The Tsuya – Stephens Endowed Veteran Scholarship

SCHOLARSHIP PURPOSE
Students that are veterans or currently enlisted service members face many different and significant challenges that can create obstacles while working towards achieving one’s academic goals. To help these motivated students, The Tsuya-Stephens Family established an Endowed Veteran Scholarship to recognize veterans and currently enlisted service members that are goal oriented toward their academics and making contributions to the campus or community. The Tsuya-Stephens Family, who are also veterans/military connected, also recognize the financial struggles and promote this scholarship to help manage life’s expenses. The Tsuya-Stephens Family and the VSC strive to encourage our veterans and currently enlisted service members and to show support as these students strive to reach their goals of academic success and graduation.

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
The Tsuya-Stephens Endowed Veteran Scholarship is for students who are honorably discharged veterans or enlisted service members in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Reserves and National Guard. The scholarship for the 2026 spring semester will award one scholarship (1) to a student who meets the listed requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

• Eligible students will be those who are veterans who were honorably discharged or currently enlisted service members in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the Reserves and National Guard.
• Individuals attending the U as part of an active duty education program are ineligible.
• Undergraduate student veterans, active duty, Reservists, or National Guard must have earned a minimum of 30 credit hours at the University of Utah by the end of the 2025 Fall Semester and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater earned at the University of Utah.

Many students who are selected to receive a University scholarship after May 12, 2015 are required by state law to certify under penalty of perjury that they are eligible to receive the scholarship as a U.S. citizen or a citizen of another country who is lawfully present within the United States. Students who have both graduated from a recognized Utah high school and who are awarded a scholarship funded by a private donor are not required to certify their lawful presence before receiving a privately funded scholarship. (This scholarship is a privately funded scholarship.)

VSC DEFINITION OF A STUDENT VETERAN
A collective term for any student who served or serves in the U.S. Armed Forces, regardless of location, duration, branch, or component and who has not been dishonorably discharged.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The recipients of scholarships will be required to compose a “Thank You” note to the Tsuya-Stephens family immediately following the awarding of this scholarship. Recipients are encouraged to attend a scholarship celebration lunch in April 2026.

Applications must be received no later than 11:59 PM MST on December 01, 2025

Documentation of military/veteran status will be required.

SCHOLARSHIP CONTACTS

Fa’a Taupa’u, Director, Veterans Support Center, ftaupau@sa.utah.edu
Angela Brink, Office Manager, Veterans Support Center, abrink@sa.utah.edu

Veterans Support Center 801/587-7722

POST ACCEPTANCE INFORMATION
Those who are awarded any of our scholarships, must be committed to completing the items listed below:
• Write a Thank you note to the scholarship donors
• Provide a picture for use in fundraising materials and donor reporting

OPTIONAL
• We encourage all students to provide the personally-identifiable information (PII) student consent form to use any portion of your essays in university materials

Our Policy Regarding the Use of AI
Do not use AI to respond to essay questions in this application. We want to hear your unique voice and learn about your particular experiences and perspective. Responses generated by AI lack specificity and detail, important nuance, and sound generic. AI-generated responses may disqualify your application. If you are concerned about your writing skills, the University Writing Center is an excellent resource: https://writingcenter.utah.edu/.

ESSAYS

Explain in an essay (500 words minimum – 1000 words maximum) why you should be considered for the scholarship. Your narrative should include an explanation of financial need and describe the merit of your academic accomplishments and/or contributions to the campus or community.

Optional: You may provide additional information which you feel is relevant for consideration of this scholarship (500-word limit).