account.
    3. Report change in employer or tuition reimbursement benefits to the Financial Aid Office.
  7. Contact Persons:

Scholarships are awarded to individuals demonstrating a history of leadership through community service/volunteerism. A limited number of scholarships are available each year and are granted by a selection committee.

 


Ada Business Association Discount 

(Application is for Continuing Education and Graduate Students only)

Aquinas College offers a 20% tuition discount to eligible part-time and full-time employees within member organizations of the Ada Business Association (ABA).

Please note:

  • The Aquinas College – Ada Business Association discount is specifically for post-traditional learners, approximately 23 years and above who are entering one of the following programs:
    • Continuing Education (CE - Adult Undergraduate)
    • Master of Management (MM)
    • Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MAC)
    • Master in the Art of Teaching (MAT)
    • Master in Education (Traditional M.Ed.)
    • Master in Education (Accelerated AME)
  • An applicant must be a current employee, working at least part time for an organization that is an existing member of the ABA.
  • Traditional undergraduate students (e.g. student type “R”), Detroit Mercy Nursing students, and WMU Engineering students, as well as courses that already have a reduced tuition rate are not eligible.
  • This discount can be combined with privately-funded scholarships; however, it may not be used in conjunction with others such as the Hruby Scholarship, Donnelly Scholarship or athletic aid. It may not be combined with other discounts.
  • The application to become a student at Aquinas College is a separate application and will also need to be submitted.
  • Further details will be sent once the discount application is processed.

Student Information
(if available)
Phone type*
Employment Information
Additional Information
Please select the program you will be entering
Anticipated start term*
By submitting this discount application, I certify that I am a current employee of the organization listed above; and I have verified my employer is a current Ada Business Association member. (This can be done by emailing adabusinessassociation1@gmail.com.) I acknowledge the scholarship will no longer be available if my employment ends.*

 

Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce Discount 

(Application is for Continuing Education and Graduate Students only)

Aquinas College offers a 20% tuition discount to eligible part-time and full-time employees within member organizations of the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce (WKACC).

Please note:

  • The Aquinas College – Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce discount is specifically for post-traditional learners, approximately 23 years and above who are entering one of the following programs:
    • Continuing Education (CE - Adult Undergraduate)
    • Master of Management (MM)
    • Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MAC)
    • Master in the Art of Teaching (MAT)
    • Master in Education (Traditional M.Ed.)
    • Master in Education (Accelerated AME)
  • An applicant must be a current employee, working at least part time for an organization that is an existing member of the WKACC.
  • Traditional undergraduate students (e.g. student type “R”), Detroit Mercy Nursing students, and WMU Engineering students, as well as courses that already have a reduced tuition rate are not eligible.
  • This discount can be combined with privately-funded scholarships; however, it may not be used in conjunction with others such as the Hruby Scholarship, Donnelly Scholarship or athletic aid. It may not be combined with other discounts.
  • The application to become a student at Aquinas College is a separate application and will also need to be submitted.
  • Further details will be sent once the discount application is processed.

Student Information
If available
Phone type*
Employment Information
Anticipated start term
By submitting this scholarship application, I certify that I am a current employee of the organization listed above; and I have verified my employer is a current Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce member. (This can be done by emailing Bob@southkent.org.) I acknowledge the scholarship will no longer be available if my employment ends.*

 

West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Discount

(Application is for Continuing Education and Graduate Students only)

Aquinas College offers a 20% tuition discount to eligible student members of the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (WMHCC).

Please note:

  • The Aquinas College – West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce discount is specifically for post-traditional learners, approximately 23 years and above who are entering one of the following programs: 
    • Continuing Education (CE - Adult Undergraduate)
    • Master of Management (MM)
    • Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MAC)
    • Master in the Art of Teaching (MAT)
    • Master in Education (Traditional M.Ed.)
    • Master in Education (Accelerated AME)
  • An applicant must be a current student member of the WMHCC in good standing.
  • Traditional undergraduate students (e.g. student type “R”), Detroit Mercy Nursing students, and WMU Engineering students, as well as courses that already have a reduced tuition rate are not eligible.
  • This discount can be combined with privately-funded scholarships; however, it may not be used in conjunction with others such as the Hruby Scholarship, Donnelly Scholarship or athletic aid. It may not be combined with other discounts.
  • The application to become a student at Aquinas College is a separate application and will also need to be submitted.
  • Further details will be sent once the discount application is processed.

(if available)
Phone type*
Please select the program you will be entering
Anticipated start term*
By submitting this discount application, I certify that I am a current student member in good standing of the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. I acknowledge the discount will no longer be available if my membership ends.*