With 15% of the student body admitted to the Scholar Communities, the program provides a structured, four-year pathway that cultivates leadership, personal growth, and academic success.
As part of a supported transition to college, Scholars engage in a series of developmental experiences designed to build confidence, foster connection, and deepen awareness of campus resources. The program provides targeted funding for early summer internships, educational initiatives, and co-curricular opportunities that align with each student’s leadership goals. Through individualized coaching from experienced Career Coaches, dedicated Scholar Communities staff, and a holistic mentoring model, Scholars receive ongoing guidance while progressively stepping into mentorship and leadership roles—emerging as confident, community-minded leaders prepared to make an impact at CMC and beyond.
Scholar Communities Programming
Scholar Communities works closely with students to support their full transition to college life, specifically focusing on three areas:
First-Year Transition and Community Integration
The Scholar Community program offers an immersive transition experience that begins well before students arrive on campus.
- Scholars receive early summer outreach, personalized communications, and curated resources to begin building their CMC foundation.
- Upper-year Scholars serve as peer mentors, leading conversations that demystify the college experience and promote leadership within the community.
- Through a collaborative support model with the Offices of the Dean of Students, Financial Aid, and the Registrar, Scholar Community staff actively identify and address individual needs, helping Scholars navigate resources and maximize their CMC experience.
Professional Development and Leadership Preparation
Sustained professional development is integrated early into each Scholar’s journey, with a strong emphasis on leadership, exploration, and real-world readiness.
- All Scholars receive guaranteed funding for a first summer experience through the Sponsored Internships & Experiences Program (SIE), encouraging early engagement with career pathways.
- Experiential learning funding and skill-building workshops provide hands-on opportunities to explore and grow professionally—nature of experiential learning support will vary by scholar community.
- A Summer Savings Grant offsets financial barriers, reducing the need for traditional summer earnings and opening doors to more meaningful opportunities
Individual Academic and Personal Support
Academic and personal support provided by Scholar Community staff is designed to cultivate students’ self-authorship skills through a highly personalized approach tailored to their academic, personal, and developmental goals.
- Every Scholar engages in regular 1:1 meetings with Scholar Community staff, who provide strengths-based coaching to help identify and build structure for academic goals
- Scholar academic standing is routinely audited throughout the semester, proactive outreach ensures that no Scholar falls through the cracks—students are met with support before they need to ask for it.
- Each student is paired with a faculty advisor and receives ongoing advising support from the Scholar Community team on topics such as general education planning, major selection, time management, and study strategies.
Scholar Communities at CMC
Berger Scholars
Supported by the H. Norwood and Frances Berger foundation, this scholarship focuses on students who are considered from middle income families. Berger scholars are not tied to one major or discipline.
Interdisciplinary Science Scholars
A grant from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funds the Interdisciplinary Science Scholarship at CMC. This program is aimed at students interested in exploring a double or dual major that pairs science with a non-science major.
Kravis Scholars
Funded by Henry Kravis ’67, this generous need-based financial aid assistance supports under-served and first-generation students across a variety of majors at CMC.
Lingdaoli Scholars
Funded by Tao Li ’02, this scholar community focuses on students who are considered native Chinese students. Lingdaoli scholars major in a variety of disciplines.
McKenna Scholars
This merit scholarship is awarded to incoming students with high academic achievement and extracurricular activities that demonstrate sustained commitment, leadership and personal growth.
Podlich Scholars
Supported by Bill Podlich ’66, this program supports middle-income students at CMC, and will offer additional levels of financial support to students majoring in government, economics (including economics-accounting) and philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE).
QuestBridge Scholars
In partnership with QuestBridge, a national program supporting high-achieving students’ access to college, all ‘matched’ QuestBridge Scholars are members of the CMC QuestBridge Scholar Community.
Robert Day Scholars Program
Since 2008, this program funded by Robert A. Day ’65 P’12, seeks to ensure that students gain the technical fluency necessary to navigate today’s complex markets, the skills required to lead modern organizations, and a strong sense of judgment to ensure responsible leadership.
Seaver Scholars
The Frank Seaver Leadership Scholarship is a full-tuition merit scholarship awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional promise to become leaders intent on making a positive impact in the world.
St. Dennis Scholars
Named in honor of former CMC professor, Jerry St. Dennis, the St. Dennis Scholar Community is comprised of students interested in quantitative disciplines. These Scholars are not only connected through their love of numbers, but also their backgrounds as graduates of public high schools and first-generation college students.
Wagener Family Global Scholars
The Global Scholars program supports students with a demonstrated interest in global affairs and provides students with need-based financial aid, a study abroad travel stipend and access to financial support for professional development activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is a mix of personal and professional development programs and workshops such as Strength Finders, Internship Search Support, Navigating your Professional Identity, etc. Scholar Communities also offers a peer scholar mentorship program geared toward supporting first-year integration
Scholars do not receive a fixed stipend amount. All summer support is budget-based, and final stipends are calculated based on the living expenses associated with the internship.
Admitted students are typically selected for specific Scholar Communities based on the information provided in the application process. Students with a specific interest in a Scholar Community will be able to submit their interest within their applicant portal after applying for admission.
Scholar Communities are a mix of merit and need-based. Qualities may vary by Scholar Community. These qualities may include but are not limited to: academic achievements, demonstrated leadership potential and personal growth, impactful engagement, interest in specified disciplines, and educational access across the socioeconomic spectrum.
Students with a passion for science and leadership are eligible for an Interdisciplinary Science Scholarship. This program is aimed at students interested in exploring a double or dual major that pairs Integrated Sciences with a non-science major, 3+2 Dual Degree in Integrated Sciences and Engineering, or Integrated Sciences as a standalone major. The scholarship covers full tuition and is available for students with demonstrated financial need. The scholarship also supports summer fellowships, internships, or research experiences.
The Office of Admission will review your eligibility for Scholar Communities during the application review process, regardless of your self-nomination.
There are several Scholar Communities that encompass merit scholarships and/or require a separate application process. Merit-based scholarships are available for first-year applicants and are determined by the Office of Admission through the application review process. For priority consideration for merit scholarships, your application for admission must be submitted by December 1, and all supporting credentials must be submitted no later than January 10. There is no separate application process for CMC scholarships. For more information about merit-based scholarships, please visit our Scholarships page.
