Scholarships, Fellowships, and Grants
- Masters
- Doctoral
- Brown Awards
- Mitstifer Adviser Awards
- Research & Project Grant
- Hawthorne Award
- Undergraduate Research Award
- The KON/GEICO LeaderShape Undergraduate Scholarship
- Bullying
- Chapter
- Other
Each fellowship and grant will be awarded on a competitive basis to an active Kappa Omicron Nu member who has demonstrated scholarship, research, and leadership potential. Awards will be made for study and research in human sciences or one of its specializations at colleges or universities with strong research programs and supporting disciplines for the chosen major or topic.

Masters
Fellowships
- Eileen C. Maddex Fellowship—$2,000 awarded annually from an endowment in the Omicron Nu Fellowship Fund in honor of her contributions as Omicron Nu Executive Director. Available annually.
- National Alumni Fellowship—$2,000 awarded biennially by the National Alumni Chapter (biennial). Available 2017-2018.
- Omicron Nu Fellowship—$2,000 awarded biennially from the Centennial Endowment Fund. Available 2018-2019.
Criteria for Selection:
- Current (active) membership in Kappa Omicron Nu
- Enrollment in a master's program in human sciences or one of the specializations in a university that has a strong research program with supporting disciplines in the area of research interest.
- Demonstrated scholarship
- Demonstrated interest in research
- Relevance of study and/or research to significant concerns related to individual, family, and community development
- Potential for professional leadership
Policies and Procedures:
- Submit application form and all supporting documents
electronically on or before April 1 to Kappa Omicron Nu
at the following email address:
info@kon.org
- Three (3) recommendations (from persons that can
represent the applicant's scholarship, research, and
potential for professional leadership) should be
electronically submitted or before April 1 to the above address.
- Only complete applications, including letters of
recommendation, will be evaluated. As in conventional
evaluation procedures, the reviewers reserve the right
to read only the number of pages indicated in the application.
- Recipient will be notified May 15, and acceptance
or rejection must be received by June 1.
- Recipients shall submit an annual progress report
to Kappa Omicron Nu. Should the study or its results
be published, the name of the fellowship must be acknowledged.
- Kappa Omicron Nu assumes the right to announce the
names of recipients.
- Kappa Omicron Nu is an affirmative action/equal opportunity organization.
Yes! I meet the above criteria for Master's Fellowships. I would like to view/print an application form now.

Doctoral
Fellowships
- Omicron Nu Research Fellowship$2,000 awarded annually for doctoral research from the Omicron Nu Fellowship Fund.
- Betty Jeanne Root Fellowship$2,000 awarded biennually for doctoral research from an endowment in the Omicron Nu Fellowship Fund. Available 2018-2019.
Criteria for Selection:
- Current (active) membership in Kappa Omicron Nu
- Enrollment and progress in a doctoral program in human sciences or one of the specializations in a university that has a strong research program with supporting disciplines in the area of research interest.
- Demonstrated ability in graduate study
- Demonstrated interest and competence in research
- Relevance of study and/or research to significant concerns related to individual, family, and community development
- Potential for professional leadership
Policies and Procedures:
- Submit application form and all supporting documents
electronically
on or before January 15 to Kappa Omicron Nu at the
following email address:
info@kon.org
- Three (3) recommendations (from persons that can
represent the applicant's scholarship, research, and
potential for professional leadership) should be
electronically submitted
on or before January 15 to the above address.
- Only complete applications, including letters of
recommendation, will be evaluated. As in conventional
evaluation procedures, the reviewers reserve the right
to read only the number of pages indicated in the application.
- Recipient will be notified April 1, and acceptance
or rejection must be received by April 30.
- Recipients shall submit an annual progress report
to Kappa Omicron Nu. Should the study or its results
be published, the name of the fellowship must be acknowledged.
- Kappa Omicron Nu assumes the right to announce the
names of recipients.
- Kappa Omicron Nu is an affirmative action/equal opportunity organization.
Yes! I meet the above criteria for Doctoral Fellowships. I would like to view/print an application form now.

