Assumption University Launches Civic Friendship Scholars Program for Fall 2025 Incoming Class
Assumption University is excited to announce the launch of the Civic Friendship Scholars Program, a unique scholarship and leadership initiative designed to cultivate students dedicated to fostering mutual respect and constructive dialogue rooted in shared commitment to the common good. Applications for the inaugural cohort of Civic Friendship Scholars will open on December 15, 2024, for students entering the Fall 2025 semester.
The Civic Friendship Scholars Program offers selected students a $10,000 housing scholarship and a $500 book stipend renewable annually for up to four years. Housing is central to this initiative because living in community offers an invaluable opportunity to cultivate meaningful relationships, encouraging students to build bridges across differences. Beyond financial support, the inaugural cohort of Civic Friendship Scholars will have the distinctive opportunity to help shape the future of the program, contributing their insights and experiences to refine and enhance the program for future cohorts. They will participate in initiatives within the Center for Civic Friendship, which aspires to be a national resource and voice for friendship as a foundation for civic life, showing that communities can thrive through shared commitment to truth-seeking, humility, and intellectual generosity in the tradition of Assumption’s Catholic liberal education.
“We are thrilled to launch the Civic Friendship Scholars Program, an endeavor that aligns with Assumption’s mission of educating thoughtful citizens devoted to the common good,” said President Greg Weiner. “This program, supported by the Center for Civic Friendship, will enable students to engage in constructive dialogue and community-building. As they work to advance this program for future generations, the inaugural class of Scholars will also be laying the foundation for Assumption’s continued commitment to productive engagement with ideas even when they may challenge and divide.”
As part of the Civic Friendship Scholars Program, students will engage in events and activities that develop their capacity for respectful discourse and help them prioritize community-building even in the face of disagreement. The Scholars’ experiences will be grounded in Assumption’s mission of “seeking truth in the company of friends” and the belief that civic friendship, rooted in common purpose, can strengthen civil society.
Through the Center for Civic Friendship, students will learn to engage productively across differences, negotiate diverse perspectives, and build relationships based on mutual respect and understanding. Applications for the Civic Friendship Scholars Program open December 15, 2024. For more information on eligibility, requirements, and the application process, please visit our website or contact Rylee Plourde, Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions.