San Juan College Honors Program

San Juan College Distinguished Scholar: Students who complete a minimum of 12 hours of Honors courses with no grade less than a 3.0 or lower than a "B" in an Honors course, and a cumulative grade point average of no less than a 3.25 and an overall grade point average of no less than a 3.25, will graduate as a San Juan College Distinguished Scholar.

Distinguished Scholars receive special recognition at graduation, and their status as an Honors graduate is recorded on their permanent transcript.

These students will receive a personally engraved graduation medal, be recognized at Graduation, and have their status as a Distinguished Scholar recorded on their permanent transcript.

Honors Service Learning Award:  Honors graduates who have successfully completed the above requirements with 12 hours in Honors Service Learning Courses (HSLC) will, in addition to the above awards, receive an Honor Service Learning graduation stole and will have this distinction recorded on their permanent transcript.   

The annual Merrion Scholar Awards are the result of the generosity of the Merrion Oil & Gas Foundation. 

In addition to Graduation Honors, each year at the Honors Forum and Reception, students will be recognized in the following categories.

Merrion Scholar of the Year: One outstanding student will be recognized based on a ranking of:

1.  The number of Honors hours completed
2.  Honors GPA
3.  Overall GPA

This student will have their name permanently engraved on the Merrion Scholar of the Year Plaque in the Learning Commons Lounge, receive a check for $500, and a personalized engraved plaque.

Merrion Master Scholar: Students who complete a minimum of 18 hours of Honors courses with no grade lower than a “B” with a minimum and overall Grade Point Average of at least a 3.60 in those courses.

These students will receive a Merrion Master Scholar Certificate, have their name permanently engraved on the Merrion Master Scholar Plaque in the Learning Commons Lounge, and receive a check for $300.

Merrion Distinguished Graduate: Students who complete a minimum of 12 hours of Honors courses with no grade lower than a “B” with a minimum and overall Grade Point Average of 3.25 (in those courses) and an overall GPA of at least a 3.25.

These students will receive a Merrion Distinguished Graduate Certificate and receive a check for $200.

Merrion Service Learning Student of the Year: One outstanding student will be recognized based on a ranking of: the number of Honors Service Learning hours completed and Honors and overall G.P.A.

This student will have their name permanently engraved on the Merrion Service Learning Student of the Year Plaque in the Learning Commons Lounge, receive a check for $400, and a personalized engraved plaque.

Cottey College, in Nevada, Missouri, will offer San Juan College Honors students academic scholarships based on their transfer GPA.

• Basic Scholars, with a 3.2 GPA or higher, are eligible for our Transfer 2 scholarship, at $7,500 annually.
• Master Scholars, with a 3.6 GPA or higher, are eligible for our Transfer 1 scholarship, at $10,000 annually.
• In addition, students transferring from San Juan College’s Honors Program will receive an additional $1,000 scholarship a year.

Cottey College is dedicated to providing world-class educational opportunities to women across the world. Explore Cottey College  For questions, email Stephanie in Enrollment at sgrgurich@cottey.edu

Please note that Cottey is the college of the P.E. O., the Philanthropic Educational Organization, which has three local chapters in San Juan County which are working on developing additional scholarship opportunities for SJC Honors graduates.

At Fort Lewis College, small class sizes, engaged faculty, and unparalleled research opportunities provide an education to live by in a spectacular setting, miles from the mainstream. While our top five programs are Business Administration, Health Sciences, Psychology, Engineering, and Biology, our students also focus on regionally amplified subjects, like Environmental Studies and Anthropology, that emphasize the Southwestern United States’ unique location and resources. Thanks to the grit and grime of real-world experience, hands-on learning service, and practical inquiry, our graduates roll into their futures with toolboxes full of skills, each honed for not only making a living but feeling empowered to live life to the fullest.

We are proud of your academic journey so far as a San Juan College Honors graduate and have confidence in your ability to also find success at Fort Lewis College. In recognition of your accomplishments, we’re extending you four special scholarship invitations:

1. New Mexico Reciprocal (NMR) Scholarship: The NMR Scholarship provides in-state tuition for eligible students from New Mexico with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. Learn more about the NMR Scholarship. 
2. San Juan College Reciprocal (SJCR) Scholarship: The SJCR Scholarship allows SJC associate degree graduates in the arts or sciences with a CGPA between 2.75-2.95 to receive in-state tuition at FLC. Recipients must complete 30 credits by the end of the academic year with a minimum CGPA of 2.0 to retain the award. Learn more about the SJCR Scholarship. 
3. Native American Tuition Waiver (NATW): The NATW provides tuition-free enrollment to FLC for members of U.S. federally recognized tribes and nations. FLC is one of only two four-year public colleges nationwide to offer this benefit. Representing 170 Native American tribes and Alaska Native villages, more than a third of our student body, have utilized this full-tuition waiver to earn their college degrees. Please note that students may not be awarded both the New Mexico Reciprocal Award and the Native American Tuition Waiver. Learn more about the Native American Tuition Waiver. 
4. SJC Honors Scholarship: The SJC Honors Scholarship awards $1,000 to be used toward the first year at FLC. This scholarship is open to any SJC student graduating from the Honors program with a 3.25 CGPA or higher and can be received in combination with any other scholarship.

