The Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies (CLACS) coordinates the major in Latin American, Caribbean, and U.S. Latinx Studies (LACUSL) and the undergraduate certificates in Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS) and Latinx Studies. Undergraduatestudents are invited to explore CLACS scholarships and grant programs and are encouraged to consider study abroad and related academic programs.
The scholarship process for all undergraduates and all scholarships (both major specific ones and all general scholarships) begins with .
How and when to apply:
- Log into the portal and your general application. This must be done a minimum of once per school year but we recommend doing this twice a year in November and February.
- In the portal, complete the Letters & Science scholarship application. Here is where you will upload a copy of your transcript (also recommended to be done in November and February).
Completing steps 1 and 2 will match you to most scholarships based on the information you enter. - You may see scholarships on your Panther Scholarship Portal dashboard that you can 鈥淎pply To.鈥� These are scholarships which require additional information beyond steps 1 and 2. Complete any of these you wish to apply for.
The Panther Scholarship Portal can also be used to find that have registered with 51猎奇. These may be scholarships sponsored by local or national organizations, fraternal clubs or other companies outside of 51猎奇.
Students are responsible for reading and understanding 51猎奇鈥檚 policies regarding scholarship applications. Please pay particular attention to the section on the use of AI (such as Chat GPT).
Donald R. Shea Scholarship in Latin American Studies
The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers a limited number of scholarships in the amount of $250-$500 for undergraduates (sophomores and above) with a demonstrated interest in Latin American and/or Caribbean studies.
The scholarship may be used for 51猎奇 sponsored semester-long, year-long, or short-term (Summer, Winter) study abroad in Latin American or the Caribbean, or for other academic opportunities in the region that can be accepted for 51猎奇 credit. Students from any major or field of study are invited to apply. Virtual study abroad/internships are also acceptable. Please contact Aimee Orndorf, aorndorf@uwm.edu with any questions, or visit uwm.edu/clacs/funding/undergraduate-student-funding/shea-scholarship/ for more information.
Other criteria include:
- 3.0 GPA or higher and in good academic standing
- Demonstrated academic interest in Latin American and/or Caribbean studies shown through coursework/extra curricular activities
- Preference will be given to students who have not received this scholarship previously
*If doing virtual study abroad: must enroll in at least 2 courses through a Latin American/Caribbean Institution
Award: Varies up to $500
Donor: Dr. Donald R. Shea
Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) - Fall/Spring Stipend (Grant 2)
This federally-funded fellowship is awarded to undergraduate students of any major studying Portuguese at 51猎奇 or abroad during the academic year. Students must be ready to enroll in third semester Portuguese or higher by the Fall semester of the year they receive the fellowship. They must be a full-time student during the fellowship period and be enrolled in a Portuguese language course and a Latin American/Caribbean area studies course each semester of the fellowship.
Other eligibility requirements include:
- U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
- a completed FAFSA on file with Financial Aid
- a demonstrated record of academic success
The fellowship is valued at up to $15,000 for study at 51猎奇 or abroad at an approved overseas program. Up to $5,000 for tuition and a $2,500 stipend is allocated to the recipient each semester of the fellowship. Studying abroad is not required. For those choosing to study abroad, all study abroad programs must be approved by the U.S. Department of Education and students will need to apply for their study abroad program through the Study Abroad Office at 51猎奇.
Applications are accepted each year with a February deadline. The application is for the following school year. For example, applications will be accepted in February 2025 are for the 2025-26 school year. It is recommended that students complete their FAFSA by Dec. 31 each year.
Questions regarding the fellowship or the application process should be directed to Aimee Orndorf, aorndorf@uwm.edu. It is recommended to meet with Aimee prior to submitting your application. Funding for this fellowship is contingent on the U.S. Department of Education Title VI Higher Education Act.
Award: Up to $15,000 for the year
Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) - Summer Stipend (Grant 2)
This award is currently not accepting applications
This fellowship is for graduate students in any program who wish to study a less-commonly taught language of Latin America/Caribbean during the summer term in an approved intensive language program. A summer session (domestic or overseas) qualifies as an intensive language program if it is at least six weeks in duration and offers language instruction for at least 120 contact hours (for advanced level) or 140 contact hours (for the beginning/intermediate level).
The primary language for the award is Brazilian Portuguese, but other less commonly taught languages of the region (Haitian Creole, Kaqchikel, K鈥檌che, Mixtec, Nahuatl, Yucatec Maya, Zapotec, etc) are eligible for approval.
