Knight-Hennessy
This scholarship is for 2 to 5 years of study leading to a graduate degree at Stanford University. Seniors, graduate or professional students, and graduates are eligible to apply within six years of earning a bachelor's degree (after January, 2018). U.S. and non-U.S. citizens are eligible. All applicants must apply directly to a Stanford degree program and also to the Knight-Hennessy to be considered for the award.
The scholarship is awarded to students who are accepted to a graduate degree program at Stanford (hence the dual application) and also portray 1) an Independence of Thought, 2) Purposeful Leadership, and 3) a Generosity of Spirit. They seek candidates who can out-think, out-work, and out-care others. We encourage you to participate in ongoing Knight-Hennessy informational webinars.
The National and International Scholarships Program will be hosting an in-person information session on Thursday, April 18 from 2:00-3:00 in room 514 at 807 S Wright St. A Knight-Hennessy admissions officer will provide an online overview of Knight-Hennessy Scholars, the admission process, and the application, followed by an in-person discussion with staff at the National and International Scholarships Program on how to prepare your materials.
Students are encouraged to submit drafts of their Knight-Hennessy applications well in advance of the priority deadline in order to receive feedback from us. Attach your scholarship application materials in an email, along with a few potential meeting times no earlier than 2 business days after your submission to receive feedback. We are willing to work with students through numerous revisions.
September 9, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. (noon)
The Knight-Hennessy Scholarship does not formally require a university endorsement process. An applicant may choose to independently submit application materials to Stanford and the Knight-Hennessy Scholarship. However, if you are interested in obtaining feedback on your Knight-Hennessy Scholarship application from a campus committee, then you need to submit materials by this deadline. University faculty and staff who are familiar with the award will review materials received by this date. If materials are submitted late, only the National and International Scholarships program will be able to provide feedback.
Required information includes:
- A signed Scholarship Waiver (either scanned or in hardcopy).
- The personal essay and three short answer questions requested by the Knight-Hennessy.
- A one-page resumé.
Optional information includes two letters of recommendation that address your leadership experience and potential. Letters should be sent as attachments directly to us at topscholars@illinois.edu.
October 11, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Complete Knight-Hennessy scholarship applications must be submitted online by this date. You also will need to apply to the specific graduate program at Stanford that you are pursuing. Note that some programs at Stanford also require test scores, additional essays, or even an earlier deadline—make sure to check the Stanford Graduate Admissions specifics! We would appreciate a copy of all materials prior to submission.
The Knight-Hennessy will review and rank top applicants from the general scholarships pool while individual departments at Stanford review top students based on academics. Those top students who are desired by both the scholarship and individual departments will be invited to a weekend immersion event March 1-2, 2024. The final selection for the scholarship program will be made in mid-March.