Applications

Applications and Renewals for the 2025-26 academic year have closed.

Eligibility for the Wendt Character Scholarship Program

Applications are evaluated based on good academic and behavioral standing, service experience, and overall fit with the program. If you are selected, you must commit to full participation in required co-curricular programming throughout the academic year to be accepted as a Wendt Character Scholar and receive the $3,500 scholarship.

The Wendt Character Scholarship is awarded on an annual basis and is renewable up to two times, for a total of three years of participation in the program. We encourage all incoming and current undergraduate students who wish to be a Character Scholar to apply.

Learn more about the Wendt Character Scholars Program here. If you have any questions, please contact us at 563.589.3440 or Wendt@dbq.edu.

See Guidelines for New Applicants to the Character Scholars Program
See Guidelines for Renewing Character Scholars
See Guidelines for Third-Year Character Scholars Applying to Be Character Ambassadors

Guidelines for New Applicants to the Wendt Character Scholars Program

Criteria for Selection

Selections are based on the following criteria:

Acceptance as a full-time undergraduate student at the University of Dubuque for the coming academic year.
High school and/or college transcripts that demonstrate your ability to balance academics and co-curricular engagement.
Video and written essay question responses that reflect character and virtue commitments.
Past experience serving a community, i.e. school, hometown, church, or university, etc.
Your potential for personal and leadership development.

Expected Commitments if Accepted into Scholars Program

Each selected student for the Character Scholars Program must commit to participate in the year-long co-curricular programming, which entails the following:

Meet each assigned Monday evening during the fall and spring semester from 6:00 - 7:45 p.m. and other times as is designated.
Complete weekly assignments in a timely fashion.
Participate in a minimum of 15 hours of service per semester.
Participate in Wendt-sponsored academic and social events during the academic year (e.g. Wendt Character Lectures).
Bring a lively interest and a willingness to engage in the exploration of what it means to pursue lives of purpose and excellent moral character.
Maintain academic good standing of 2.5 GPA or better, and good standing in the Office of Student Life.
Commit to staying in touch after graduation to let us know the impact of the program.

Overview of the Application for the Character Scholars Program

What you will need in order to complete the application:

Your contact information, student information, and demographic information
A list of your activities and interests
The URL for your 2-minute video essay (see below), which you will have posted as "Unlisted" on YouTube.
Three written essays of approx. 250 words each (see below)
Two references (non-family members) and their email address and phone number so we can contact them.

Some advice for a positive submission experience:

Use a browser other than Safari when you fill out your application form.
Prepare your 2-minute video essay and written essays (and save them on your own device) before you fill out the application to avoid the platform timing out and losing your work while you are preparing those.
Read our instructions for preparing the video essay and posting it as an "Unlisted" video on YouTube.
Ahead of filling out this application, talk to your two references (non-family members) and get their email address and phone number. It's a good idea to ask their permission first and let them know we might reach out, but don't panic if we don't.

Application Essay Questions

1. 2-Minute Video Essay on Your Motivations

Why do you want to be a Wendt Character Scholar?

Helpful Guide:

Use the following questions to help shape your response. You don't need to answer each one directly, but consider them as you reflect on your reasons for applying for this scholarship program:

Share what value you place in service, creating community, and finding your own place in this world.
What sort of growth do you hope to see in yourself through participation in this program?
What can you share that might be unique about your own situation, gifts, strengths, that would add to the varied experiences represented among the Character Scholars?
How might this help you impact your future?

Click here for instructions on preparing your video essay.

2. Written Essay on Strengthening Community

What is the value of community? How do you contribute to creating a stronger and more welcoming community, in your school, neighborhood, or on campus?

Helpful Guide:

Use the following questions to help shape your response. You don't need to answer each one directly, but consider them as you reflect on how you strengthen your community:

How have you fostered connections and unity within your community?
In what ways have you helped others feel welcome, supported, and valued?
Have you worked to encourage collaboration among different groups?
Provide specific examples of leadership roles, group projects, or personal interactions where you helped strengthen your community.

3. Written Essay Question on Servant Leadership

Describe a time when you participated in community service. How did this experience influence your view of helping others and being a servant leader?

Helpful Guide:

Use the following questions to help shape your response. You don't need to answer each one directly, but consider them as you reflect on your experience with servant leadership:

What community service or volunteer project were you involved in, and how did you take a leadership role?
What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
How did this experience shape your view of leadership and serving others?
What did you learn about yourself and the kind of servant leader you aim to be?

4. Written Essay Question on Supporting Flourishing

The Wendt Center seeks to support flourishing of students and the broader community, with special emphasis on character growth, the search for purpose and vocation, and social and emotional development. How do you see yourself benefiting from and contributing to this effort?

Helpful Guide:

Use the following questions to help shape your response. You don't need to answer each one directly, but consider them as you reflect on vocation:

What vocation are you called to? How would growing in your sense of purpose help with this calling?
How are you growing in your social and emotional development currently? How might being part of the Wendt Scholars program help you to expand your development in this area?
How is your character contributing to your interactions in the world and the kind of impact you want to make? (I.e., how do virtues such as compassion, integrity, empathy, civility inform your life?)
How could being a Wendt Scholar help you develop the character, skills, sense of purpose, and overall balanced wellbeing needed to pursue your vocation?

Guidelines for Renewing Character Scholars

(Current 1st and 2nd Year Character Scholars)

If you are currently a Wendt Character Scholar who will return to UD for the full 2025-26 academic year, we encourage you to apply for renewal by completing the renewal feedback form. You can participate up to three years in the Wendt Character Scholars program.

Renewals are evaluated based on good academic and behavioral standing and your completion of responsibilities from the past year. You must be willing to commit to another full year in the program in order to be considered for renewal. After your renewal has been approved, you'll sign your commitment for the next year. Click here for a reminder of what this commitment entails.

Guidelines for Applying to Become a Character Ambassador

(Current 3rd Year Character Scholars)

After your third year in the Wendt Character Scholars program, you are eligible to be placed in the Wendt Character Ambassadors program. This fourth-year experience is in a pilot program stage and will be awarded as finances are available. It will entail a different experience from the first three years in the Scholars Program, as Ambassadors put into practice what they have learned about character during their time as Scholars and share it with the rest of campus.

Each student selected to be a Character Ambassador must commit to participating in the year-long co-curricular programming, which entails the following:

Meet on select Monday evenings and facilitate small group reflection time with Wendt Character Initiates during the fall semester from 6:00 - 7:45 p.m.
Attend meetings and trainings to prepare for work with Wendt Character Initiates.
Lead seminars/workshops with campus as designated.
Lead World View Seminar I and Wolter Woods experiential learning sessions as designated.
Serve on student advisory board for the Wendt Character Initiative.
Participate in Wendt-sponsored academic and social events during the academic year (e.g. Wendt Character Lectures).
Take part in other opportunities as arranged.
Bring a lively interest and a willingness to engage in the exploration of what it means to pursue lives of purpose and excellent moral character.
Maintain academic good standing of 2.5 GPA or better, and good standing in the Office of Student Life.
Commit to staying in touch after graduation to let us know the impact of the program.