Eligible students must be enrolled at 51猎奇 in a graduate degree program and must have proficiency in another language of the world area of their specialization. Other eligibility requirements include:
- U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
- a completed FAFSA on file with Financial Aid
- a demonstrated record of academic success
The summer fellowship is valued at up to $8,500 total for intensive summer study either at an approved U.S. or overseas language program. Of this total, students are eligible for up to $5,000 for tuition/required program fees and a $3,500 stipend. In addition to applying for the FLAS fellowship, students must apply directly to their desired language program. Students who plan to study abroad during summer will need to apply for international health insurance through 51猎奇.
The application closes at 11:59 pm on February 17. All materials, including your letters of recommendation, must be received by that time.
Students who have not filed FAFSA by that date may still apply but you are encouraged to fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible, even before filling out the application for this fellowship.
Students can refer to this list of suggested summer intensive language programs: <a href=鈥渉ttp://claspprograms.org/pages/detail/5/Language鈥� http://claspprograms.org/pages/detail/5/Language. Programs listed are not guaranteed approval by the U.S. Department of Education but are suggested based on their advertised information.
Questions regarding these programs and the application process should be directed to Aimee Orndorf, aorndorf@uwm.edu. It is recommended to meet with Aimee prior to submitting your application. Funding for this fellowship is provided by the U.S. Department of Education Title VI Higher Education Act.
Award: Up to $8,500 total
Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) - Summer Tuition (Grant 2)
This fellowship is for graduate students in any program who wish to study a less-commonly taught language of Latin America/Caribbean during the summer 2026 term in an approved intensive language program. A summer session (domestic or overseas) qualifies as an intensive language program if it is at least six weeks in duration and offers language instruction for at least 120 contact hours (for advanced level) or 140 contact hours (for the beginning/intermediate level).
The primary language for the award is Brazilian Portuguese, but other less commonly taught languages of the region (Haitian Creole, Kaqchikel, K鈥檌che, Mixtec, Nahuatl, Yucatec Maya, Zapotec, etc) are eligible for approval.
Eligible students must be enrolled at 51猎奇 in a graduate degree program and must have proficiency in another language of the world area of their specialization. Other eligibility requirements include:
- U.S. citizenship or permanent residency
- a completed FAFSA on file with Financial Aid
- a demonstrated record of academic success
The summer fellowship is valued at up to $8,500 total for intensive summer study either at an approved U.S. or overseas language program. Of this total, students are eligible for up to $5,000 for tuition/required program fees and a $3,500 stipend. In addition to applying for the FLAS fellowship, students must apply directly to their desired language program. Students who plan to study abroad during summer will need to apply for international health insurance through 51猎奇.
The application closes at 11:59 pm on February 17, 2026. All materials, including your letters of recommendation, must be received by that time.
Students who have not filed FAFSA by that date may still apply but you are encouraged to fill out the FAFSA as soon as possible, even before filling out the application for this fellowship.
Students can refer to this list of suggested summer intensive language programs: <a href=鈥渉ttp://claspprograms.org/pages/detail/5/Language鈥� http://claspprograms.org/pages/detail/5/Language. Programs listed are not guaranteed approval by the U.S. Department of Education but are suggested based on their advertised information.
Questions regarding these programs and the application process should be directed to Aimee Orndorf, aorndorf@uwm.edu. It is recommended to meet with Aimee prior to submitting your application. Funding for this fellowship is provided by the U.S. Department of Education Title VI Higher Education Act.
Award: Up to $8,500 total
Kristin Ruggiero & Howard Handelman Latin American or Caribbean Field Research Award
The Ruggiero-Handelman Field Research Award is for field research in Latin America or the Caribbean. The approved project must include travel to the region to conduct research. It is open to all majors. The award amounts will depend on the budgeted expenses for the research. Priority is given to these criteria in this order:
- International travel expenses
- Domestic travel expenses
- Living expenses or other related fees
Any changes of plan with the field research must be approved by the Award Committee. Awards are intended mainly for summer field research but timing for field research may be adjusted on a case-by-case basis. Students planning a trip abroad for research for Spring, Summer or Fall are encouraged to apply. Applications are typically accepted between October and mid-March.
Eligible students are:
- currently enrolled in a graduate degree program or a bachelor鈥檚 degree program with junior or senior standing; students cannot graduate prior to completing the field work
- have documented plans to conduct field research in Latin America or the Caribbean lasting between 2 weeks and 4 months
- have approval from the from the Institutional Review Board () if your research involves human subjects
Award: varies up to $2,000
Donor: Kristin Ruggiero and the late Howard Handelman