Marjorie
M. Brown Fellowship Program
Policies:
- The purpose of the Kappa Omicron Nu Marjorie M.
Brown Dissertation Fellowship Program is to support
research to continue Brown's philosophical work using
critical social theory, demonstrating understanding
of Brown's Philosophical Studies and other recent
pieces of work and of their ongoing significance for
the human sciences. The intention is
to build upon Brown's project and tradition of fine
scholarship to continue critical analysis of concepts
central to the field and for dialogue toward acceptance
by the profession.
- Critical science research should promote reflective thought and public discussion of what to do about a condition that interferes with freedom to think and act freely and with the ability to meet the legitimate needs of individuals and groups. The research should meet the following standards:
- Document the existing meanings, values, or motives of individuals and groups in regard to doubts and misunderstandings of a specific condition.
- Critique the unjust social situation and clarify the conflicting claims.
- Explain the source of the distortion in order to encourage independence in thinking, clarity about responsibility, and recognition of institutions and processes that need to be changed.
- Propose an alternative to correct the situation being examined for use in rational (reasoned) discourse and in consideration as to its objective, subjective, and intersubjective validity (true, sincere, and the right thing to do).
- Facilitate individual or group autonomous reasoning and actions to create the social reality that serves human needs and aspirations.
- Demonstrate the researcher's competence in communication: to express intersubjective understanding and agreement, to relate theory to concrete experience, and to facilitate enlightened critique.
- Four classifications of awards are available;
one award among these alternatives will be granted
annually in the amount of $10,000 if the criteria of
the award are met.
- Ph.D. or D.Ed. students seeking doctoral degrees
from accredited U.S. institutions of higher education
are eligible to apply. This program is ideal for students
who are in the process of formulating their dissertation
proposals as well as doctoral candidates with approved
dissertation proposals. Current (active) Kappa Omicron
Nu membership is required of applicants (individual
membership affiliation is available to those who meet
the criteria for membership).
- Tenure track assistant professors seeking support for a research agenda using critical social theory - this program can serve as a starter grant and may be renewed for a second year. This program supports individuals beginning independent research careers in academia who do not have other substantial sources of research dollars. Indirect costs are not provided to the institution. Kappa Omicron Nu membership is required of the applicants (individual membership affiliation is available to those who meet the criteria for membership).
- Associate professors or professors seeking support for the design and implementation of a graduate course that teaches a critical science research approach - this course is intended to expand knowledge of critical social theory and the research interests of students and requires research proposals as an element of the course. In addition to a traditional course format, the course may be taught online to serve a wider audience. Indirect costs are not provided to the institution. A grant may be renewed for a second year to implement evaluation findings and refine the course. Kappa Omicron Nu membership is required of the applicants (individual membership affiliation is available to those who meet the criteria for membership).
-
Marjorie M. Brown Distinguished Professor Award -
This award will be granted to a full professor to
recognize and reward the use of critical social
theory in scholarship and research. The individual
must have achieved national or international
prominence and a distinguished reputation within the
human sciences through significant contributions to
the research literature and/or through accomplished
teaching. The nomination portfolio should include
the curriculum vitae, endorsement from the
University President or Provost, two key campus
nomination letters, and two external letters of
recommendation. In these letters the recommenders
should corroborate the candidate's merit, describe
the candidate's stature, catalog the candidate's
most important achievements, and explain the
significance of the candidate's awards and honors.
Each external letter of recommendation should be
accompanied by the author's curriculum vitae and a
cover letter describing the author's stature to
provide a recommendation.
- Applications shall be judged by the criteria listed
on Kappa Omicron Nu Marjorie M. Brown Dissertation
Fellowship Program Evaluation Form.
- Only complete applications that meet the format
guidelines (below) will be evaluated. As in conventional
evaluation procedures, the reviewers reserve the right
to read only the number of pages indicated in the
application.
- Awards will be made at the discretion of the Awards
Committee.
- The research will be submitted to Kappa Omicron
Nu upon completion of the research for publication
in an appropriate format. The researcher will provide
acknowledgement in the dissertation and any publications
that result from the dissertation funded by this award
by using this language: "This research was funded
in part by the Kappa Omicron Nu Marjorie M. Brown Fellowship Program."
- The researcher will own all intellectual property or data resulting from
the use of this award.
However, the researcher will grant an irrevocable,
royalty-free license in perpetuity for Kappa Omicron
Nu to use such materials. The researcher will be given
credit for any verbatim use of this research and,
where appropriate, for any derivative use.
- Kappa Omicron Nu will publicize the award and will
support dissemination of research findings through
publications and oral presentations.
- Awards for research and course design will be distributed according to the following schedule--$3,000 upon acceptance of the proposal and receipt of the institution's approval of the research proposal, payable to the researcher August 1 and $3,000 January 1. The Award Committee will award $4,000 upon completion of the research manuscript or course report/analysis and determination that the purpose of the award had been achieved.
Application Format for Dissertation and Starter
Grant:
Cover Page - Include the following information: Title of Research, Name, Social Security Number, University Address, Home Address, Work telephone, Home telephone, Email address, 100-word essay citing how you are prepared (course, mentors, resources) for research on this topic, three references (including director for dissertation research).
The research application shall be limited to 10 pages, excluding supplementary materials (for readability, use type size not less than 11 pt. and normal spacing), and shall include the following:
I. Abstract - 100 words or less
II. Introduction
A. Background of the Study
B. Need for the Study
C. Statement of ObjectivesIII. Review of Literature
IV. Method
A. Research Design
B. Plan of Work
C. Approach to AnalysisIV. Literature citations
V. Supplementary materials--Resume of the researcher and letter of approval of dissertation proposal or institutional approval of faculty research proposal.
I would like to view/print the evaluation form now.
I would like to view/print the application and evaluation form for the course design award now.
Procedures:
The application form shall be filed electronically on or before January 15 to
Three (3) recommendations (from persons that can represent the applicant's scholarship, research, and potential for professional leadership--including director for dissertation research) should be electronically submitted on or before January 15 to the above address.
Recipients will be notified on or before March 15.

