Journey Scholars Program

Journey Scholars at AU

The Augustana University Journey Scholars Program supports and empowers underrepresented students to be change-makers in our community throughout their journey at Augustana University.

Journey Scholars are underrepresented students who are eligible to apply for the FAFSA and have been accepted into Augustana. They have a strong desire and determination to be successful, are interested in engaging with their peers and the campus community and are willing to help AU continue to shape a campus community that welcomes, supports and affirms all students.

Apply to Program

AU's Journey Scholars

Journey Scholars Block Party

Journey Scholars Graduates

Viking Days Parade

"We the Change Project" Presentations

We the Change Project Judges

We the Change Project Presentations

We the Change Project Judges

Journey Scholars Programming

Application Requirements

To be considered for the program, students must complete a brief application. Once received, the application will be reviewed by the Journey Scholars Committee.

Students are encouraged to complete the Journey Scholars Program application as soon as they have been admitted to the University. Applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis beginning in mid-January. The preferred application deadline is Jan. 15, with rolling program admission based on cohort space after that.

The final deadline to be considered for the Journey Scholars Program is July 30.

Benefits

Through the Journey Scholars Program, students will:

Receive a scholarship for participation
Connect with an Augustana peer mentor of color for regular one-on-one meetings
Develop and implement a personalized academic plan
Apply skills that empower them to take responsibility for their educational experience through ongoing academic and career coaching
Engage with other change-makers within the Journey Scholars Program, university and larger Sioux Falls community
Attend social and educational events throughout the academic year
Option of residing in the Journey Scholars Living-Learning Community
Take First-Year Seminar (FYS) courses with other Journey Scholars

Time Commitment

For first-year students, the Journey Scholars Program begins with an orientation that occurs prior to the start of the Augustana's Move-In. During the academic year, first-year Journey Scholars meet twice a month in the fall and once a month in the spring. All other scholars meet once a month.

First-Year Scholars | Focus on navigating their identity at a predominantly white institution and discovering how to leverage that to their advantage.
Second-Year Scholars | Work on identifying changes they'd like to see on campus or the greater community and developing a project around those ideas.
Third-Year Scholars | Dedicate their time to discovering how they want to carry out the winning project from the previous year and establishing a timeline for its launch.
Fourth-Year Scholars and Beyond | Focus on career exploration and post-graduate plans.

Contact Us

Nayeli Salcido Velazquez, assistant director of community & belonging

Division of Student Affairs