The presidential fellowship is Murray State University’s most prestigious scholarship opportunity.
A full ride, research opportunities, chances to study abroad at discounted prices, the fellowship is a student’s dream.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the scholarship,” said Virginia Sisemore, a senior and Presidential Fellow. “It’s the reason I was able to attend Murray State and meet all kinds of amazing people.”
Sisemore isn’t the only Fellow who feels this way; many are grateful to the University for opening all sorts of doors to them through the Fellowship. Daniella Tebib, a sophomore Presidential Fellow is one of these students.
“Having a full ride is an absolute blessing and I am so thankful for the opportunity Murray State has given me,” Tebib said.
The Fellowship is not all rainbows and sunshine, however.
The University’s method of applying scholarship funding to the Fellows is different, and seemingly unfair. It deals with the Universities over-reward policy, which is cited on their “Policies” page in the Financial Aid section of Murray State’s website, but never explained to Fellows, not even when they sign their contracts for the scholarship.
If the Fellow has applied for external scholarships and received them, the University will apply these first. Following those scholarships, they will cover what remains with the money set aside for the Presidential Fellowship. The leftover funds go back to the University.
The MKY Guide reached out to the Scholarship Office regarding this subject, but it declined to comment, directing the Guide to Director of Communication, Shawn Touney.
For students with general merit scholarships, funds that exceed the cost of their bill come back to them in the form of a refund. This isn’t the case for Presidential Fellows.
This is a topic that quite a few Fellows struggle with, but many were too fearful of backlash from the Scholarship Office to feel comfortable with their name being published in this article. Most the Guide spoke with said that, had they known their funds would be distributed this way before they earned the Fellowship, they wouldn’t have applied for so many external scholarships.
Many Fellows find that their lack of refund money can lead to their struggling financially while they are here. The University assumes that since everything in the student’s college life is paid for, things will be fine. That simply isn’t the case.
Sisemore, who comes from a low-income family, thinks about the bills that can stack up for Fellows and students in general; the phone bills, car payments, co-pays for health services visits, the list seems to go on.
The problem is only worsened by the fact that Fellows are not allowed to work off-campus jobs. If they want to try, they must gain permission from the head of the Honors College, Warren Edminster.
“On-campus jobs, while I am very thankful for mine, have a 20-hour limit and minimum-wage pay,” Sisemore said. “Living on campus isn’t a written requirement, but I can’t afford an apartment, a car payment, or other bills on my current income. I’m lucky enough to not have to pay for a lot of bills, though.”
Sisemore said research opportunities are more often presented to Fellows than other students. Part of this is due to the requirement of Fellows to research for a certain amount of hours per week (the amount depends on the field).
The research requirement also loads Fellows who are required to participate in the Honors College, maintain a 3.2 grade point average, keep up with classes, and many of whom play a part in campus organizations, Greek life and have internships or jobs.
Tebib said she doesn’t want people to think the Fellows are just complaining for money. She said she simply wants students to be rewarded for what they have earned.
“I am obviously so, so, so thankful for the scholarship, but we also think we deserve to be able to use our other scholarships we’ve earned as well,” Tebib said.
This does not stem from ungrateful, selfish students. Rather, students who believe in credit where credit is due.