Matching
Conclave Scholarships for
Advisers
Dorothy I. Mitstifer Scholarships—$4,000 awarded
biennially for attendance at conclave. Sixteen awards
at $250 will recognize and encourage advisers, strengthen
the chapter network, and promote the mission of Kappa
Omicron Nu. These awards require a matching grant from
other sources.
Purposes: The purposes of this award program
are to recognize and encourage advisers of campus chapters,
to strengthen the chapter network, and to promote the
mission of Kappa Omicron Nu.
Description: Scholarship grants will be awarded for attendance at Conclave.
Eligibility Criteria: For a national grant, an adviser shall
- Be a current active member and adviser of Kappa Omicron Nu (limit: one per chapter).
- Commit to at least a 2-year term as adviser after Conclave.
- Obtain a matching grant from the unit administrator or another campus source (e.g., provosts office, student affairs, alumni association) or a KON alumni chapter or personal funds. (This grant and its match are not guaranteed to fund all expenses of Conclave.)
Procedure: File application in even years. Applications which meet the eligibility criteria will be accepted on a first comefirst serve basis and will be announced immediately. Applications will be accepted until grant money is depleted.
Yes! I meet the above criteria for the Adviser Scholarships. I would like to view/print an application form now

Research/Project
Grants
One or more grants are awarded annually that meet the criteria of the Kappa Omicron Nu research agenda. Cross-specialization and integrative research is the research priority for the honor society. Multi-year proposals will be considered.
Special consideration will be given to research that studies the cultural and religious differences that affect leadership, especially Hispanic, Asian, and Native American. Another topic of interest is the exploration of how minority students "strike out on their own" in career development.
- National Alumni Chapter Grant$1,000
awarded annually as a project of the National Alumni
Chapter.
- New Initiatives Grant$3,000 awarded annually from the Kappa Omicron Nu New Initiatives Fund.
Policies and Procedures:
- The purpose of the Kappa Omicron Nu Research/Project Grant Program is to support the research agenda of Kappa Omicron Nu related to research and development in the human sciences or any of the related specializations. The research approach shall be integrative in nature and shall make connections across specializations to pursue problems or questions.
- Grants of at least $1,000 may be made to individual members or research teams, providing the principal investigator is a current (active) Kappa Omicron Nu member.
- Multi-Year funding may be accomplished by including a multi-year management plan in the initial proposal. To maintain the funding, the grantee must report successful accomplishment of previous objectives by June 1 each year.
- Proposals shall be judged by the criteria listed on Research Project/Grants Evaluation Form.
- Any project approved for funding by Kappa Omicron Nu shall be appropriately identified by using the prescribed format: "Supported in whole or in part by Kappa Omicron Nu.
- The research grant will be dispersed in August at the beginning of the funding year.
- A technical report shall be submitted to Kappa Omicron Nu upon completion of the project.
- Only complete applications that meet the format guidelines (below) will be evaluated. As in conventional evaluation procedures, the reviewers reserve the right to read only the number of pages indicated in the application.
- Grants will be made at the discretion of the Awards Committee.
Proposal Format:
The research/project proposal shall be limited to 10 pages including supplementary materials (for readability, use type size not less than 11 pt. and normal spacing) and shall include the following:
I. Abstract
II. Cross-specialization and integrative research approach
III. Justification or rationale for project
IV. Statement of objectives/hypotheses
V. Narrative
A. Description of project
- Methodology or design
- Subjects or participants
- Implementation plan
- Data collection and analysis
- Implications
B. Management plan
- Staff responsibilities/qualifications
- Time line for activities
VI. Budget (do not include staff salaries, overhead, nor indirect costs in portion funded by Kappa Omicron Nu). The budget can include instrument development, data collection and analysis, and other activities related to the research process.
VII. Literature citations
VIII. Supplementary materials--Condensed resumes of project personnel, Clearance forms, Letters from supporting/cooperating agencies or groups, Letter of support from immediate supervisor
Procedures:
Submit application form and all supporting documents electronically on or before February 15 to Kappa Omicron Nu at the following email address:
Recipients will be notified on or before April 15.
Yes! I meet the above criteria for Research/Project Grants. I would like to view/print an application form now.

