Mike Denning Endowed Scholarship

The Mike Denning Endowed Scholarship supports students in the Economics Department within the College of Arts and Letters who demonstrate exceptional academic resilience and a sustained commitment to excellence while managing significant personal and professional responsibilities. It provides financial assistance to high-achieving scholars who contribute diverse perspectives to the academic community as they navigate the demands of higher education, pursue rigorous coursework, engage in research or service, and maintain a strong GPA while balancing commitments such as employment, family caregiving, or community leadership.

If you do not meet all of these requirements in a given term, you may lose your scholarship eligibility and your scholarship may be canceled.

Requirements:

  • Recipients must be an undergraduate student pursuing a degree in the Department of Economics.
  • Recipients must be enrolled full-time.
  • Recipients must have a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.3 out of 4.00, or the arithmetic equivalent.
  • Recipients must demonstrate an active engagement by meeting at least one of the following:
    o Self-identify as an active participant in a recognized student organization;
    o Participate in non-profit, community service, or volunteer work on or off campus; or
    o Work at least 20 hours per week.
  • Recipients must have financial need, as determined by the SDSU Financial Aid Office.
  • Applicants must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the California Dream Act by the scholarship opportunity’s deadline for financial need to be determined.

Award
To be determined by the scholarship committee.
Deadline
09/04/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. Please answer the following prompt: A hallmark of academic tenacity is sustained effort under pressure. Identify one specific academic decision you made in the past year that required significant added effort (e.g., enrolling in a demanding course while managing work or family responsibilities). In your response, include the following:
    o Name the course, role, or responsibility involved
    o Describe the personal or academic challenge you were facing at the time
    o Explain the concrete actions you took beyond what was required
    o Discuss one setback or trade-off you experienced
    o Reflect on a measurable outcome (grade change, skill gained, leadership impact)
    o Finally, explain how this experience has directly shaped how you plan to approach challenges after graduation.