To apply to Fort Lewis College’s special scholarship programs for San Juan College Honors students and graduates, please contact Dr. Bramhall at bramhalld@colgood.com. To learn more about transferring to Fort Lewis College, please contact Katie Nester at nester_k@fortlewis.edu.

San Juan College Honors Graduates who transfer to New Mexico Highlands University will receive preference for one of the following three scholarships:

• Dean’s Transfer Scholarship: $1,000 ($500 per semester) - Eligibility: 3.0 – 3.49 cumulative GPA per college transcript
• Legislative Endowment Scholarship: $1,000 ($500 per semester) - Eligibility: NM resident with 3.0 cumulative GPA per college transcript
• Presidential Transfer Scholarship: $1,500 ($750 per semester) - Eligibility: 3.5 or better cumulative GPA per college transcript.

Each of these scholarships is renewable for up to an additional 6 semesters based on credits transferred and are subject to completion of 15 credits and a 3.0 GPA per semester at NMHU. Recipients may transfer to the main NMHU campus in Las Vegas or Highlands University Farmington Center. The NMHU application fee will be waived for SJC Honors Graduates. For specific questions regarding NMHU, Please contact New Mexico Highlands University Farmington Center: 505-566-3552.

Honors Graduates from San Juan College who transfer to New Mexico State University with 30 - 90 transferable credits receive preference in the awarding of our competitive transfer scholarships. NMSU offers four major transfer scholarships. These include:

• Hadley Honors Transfer Scholarship: $3,000 per year for students with a 3.75 - 4.0 cumulative GPA
• 1888 Leadership Transfer Scholarship: $2,500 per year for students with a 3.50 - 3.74 cumulative GPA
• ‘A’ Mountain Merit Transfer Scholarship: $2,000 per year for students with a 3.25 - 3.49 cumulative GPA
• Pete’s Opportunity Transfer Scholarship: $1,500 per year for students with a 3.00 - 3.24 cumulative GPA

In addition to our major scholarships, there is a scholarship specifically dedicated for Phi Theta Kappa members. The PTK scholarship is $500 per year for certified PTK members with a GPA of 3.5 or above. Eligible PTK members are able to receive the PTK scholarship in addition to a major scholarship they may receive. All scholarships are renewable for an additional year, and students are required to take and complete 15 credits per semester and meet the renewal GPA requirement. For more information please visit New Mexico State University, or email us at transfer@nmsu.edu. 

New Mexico Tech (NMT) will pilot a select number of targeted scholarships for SJC students who choose to attend NMT. SJC's Honors Program Coordinator may nominate:

• • their Merrion Scholar of the Year to receive a NMT Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship:
    • Award: $6,000 per year, renewable, for a total 3 years (excluding summer semesters)
  • two (2) SJC students who completed SJC’s Merrion Master Scholar program for a NMT Regents Scholarship:
    • Award: $5,000 per year, renewable, for a total 3 years (excluding summer semesters)
  • two (2) SJC students who completed SJC’s Merrion Distinguished Graduate program for a NMT Transfer Excel Scholarship:
    • Award: $4,000 per year, renewable, for a total 3 years (excluding summer semesters)

As part of this pilot program, SJC's Honor Program Coordinator may nominate qualified SJC students who plan to transfer to NMT for the Spring 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 semester upon completion of their requirements at SJC.  Nominations for Fall Admission are due annually on April 1 while nominations for Spring Admission are due annually on November 1. 

Note: additional merit scholarships are available for SJC students transferring to NMT.  For more information, please visit: http://www.nmt.edu/finaid/transfer.php.

Prescott College, nestled in the high plateaus of central Arizona, specializes in personalized, experiential education in the liberal arts. Campus acts as a base camp as students in every class in every program head out into the field for hands-on learning. Prescott College graduates leave as changemakers, equipped to have an immediate impact on the issues that matter to them and their communities. www.prescott.edu

The SJC Honors Scholarship awards $1,000 to be used toward the first year at Prescott College’s on-campus program. This scholarship is open to any SJC student graduating from the Honors program with a 3.25 CGPA or higher, and can be received in combination with any other scholarship.

