Mark Chapman Scholars Program

The Mark Chapman Scholars Program helps promising Arts and Sciences students fund meaningful summer projects or activities early in their undergraduate careers. It also provides complementary scholarship funding for the following academic year.

Mark Chapman created this program in 2008 when he recognized that, although students can often identify exciting possibilities for personal and professional growth, finding the funding for these opportunities is often a challenge, particularly after the first or second year of college. The Chapman Scholars program remedies this by providing five awards of $5,000 each year: $3,000 to fund a proposed summer activity and $1,000 per semester in the following academic year. It also requires a reflective writing component in order to help students better understand and articulate the value of their experiences.

"I wanted to help students develop their exceptional skills, super-charge their careers, and bring prestige to Kansas State." - Mark Chapman

The Chapman Scholars Program has helped many students add value to their college education since its inception, and we are very proud of our Chapman Scholar alumni. As just one example, Mark Sowers used his Chapman scholarship to fund wildlife research in Kenya during the summer of 2009. He was then able to return to Kenya in 2012 on a Fulbright grant.

In fact, along with several other national awards, we have seen six Chapman Scholars go on to win prestigious U.S. Student Fulbright grants, and multiple alums have been accepted to top graduate or professional schools.

Students from all backgrounds and eligible majors are encouraged to apply. Summer project proposals may vary considerably. We invite creative and original proposals. Possibilities include but are not limited to:

Research projects
International experiences
Unpaid or minimally paid internships
Entrepreneurial ideas pertinent to your goals
Community service or volunteer projects
Special coursework outside your K-State curriculum

Past project examples

English major volunteers for an inner city literacy program in Chicago
Biology major conducts coral reef research along the Honduran coast
Anthropology major participates in an archaeological dig in Eastern Kansas
Art major interns with an art gallery
Political Science major pursues intensive study of Arabic in Morocco
Geology major conducts volcanic research on campus and in Idaho
Advertising major studies Spanish and explores advertising strategies in Argentina

Eligibility

Eligible students must be:

Pursuing a degree track within the College of Arts and Sciences
Currently in first or second year in college
Currently enrolled in 12 or more credit hours
3.2 or higher GPA

Please contact Beth Powers at sdur@k-state.edu if you have questions about the application or program.

How to apply

Download the Mark Chapman scholarship application (pdf). For the 2025 award cycle, please submit your application by March 3, 2025. Applicants are asked to provide:

Signed “Expectations” form (page two of the application)
Resumé that includes the names of two references
Essay detailing your proposed summer project and how it will support your future goals
List of courses you plan to take the next fall semester and how they relate to your goals
An OFFICIAL K-State transcript.