Pilar V. Rotella and Salvatore G. Rotella Endowed Scholarship

The Rotella Family has always been heavily invested in education, pursuing it individually and endorsing it collectively. Pilar Rotella, Ph.D., professor emerita, and her late husband, Salvatore Rotella, Ph.D., were both immigrants to the U.S. and achieved much academically and professionally. The Rotellas firmly believe that everybody should have the opportunity to benefit from higher education, which greatly increases the possibility of gainful employment and contributes to leading a richer, fuller life. It is that belief that has inspired Dr. Pilar Rotella to create a scholarship fund geared to those with fewer opportunities and limited financial resources to pursue a college education.

Scholarship Criteria

1. Candidate(s) must be full-time, degree-seeking, undergraduate student(s) at the University, who are majoring or minoring in a Language and Literature Department discipline.
2. Candidate(s) must be in good academic standing (as measured by a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale) at the time the candidate applies for the scholarship.
3. Candidate(s) must have demonstrated financial need, as determined by the Office of Financial Aid.

Selection Process

The process for the selection of scholarship award recipients is as follows:

1. The selection of recipient(s) will be made under the guidance and direction of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Education or his/her successor.
2. More than one scholarship award may be granted in a single year.
3. Scholarship awards will be distributed for one academic year and can be renewable for recipients in a subsequent academic year as long as the "Scholarship Criteria" is still met.
4. In the event an award recipient, prior to receiving a scholarship disbursement, withdraws from the University or is no longer qualified under the "Scholarship Criteria" outlined in this Agreement then the funds allocated for the scholarship may be granted to another qualified student.

*Students applying for financial aid are automatically considered for these funds. Selection is based on a student’s match with a donor’s criteria. There is no separate application process.