Southwest Minnesota State University is a four-year public university located in Marshall, Minnesota. We offer a high-quality education in the liberal arts and professions to prepare you for a life that is successful both personally and professionally. Strong academics, fulfilling social activities, rewarding civic engagement projects, and support from fellow Mustangs in a close-knit environment – both on-campus and in online learning environments – means you will get the education of a lifetime at a price that won’t take a lifetime to pay for.

Congratulations so far on your accomplishments as a San Juan College Honors graduate! We are confident that you will likewise find success at Southwest Minnesota State University. In recognition of your accomplishments, we are extending an SJC Honors Scholarship, among several other scholarships and sources of financial support.

Scholarships and Other Sources of Financial Aid

1. SMSU does not charge out-of-state tuition: SMSU offers in-state tuition to nearly everyone, making SMSU one of the most affordable public universities in the country. For more information see SMSU Fact Book. 
2. Online tuition rates are affordable and banded for full-time student enrollments (single-tuition rate for enrolling in 12-18 credit range): Find more information on banded tuition.
3. Mustang Transfer Scholarship - $1000: The Mustang Transfer Scholarship awards $1000 to be used toward the first year at SMSU and renewable for a second year. This scholarship is open to students with a 2.5 CGPA or higher; A.A., A.S., A.A.S or 60 passing credits at previous institution, are admitted to SMSU, and enrolled full-time.
4. SJC Honors Scholarship - $500: The SJC Honors Scholarship awards $500 to be used toward the first year at SMSU and renewable for a second year. This scholarship is open to any SJC student graduating from the Honors program with a 3.25 CGPA or higher and can be received in combination with any other scholarship.
5. Additional Scholarships: We encourage SJC transfer students to apply for a variety of other scholarships available at SMSU! See Scholarships for more information.
6. Housing Scholarship - $500/semester: Housing scholarships are available for students interested in living on campus and attending full-time.
7. Federal Aid (grants and loans): U.S. Citizens & eligible noncitizens can apply for federal aid with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For more information visit SMSU's Financial Aid FAQ's

The University of New Mexico has a number of scholarships for students transferring to UNM, such as: 

• UNM/SJC Honors Program Scholarship – up to two (2) one thousand dollar ($1,000), one-time scholarships to graduates of the SJC Honors Program awarded in the first semester of attendance at UNM Albuquerque campus.
• UNM Transfer Scholarship - $2,000/year up to 4 semesters – 3.25 cumulative college transfer GPA. Apply to UNM by March 1 for the Fall semester or December 1 for the Spring semester.
• Phi Theta Kappa – All-State Academic Team Scholarship - $1,250/year up to 4 semesters – Must be selected for PTK All-State Academic Team. Apply to UNM by March 1 for the Fall semester or December 1 for the Spring semester.

Please visit UNM Scholarships for complete details. For more information about UNM please visit UNM Admissions 

For further information email the following:

• Ashlynn Coffman  ayeagle@unm.edu 
• Catherine Walker Grobler  cgrobler@unm.edu 
•  unmlobos@unm.edu

Wayland is proud to offer its Blue & Gold Transfer Scholarship to outstanding transfer students from San Juan College Honors program. The award may be applied to tuition for up to 15 hours of face-to-face classes per 16-week semester. It is based on a cumulative WBU transfer GPA, and is renewable for up to 8 continuous enrollment semesters. The number of semesters is based on semesters attended at other schools.

• $5000.00 a year for those transferring in with a GPA 3.75 - 4.0.
  • Students must have a GPA of 2.75 First Semester and a GPA 3.0 Subsequent Semesters
• $3000.00 a year for those transferring GPA 3.25 - 3.74
  • Students must have a GPA 2.75 First Semester and a GPA 3.0 Subsequent Semesters
• $1500.00 a year for those transferring GPA 2.75 - 3.724
  • Students must have a GPA 2.75 First Semester and a GPA 3.0 Subsequent Semesters
• 1/3 off tuition for students who scored 1200+ New SAT Score or 25+ ACT Score.
  • Students must maintain a GPA of 2.75 First Semester and GPA 3.0 Subsequent Semesters.
• Phi Theta Kappa members will receive 2/3 off tuition.
  • Students must maintain a GPA 2.75 the First Semester at WBU and 3.5 subsequent semesters.

These scholarships apply only to the Plainview campus and the Transfer Scholarship. Scholarships are limited, and eligible students will receive consideration in the order of the date on which they submitted their completed applications. For more information, call or text 806-576-1471, email admitme@wbu.edu or visit Wayland Admissions  Pioneering excellence!  

Honors students are eligible for our Outstanding Academic Transfer Scholarship, worth $600 per academic year. We would like to offer a $1000 Housing Scholarship (per semester) to your top five students who transfer to WNMU.