Mary T. Clark Scholarship Application

We appreciate your interest in the Mary T. Clark Community Service Scholarship Program. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Kaitlyn Reid-Saunders at Kaitlyn.reid@mville.edu, Joy Pellegrino at Joy.Pellegrino@mville.edu and to Craig Donnelly at Craig.Donnelly@mville.edu.

Before answering the questions in applying for the Clark Scholarship, it is necessary that you understand the Four Pillars of the Clark Center and their role in community service activities.

Please read the following description of the Four Pillars of the Clark Center.

Four Pillars of the Clark Center
Community Service
Activism and Advocacy
Social Justice
Religion & Spirituality

For Clark Scholars, these four pillars are the integrating elements that move students to service and social engagement with and for those in need. Each of these pillars offers students the chance to connect service and civic participation through learning opportunities that enable them to become catalysts for change.

Whether volunteering at a local food pantry, mentoring disadvantaged children, or addressing social issues through campus organizations, real-world experiences enable students to become empathic ambassadors with leadership skills designed to help them to be socially and ethically aware global citizens.

Community Service

Community service opportunities abound at Manhattanville. Each year, Clark Scholars complete at least 30,000 hours of community service through the Clark Center, including Midnight Run, where care packages of essential items are delivered to persons who are homeless in New York City, Big Brother Big Sister, mentoring programs, Habitat for Humanity, and numerous environmental programs with the Westchester Parks.

Activism and Advocacy

Activism and advocacy activities invite students to be at the forefront of championing social issues through education, petitions, and peaceful demonstrations. Themes such as: diversity and racism, responsible stewardship of the environment, LGBTQ - gender equality, as well as social justice initiatives related to immigration and homelessness, are often the focus of these actions.

Religion and Spirituality

At the Sister Mary T. Clark Center, chaplains representing the three Abrahamic faith traditions- Judaism, Islam, and Catholicism minister to the spiritual needs of students while offering opportunities for faith sharing, one on one spiritual direction, retreat experiences and the celebration of religious rituals. Spirituality is about getting in touch with one’s inner self. A key component is self-reflection that deepens awareness of the sacredness and mystery of life. It is approached from a variety of perspectives including prayer, meditation, and relaxation techniques that help promote peace of mind, body, and spirit. Spirituality can be a belief system that is raised to a lifestyle, making life a sacred adventure.

Social Justice

Social Justice teaching promotes the belief that all people possess an equal and inalienable worth. This essential dignity includes the equitable distribution of resources enabling members to reach their full potential as human persons.

Service Hour Requirements:

In order to receive the Clark Scholarship of $1,000.00 each semester, the following is required:

First-Yr students are required to serve 30 hours of service each semester:
30 hours in the Fall semester and 30 hours in the Spring Semester.

15 hours in Community Service
15 hours in Activism & Advocacy
15 hours in Social Justice
15 hours in Religion & Spirituality

In addition, students are required to submit a final PowerPoint project at the end of each semester describing their experiences of service.

Please fill in the following:

Last Name *

First Name *

Phone Number *

Email *

Incoming Semester and Year *

Student ID Number *

Please respond to the questions below in complete sentences. Support your answers by providing examples whenever possible.:

1. Please list and explain your past community service activities or list community service activities that you would like to be involved in while at Manhattanville. *

2. Have you held any leadership positions, such as an officer in student government, peer counselor, mentor/tutor, captain of a team? *

3. Which ONE of these pillars is your passion? Why? Please give examples of how you have engaged in this pillar. *

4. Which ONE of these four pillars have you had the least exposure to? What do you hope to learn about this pillar as a Clark Scholar? *

5. How do you balance managing different aspects of your schedule? i.e. school work, family, social and extra-curricular activities. *

6. How do you plan to manage your time if you are selected as a Clark Scholar recipient with the responsibility of completing 30 hours of service each semester? *