Awards
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Paredes Award
A world-renowned scholar of folklore and the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands, Américo Paredes established an intellectual and institutional legacy that endures to this day. A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, Professor Paredes was instrumental in the founding of the Center for Mexican American Studies (CMAS) and served as its first director. The Américo Paredes Endowed Award was established to honor his lasting impact on students and the academy.
Each year continuing students (graduate and undergraduate) in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies (MALS) with demonstrated commitments to research and/or social justice may apply for this award.
Award amounts vary based on need and available funds. All awards will be made on a one-time basis and cannot be renewed. Furthermore, these awards are considered part of a student’s financial aid package and must be reported to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
Eligibility
Awards will be made to students who are registered as full-time students and either majoring in MALS, or enrolled in the PhD Program or Graduate Portfolio Program in MALS. Applicants must be making significant progress toward their degree. Previous winners are not eligible.
Application Process
To apply, complete the application form and upload a Letter of Application (2-page maximum) that explains the following:
- Outline your demonstrated commitment to research and/or social justice, specifically in relation to Latino Studies and/or the U.S.-Mexico borderlands
- Outline the circumstances that merit financial assistance
The application deadline is Monday, December 2, 2024 at 5:00pm.
Professional Development Award
The Department of Mexican American and Latina/o Studies (MALS) offers financial assistance designed to help current undergraduate and graduate students at The University of Texas at Austin complete their studies and go on to successful professional careers. This financial assistance was established by former UT President Bill Powers and his commitment to the students, faculty, staff, and community that MALS serves
The MALS Student Professional Development Award is intended to support the professional development of enrolled undergraduate and graduate students at UT Austin. Recipients must demonstrate superior qualifications and be completing a program of work consistent with the scholarly aims of the Department of Mexican American and Latina/o Studies. The award requires that recipients must either be majoring in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies, enrolled in the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies or the Graduate Portfolio Program in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies.
Ideally, the award is be applied directly toward the travel costs for a student to attend a major professional meeting to present an original paper or to travel to a research site in the continental United States to conduct research in support of a thesis or dissertation project.
The maximum amount for a MALS Student Professional Development Award is $500.
How to Apply
- Complete the online application;
- Upload a cover letter that describes the benefit that this award will provide your research and its relation to MALS;
- Upload verification of your research-related activity. This document can be a copy of your correspondence with the research site, a confirmation of registration or acceptance to a conference, etc.
- In order for your application to be considered complete, we must receive an email or letter from the student's academic advisor or coordinator in their home department stating that they will NOT be receiving departmental assistance for this same research-related activity. This email should be sent directly to Luis Guevara at lvg@austin.utexas.edu.
Deadline
All application materials, including confirmation from your home department, must be received at least 30 days prior to the intended use by the student.
Questions?
Questions regarding the Paredes Endowed Scholarship can be directed to Luis Guevara lvg@austin.utexas.edu.