New scholarship scheme to support international students

Ignite Achievers was founded at the University of Michigan-Flint by academics and international education experts to support high school students in university admissions and earlier this year partnered with agency software platform AMS – Agency Management System on a mentorship course for international students.

The organization has now launched the new US$120,000 Ignite Excellence Scholarship Program, with awards of up to $10,000 available per student to help students gain advanced research experience that strengthens their chances in competitive university admissions, they said.

“With acceptance rates at elite universities at record lows, academic achievement alone no longer guarantees admission. Admissions officers increasingly seek applicants who demonstrate critical thinking, problem-solving ability, and initiative. High-quality research experience under the mentorship of active professors is becoming a powerful way for students to stand out,” said Eric Altunhan, Director of Operations at Ignite.

The scholarship scheme will provide recipients one-to-one mentorship from research-active professors, a personalized research curriculum tailored to goals, guidance to publish in peer-reviewed journals, and a potential personalized recommendation letters from faculty mentors.

Applications for the scheme are open until September 21st for high school students in Grades 9-12. Candidate interviews will take place from September 29-October 4, with the program commencing later in October.

To introduce the scheme to education agencies, counsellors and industry professionals, Ignite Achievers is hosting three webinars in different time zones on September 4th.