The Spencer Scholarships, were initiated by Dorothy Spencer, and provide outstanding students the opportunity to study and successfully complete their higher education experience. The first scholars were sponsored in 1940 by Mrs. Spencer. The program has grown from those humble beginnings to a program where over 100 students are currently engaged in study during any given semester.

Potential Spencer Scholars are invited to apply for the program by a former recipient, who will act as their sponsor through their application process. The application process begins with a discussion between the applicant and their sponsor regarding Spencer Doctrine and a description of the Scholarship program. If the applicant wishes to apply, the sponsor will confirm that an opening exists for the candidate, after confirmation, and invitation to apply will be made. The applicant will then provide a written essay discussing their desired study, why they believe they would be a good candidate, what their long term goals are and their understanding of and commitment to the Spencer Doctrine. The candidate should also include a biographical overview and any other information they feel will help the review committee in making their decision to extend a formal invitation to participate in the program.

Intellectual distinction is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for election to a Spencer Scholarship. The selection committee is charged to seek excellence in qualities of mind and in qualities of person which, in combination, offer the promise of effective service to the world in the decades ahead. The Spencer Scholarships, in short, are investments in individuals rather than in project proposals. Accordingly, applications are sought from talented students without restriction as to their field of academic specialization or career plans.

Spencer Scholars are elected for one year of study at the institution of their choice. The scholarship will be renewed each subsequent year through graduation subject to the Scholar meeting all program requirements and the continued recommendation of their sponsor. In the event a Spencer Scholar wishes to continue on with advanced study, their scholarship will be further renewed subject to the Scholar meeting all program requirements and the continued recommendation of their sponsor. All educational costs, such as matriculation, tuition, laboratory and certain other fees are paid on the Scholar's behalf by the Spencer Trustees. Each Scholar receives in addition a weekly maintenance allowance adequate to meet necessary expenses for term-time and vacations. The Spencer Trustees cover the necessary costs of travel to and from the chosen school, and upon application, may approve additional grants for research purposes or study-related travel.

The scholarship program designed by Dorothy Spencer is as unique as her life plan and incorporates the Spencer Plan into the program. The process of higher education is by its nature difficult with many distractions and temptations. Mrs. Spencer believed that to excel in that environment a student can benefit from the structure of her plan just as much as partners within a relationship. The Spencer Scholarship program is dedicated to helping the scholar complete their education with the greatest benefit and, as a secondary goal, to provide an understanding of the Spencer Plan so that they might incorporate that system into their lives in the future.

Each Scholar will work with a sponsor who is their mentor through their time in the program. A Sponsor will either be a former recipient of a Spencer Scholarship, or the Scholar’s parent, if the student lives in a Spencer Plan household. The sponsor will work closely with the student to assist them in the successful selection and completion of all course work leading to graduation. The sponsor will also work with the student to help them correct any Spencer Plan Causes related to their personal lives. The student will discuss with their Sponsor and then sign a Spencer Agreement between themselves and their Sponsor. The student further agrees to the following Causes specifically related to their obligations under the Scholarship program. The Spencer Scholar will;

1.      Maintain a minimum 3.5 cumulative GPA

2.      Maintain a minimum of a 3.5 average in all their classes.

3.      Will score a minimum of 3.5 on all exams, tests, quizzes and assignments.

4.      Will complete all homework assignments in all courses.

5.      Will complete all reading assignments for all courses.

6.      Will attend all classes, labs and study sessions.

7.      Will be on time for all classes, labs, sessions, meetings and appointments.

8.      If necessary, attend any remedial or tutoring programs as assigned by their Sponsor.

9.      For those students in University Undergraduate programs, the student will become proficient in a second language.

10.  Will perform 20 hours each month in service to their community or volunteering with a charitable organization.

In addition the Scholar is expected to act like a gentleman or lady and maintain standards of proper dress, attitude and language befitting that of a professional. The Scholar may live with their sponsor, in their own housing or on campus housing. The Scholar will meet with their sponsor no less than once a week and as often as needed to ensure the student has the assistance they need to successfully complete their education and meet all program goals. In the event a student is having problems with a given course, their sponsor will provide them with tutoring and remedial instruction so that they will be able to bring their scores up to program guidelines.

The Application Process

Scholarship candidates will only be considered after they have received an invitation to participate in the program by an initial sponsor. The sponsor will discuss with a candidate their wishes to pursue higher education, their acceptance of the Spencer Doctrine on a conceptual level and an overview of the Scholarship program. If the sponsor feels the candidate is compatible with the goals of the program and is likely to succeed they will extend an invitation to apply for a Spencer Scholarship. If you wish to learn more about the Spencer Scholarship program, please click here (this will open a new page) and fill out the form and you will be matched with a Sponsor in your area to discuss further the program.

The sponsor will inform a member of the selection committee that they have extended an invitation and make a reservation for either an associates, under-graduate, graduate or post-graduate scholarship. Due to the limited number of scholarships available, currently 100 each year, this reservation does not guarantee that a scholarship will be available for the candidate in that year. Scholarships are awarded based on the time a candidate successfully completes their full application process. It is best to complete the application process as early as possible. In the 2005 school year there were 17 candidates for each under-graduate scholarship offered.

Once an invitation is offered, the sponsor will discuss the details of the program and the Spencer Plan with the candidate as they relate specifically to them. The sponsor will assist the candidate in writing their application essay and will assist the candidate in completing their Spencer Plan agreement. When completed, the application essay will be forwarded to the selection committee for review and will become part of the candidate’s application package.

Upon review and acceptance of the Application Essay, the Selection Committee will inform the sponsor to make a formal invitation to the candidate. At this time, the sponsor and their candidate will make any final changes to their Spencer Plan Agreement and execute it. Together they will perform a thorough review the candidate’s previous life and education experiences. The candidate will then submit to an introductory discipline session to address any problem areas brought to light during the review and to demonstrate their commitment to their success in the Scholarship Program. If this is the candidate’s first exposure to the Spencer Doctrine the sponsor should make this session quite severe so that the candidate will have the security of knowing they are able to handle the corporal requirements of the program and so they can start to experience its many benefits. From this point forward the candidate is expected to live within the bounds of their Agreement, to meet with their sponsor as needed and to submit to any discipline called for as outlined in the Spencer Doctrine and the Spencer Plan Agreement. If either the sponsor or candidate feels this initial introduction period is not working to their satisfaction they can rescind the candidate’s application, but no future application will be considered from the candidate. When the candidate completes their introductory discipline to the satisfaction of their sponsor, the sponsor will submit a review of the process to the selection committee for final approval.

On final review the Selection Committee will render a decision to either accept or reject the candidate’s application. If accepted, the Scholar will discuss with their sponsor their courses, register for them and begin school at the beginning of the term. The Scholar will provide their sponsor with all invoices, bills, etc. The sponsor will forward these to the Trustees for payment. The Sponsor will be responsible for disbursement of the Scholar’s stipend each Friday. The sponsor will, if necessary, cosign for the Scholar’s residential lease. The sponsor and scholar will work together through the school year to assist the scholar’s achievement of their educational goals.