Scholarships

Available Scholarships

The call for the Honors scholarships below is now open.

Deadline: Friday, September 25, 2026, 5:00 pm.

 Pam Huller Gwaltney Memorial Scholarship

Pam Huller Gwaltney Memorial Scholarship, cash award of $750 to be applied to your Bursar Bill.  This scholarship honors the memory of Pamela Huller Gwaltney, who served as the Director of the Office of Major Scholarship Advisement from October 2010 to December 2015.  As a mentor, Pam was dedicated to students, realizing their potential as scholars and leaders, who are fully engaged with their communities.

 Albert and Leyla D. Somit Honors Scholarship

Albert and Leyla D. Somit Honors Scholarship, cash award of $1100 to be applied to your Bursar Bill.  This scholarship was established in 1984, by friends, staff members, and colleagues of Albert Somit, then President of SIU, in honor of his 65th birthday.  The Somit Scholarship is awarded to students Linda Corder and Al Somit who exemplify the values of the University Honors Program: Learn, Lead, Serve.  Somit Scholars are all-round students who are recognized for their academic achievement, leadership qualities, and civic engagement.

Dr. Al Somit passed away on August 2nd, 2020, at the age of 100. He was a dear friend of Honors and remained in touch until very close to the end. Over 140 Honors students have won the award so far.  Lyn Corder continues this legacy of generous support to future generations of Salukis.

Pictured above are: Linda Corder and Al Somit

Eva and Joe Corder Honors Scholarship

Eva and Joe Corder Honors Scholarship, cash award of $1100 to be applied to your Bursar Bill.  Dr. Linda Corder established this award in the memory of her parents.  Linda, called Lyn by family and friends, is a three-degree alumna of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She completed her first two years of college at Agnes Scott College, in Decatur, Georgia. During her professional career, she was a founder and director of Puka School and Director of the SIU Child Development Laboratories. She also served as a fundraiser for colleges, universities, and medical schools.

Lyn initiated this fund in honor and memory of her parents, for the ideals they exemplified in her family, neighborhood, workplaces, and through their own generosity-time, dedication and resources. Eva and Joe Corder promoted an attitude of gratitude and the idea that each person can make a difference, even without having a lot of money. The scholarship represents Lyn's commitment to the future and her hope that this scholarship will help others, like her mother, to make a positive difference in the lives of others and the opportunity to attend, excel in, and graduate from college.