Ruth E. Hawthorne Research Grant
This grant program is designed for tenure track assistant professors seeking support for a research/creative activities agenda. This grant program can serve as a seed grant and may be renewed for a second year. This program supports individuals beginning independent research careers in academia who do not have other substantial sources of research dollars. Indirect costs are not provided to the institution. Kappa Omicron Nu membership is required of the applicants (individual membership affiliation is available to those who meet the criteria for membership). This grant will be awarded annually in the amount of $2000. Deadline for the application will be February 15.
Application Format for Seed Grant:
Cover Page - Include the following information: Title of Research, Name, Social Security Number, University Address, Home Address, Work telephone, Home telephone, Email address, 100-word essay citing the rationale for your need of funds and how you are prepared (course, mentors, resources) for research on this topic, and three letters of support (including department chair).
The research application shall be limited to 6 pages, excluding supplementary materials (for readability, use type size not less than 11 pt. and normal spacing), and shall include the following:
I. Abstract - 100 words or less
II. Introduction
A. Background of the Study
B. Need for the Study
C. Statement of ObjectivesIII. Brief review of Literature
IV. Method
A. Research Design
B. Plan of Work
C. Approach to AnalysisIV. Literature citations
V. Budget
VI. Supplementary materials--Resume of the researcher and institutional approval of faculty research proposal.
Submit application form and all supporting documents electronically on or before February 15 to Kappa Omicron Nu at the following email address:
Recipients will be notified on or before April 15.
Yes! I meet the above criteria for Research/Project Grants. I would like to view/print an application form now.

The KON/GEICO LeaderShape Undergraduate Scholarship
Kappa Omicron Nu is pleased to announce that funding from GEICO has made it possible for us to offer TWO $1025 scholarships for The LeaderShape Institute in 2018. This opportunity is available for present undergraduate members who will have at least one more year in the undergraduate program of studies. Recipients will agree to contribute leadership to Kappa Omicron Nu and academic unit activities during the next academic year. Applications will be accepted on a first-come first-serve basis to qualified members. Each recipient will pay travel costs.
Recognized as an "exemplary program" by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, The LeaderShape Institute is an intensive, energizing, six-day educational experience designed to equip young adults to become extraordinary leaders. Each session of The LeaderShape Institute is comprised of approximately 60 participants from diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. The curriculum of The LeaderShape Institute is presented by a group of facilitators who are highly respected in their professions and who serve as excellent role models for students.
Dynamic, challenging, and inspiring, this week is intended to produce a breakthrough in the leadership capacity of participants - benefiting the participants themselves, their respective organizations, and the institutions they serve and will lead in the future. Tuition to attend The LeaderShape Institute is $1,025, which includes lodging and food. Participants will be responsible for paying the travel costs, which are not included in this price and are the responsibility of the participant.
To apply for these scholarships, e-mail the national office at info@kon.org with a short statement of commitment to leadership on campus during the next academic year. Also include a short description of your academic status.
Deadline for application to Kappa Omicron Nu is MARCH 15th. With more than 2000 members nationwide at the appropriate academic rank, the sooner the application the better to become a recipient of this scholarship award. UPON ACCEPTANCE OF THE APPLICATION, KAPPA OMICRON NU WILL PROVIDE THE ELECTRONIC LINK FOR APPLICATION TO LEADERSHAPE.
Kappa Omicron Nu welcomes the opportunity to have members attend The LeaderShape Institute.
Note: There are at least four sessions most years, but availability cannot be guaranteed until the application is made to LeaderShape.

Undergraduate
Research Award - See www.kon.org/urc/undergraduate-research-award
for full details.
Grants will be awarded to eligible Kappa Omicron Nu members for the purpose of recognizing and rewarding students for excellence in undergraduate research. In particular, the award is designed to recognize students who demonstrate both skill and creativity in conducting research and writing the research report. Class papers, independent research papers, and creative projects are eligible for the award. Papers may represent either original research or research based upon secondary sources. We welcome applications from a range of disciplines in the human sciences and using a variety of methodologies (including action research), as long as the research focuses on a significant issue in the human sciences.
Each winner of this award will receive a $300 award, and the faculty mentor will receive a $300 award.
- Application deadline: April 1

National
Grants to Chapters
Variable Scholar Program Grants will be awarded to eligible chapters based on the prior year's total initiates according to the following schedule once each biennium: 1-10, $150; 11-30, $250; 31-50, $350; 51 up, $500. In order to be eligible for this program, each chapter shall file a document describing the criteria for awarding local scholar grants, [MORE INFO].

Other
Awards:
See www.kon.org/awards/major_scholarships.html