Detroit Scholars Program
Application Deadlines:
- Early Application: December 1
- Priority Application: February 1
- Final: March 1
The Detroit Scholars Program prepares MSW students to work within organizations and communities that provide services to underserved racial and ethnic minority children, adolescents, transitional age youth, adults, and their families living with physical and behavioral health conditions. The SSW, in collaboration with the Detroit Wayne Mental Health Authority, will provide a specialized inter-professional behavioral health education and training program.
The Detroit Scholars Program addresses
Karen and Michael Wolf-Branigin Scholarship Fund
This scholarship will provide support to MSW students who are committed to working on behalf of people with intellectual, physical, and/or developmental disabilities in order to support their full inclusion and participation in their community.
Bill Cabin, MSW '04, Field Support Fund
This fund will provide support to MSW students who have financial need and are currently in a field placement.
Stein, Martha Purdy, Endowed Scholarship
To provide an annual need-based scholarship to support MSW students in the School of Social Work, with a preference for students with an interest in criminal justice, early intervention, and prevention or alternatives to incarceration.
Dr. Thomas D. Bentz, MSW 1970, Scholarship Fund
This scholarship will provide support to MSW students who have strong financial need and who plan to pursue clinical social work.
David C. Plaggemars, MSW 1978, Field Placement Fund
Provide financial support to MSW students with field placements at University of Michigan Athletics Counseling.
No separate application required.
MEM Centennial Endowed Scholarship Fund
The MEM Centennial Endowed Scholarship Fund was created to provide support to MSW students who have demonstrated interest in providing direct services to children, youth and families with a focus on preservation of family stability, foster care and adoption of older children, sibling groups or otherwise hard-to-place children. Preference will be given to students who have a field placement at Spaulding for Children and/or those who have lived experience in the child welfare system.
Application Deadline, October 13, 2025 @ 12 Noon
Milton Carthens, MSW 2021, Memorial Scholarship
The Milton Carthens Memorial Scholarship was created to honor the life of Milton "Milt" Carthens, as well as his love for social work and the University of Michigan. It is made possible by the NFL Player Care Foundation and his wife, Pamela Carthens, to provide support for MSW students.
Application Deadline, October 13, 2025 @ 12 Noon
Greg Harden "Soaring on the Wings of Dreams" Endowed Scholarship Fund
Preference is for former U-M athletes pursuing an MSW who have demonstrated experience in, or commitment to, working with historically underserved or underprivileged populations and who strive to help people become their best possible selves. Award goes toward tuition & fees.
Jim Toy, MSW '81, Scholarship
The Jim Toy Scholarship is a need-based award to support MSW students who are inspired by the ideals and examples Jim Toy demonstrated during his lifetime as a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ communities.
Application Deadline, October 13, 2025 @ 12 Noon