Benson Center Undergraduate Fellows Program Scholarship

The Bruce D. Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization is now accepting applications for the Benson Undergraduate Fellowship and the Freytag Fellowship for the 2026-2027 academic year. The aim of these two Fellowships is to foster an active and flourishing intellectual community of undergraduate students at the University of Colorado Boulder dedicated to the Western tradition, exposure to a wide range of political and other views, and critical reflection on the social and philosophical questions of our time. All CU students – including incoming freshmen and transfer students – are welcome to apply for either or both Fellowships regardless of major, personal background, or political perspective. Financial support for the Fellowships is generously provided by the John J. Wehman Scholarship Fund and the Freytag Conservative Thought Endowed Fund.

The Benson Center Undergraduate Fellows Program Scholarship is provided by the Bruce D. Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization and the University of Colorado Boulder.

  • The Benson Undergraduate Fellowship is designed primarily (but not exclusively) for upperclassmen who have previously been awarded either a Benson Undergraduate Fellowship or a Freytag First-year Fellowship.
  1. Requirements: Benson Undergraduate Fellows will be expected to enroll in at least one CWCV or other approved course over the course of the 2026-27 academic year. They will be expected to attend at least 12 approved Benson Center events in person over the course of the academic year, to participate in a monthly reading group, to participate in one Benson service activity per semester, and to participate in the Flourishing Project – a unique opportunity for Fellows to identify and cultivate personal habits conducive to their flourishing and discuss these habits with each other and Benson Center-affiliated faculty members.
  1. Scholarship: Benson Undergraduate Fellows will receive a $3,200 scholarship over the course of the 2026-27 academic year, with $1,600 awarded in the fall semester and $1,600 awarded in the spring semester (conditional on completion of fall Fellowship requirements). They will also be given priority for a variety of opportunities offered by the Benson Center, including student grants and financial support for CU in DC internships.
  • The Freytag Fellowship is designed primarily (but not exclusively) for incoming students and underclassmen who are new to CU and interested in the Benson Center’s intellectual life and community.
  1. Requirements: Freytag Fellows will be expected to enroll in at least one CWCV or other approved course over the course of the 2026-27 academic year. They will also be expected to attend at least 10 approved Benson Center events in person over the course of the academic year and to participate in the Flourishing Project – a unique opportunity for Fellows to identify and cultivate personal habits conducive to their flourishing.
#Scholarship: Freytag Fellows will receive a $1,600 scholarship over the course of the 2026-27 academic year, with $800 awarded in the fall semester and $800 awarded in the spring semester (conditional on completion of fall Fellowship requirements). They will also be given priority for a variety of opportunities offered by the Benson Center, including student grants and financial support for CU in DC internships.

Though all applicants are welcome to apply to both Fellowships, no applicant will be accepted to both Fellowships simultaneously. Please indicate below the Fellowship for which you are applying, including your ranked preference to participate in either the Benson Undergraduate Fellowship or a Freytag Fellow program.

Applicants should be gifted and intellectually curious CU students who are both passionate about the Benson Center’s dual mission of promoting intellectual diversity and the study of Western Civilization at CU, and eager to grow both intellectually and personally through their participation in either the Benson Undergraduate Fellowship or the Freytag Fellowship. They should be able not only to complete all formal Fellowship requirements but also to maintain high standards of personal and academic integrity, and to serve as the Benson Center’s student ambassadors on campus.

Fellowships are renewable, but current Fellows must reapply for either or both Fellowships every year. Applications for one-semester ($1,600) Benson Undergraduate Fellowship or ($800) Freytag Fellowship will be considered, though preference may be given to applicants able to participate in a Fellowship for the entire academic year. Preference will also be given to applicants who are previous or current Fellows in good standing. Applicants who will not be enrolled at CU for at least part of the 2026-27 academic year will not be considered. Official acceptance may be conditional on verification of applicants’ high school transcripts and application materials.

If you are interested in applying for the Benson Undergraduate Fellowship and/or the Freytag Fellowship, please do so by the posted deadline (March 15, 2026). If you have any questions about either Fellowship or the Benson Center in general, please contact us at bensoncenter@colorado.edu.

This scholarship is open to qualified CU Boulder applicants and does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, religion, veteran status, marital status, political affiliation, political philosophy, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression in accordance with state, federal, and Regent law.

Award
1,600 - 3200
Schools, Colleges, Departments
College of Arts & Sciences, Transfer
Deadline
03/15/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. In 300 words or less, name a book from the Western tradition written before 1945 that has influenced the way you think or live and - without simply summarizing the book - explain how and why it has influenced you. (Note: we reserve the right to reject applications for suspected AI use.)
  2. Please identify a recent event sponsored by the Benson Center of interest to you and record a 3 - 5 minute video reflection explaining why you found it interesting. Videos can be uploaded to Google Drive, YouTube, Vimo (or other video platform) and the link to the video should be placed in this question box. Please be sure video privacy settings are such that reviewers can access the video. (To upload a link to your video reflection, please follow the instructions on the FAQ if needed here: https://www.colorado.edu/center/benson/student-resources/undergraduate-fellows-program)
  3. Please indicate whether you are applying to (1) the Benson Undergraduate Fellowship, (2) the Freytag Fellowship, or (3) both.
    • If you listed both, please select the program you are most interested in participating in below.
    • Indicate which program you are applying to.
  4. [Optional] If applicable, please enter your SAT scores (including both your composite score and your individual section scores) and/or your ACT scores (including both your composite score and your individual section scores).
  5. [Optional] Please enter your cumulative high school GPA and (if available) high school class rank and high school class size. If applicable, please also enter your cumulative college GPA (including your cumulative major GPA if available).
  6. Briefly describe how you found out about the Benson Undergraduate Fellowship.
  7. If applicable, briefly describe any previous experience you have with the Benson Center (e.g., attendance at Benson Center events or enrollment in CWCV courses).
  8. If applicable, briefly describe any coursework, extracurricular activities, honors, or other experiences of yours which may be especially relevant to your potential as a Benson Undergraduate Fellow.
  9. If applicable, briefly describe any anticipated potential obstacles to your completing the requirements of the Benson Undergraduate Fellowship (e.g., plans to study abroad). (Note that you are still encouraged to apply to the Fellowship even if you anticipate such obstacles, though preference may be given to applicants most likely to be able to complete all Fellowship requirements.) In particular, please indicate whether you are interested in participating in the Fellowship for ONLY one semester of the 2026-2027 academic year.
  10. Please include a brief letter of recommendation (of 200 words or less) in your application. The letter should be written by a current or former instructor of yours. For applicants who have completed two or more semesters of college, greater weight will be placed on letters of recommendation written by college instructors.
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