English Language Institute

For students who attend the ELI for more than one semester, the ELI has instituted two tuition-free scholarships. Each semester, two C semester students attending the ELI will receive one scholarship each. The scholarship award is applicable for the following term and represents in value the equivalent of that term’s tuition cost. In effect, a selected student can attend the ELI two terms for the cost of the tuition of one term.

The names of all scholarship recipients are permanently displayed on a plaque in the main office of the ELI and on this website as well. During the semester of the award, the names of the scholars appear on a special plaque along with their photographs.

The Jayne C. Harder Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship, named after Dr. Jayne Crane Harder, the ELI’s founding director, has been supporting students since 1990.

The J.C. Casagrande Peace Scholarship

The second scholarship, named after our institute’s longest serving director, Dr. Jean Casagrande, was inaugurated to celebrate international peace. It was established after the events of September 11, 2001, and the solidarity that was expressed by friends from the world over. It recognizes all ELI students, past and present, as peacemakers. It also underscores their building of community among themselves and with local residents, serving the Gainesville community as volunteers, maintaining high academic and ethical standards in all activities of the ELI, and promoting international understanding, goodwill, and peace among all people.

The Dr. Valentina Komaniecka Memorial Scholarship

Dr. Komaniecka was a proponent of international cooperation and collaboration throughout her career, beginning as an exchange student in Quito, Ecuador, continuing in positions as an international student advisor, and finally as an administrator and instructor at the UF English Language Institute. The initiation of this student achievement scholarship of 500 dollars honors Valentina’s strong personal interest in international educational outreach.

THE MINIMUM CRITERIA TO BE NOMINATED FOR SCHOLARSHIPS:

1. The student studies full-time at the ELI.
2. Academic Excellence: The student has a GPA of 4.0 at midterm.
3. Outstanding Progress: The student displays outstanding progress in language skills as evidenced by coursework.
4. Excellent Attendance and Participation: The student regularly participates in and attends ELI classes.
5. Practices English: The student makes every effort to practice English while at the ELI, in class, and at ELI-sponsored activities.

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS WILL ALSO DEMONSTRATE THE FOLLOWING:

Successful Academic Work Strategies

• Scholarship nominees should demonstrate a strong motivation and passion for learning both inside and outside of the classroom. This may be demonstrated by their personal study habits, leading study groups, or seeking out learning opportunities beyond what is required.
• Scholarship nominees should be classroom leaders who show compassion toward and cooperation with classmates, language assistants, teachers, and ELI staff.

Intercultural Understanding/Relationships

• Scholarship nominees should participate in and facilitate cultural exchange. Examples of cultural exchange can include participation in CIP activities, teaching others about one’s culture, being an active learner about other cultures, and promoting intercultural friendship and engagement
• Scholarship nominees should engage in active, intentional, collaborative, ongoing learning outside of the ELI. This may be demonstrated through student employment, volunteering, joining campus or community organizations, serving as a Conversation Partner, or other experiential extracurricular activities.

These criteria are based on ELI Mission, Vision, And Values Statements.

Selection Process

1. At the middle of the semester, instructors nominate students whom they feel meet the above criteria. Students cannot nominate themselves. All three of the student’s instructors must support the nomination and write a letter of support.
2. At the end of the semester, the scholarship committee interviews the nominees and selects the two winners based on the scholarship criteria, the interview, and the nomination letter from the instructors.  The committee may consist of the director, associate director, an assigned faculty administrator, a CIP representative, and a faculty member.
3. The nominees and the recipients of the two scholarships are informed of the scholarship committee’s decision two or three weeks before the end of the semester. The scholarship recipients must notify the ELI of their decision to use the scholarship during the final week of the semester.  The scholarship nominees and recipients are recognized and celebrated at the commencement ceremony. The two recipients must use their award the following C semester. Award semesters cannot be delayed; recipients are expected to remain model students and must speak at commencement at the end of their award semester.