Department of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies Scholarships

We offer several generous scholarships for current students.

Criteria: The recipient shall be a full time criminal justice/law studies, demonstrate financial need, and have a minimum GPA of 2.25.
Selection Process: Committee comprised of the Dean, Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Department Chair, and Criminal Justice and Legal Studies faculty.

Chief Richard Michael Popernik and Joan Grisham Popernik Legal Studies Scholarship Endowment

Criteria: The recipient shall be a full time Junior or Senior Criminal Justice and Law Studies major.
Selection Process: Recipients shall be selected based on academic excellence, community involvement, integrity, and commitment to the program. Selection shall be made by a committee which consists of the Department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies chair, Criminal Justice and Legal Studies professors and Joan Popernik or her designee in consultation with the Dean of the School of Applied Sciences.

Columbus B. Hopper Scholarship Endowment

Criteria: The recipient shall be a full time Criminal Justice/Law Studies major, classified as a senior for the fall semester prior to applying. Minimum GPA of 3.75.
Selection Process: Recipients will be selected by the department of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies faculty scholarship committee and approved by the Department Chair.
Deadline: Application must be submitted by February 1.

Robert T. Warren Outstanding Criminal Justice Student Award Endowment

Criteria: The recipient shall be a Criminal Justice/Law Studies major.
Selection Process: Recipient shall be selected based on academic excellence, integrity, and commitment to the program. Selections shall be made by a committee which consist of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies faculty.

Professor Bill Luckett Law Studies Endowment

Criteria: The recipient shall be Law Studies major.
Selection Process: Recipient shall be selected based on academic excellence, integrity, and commitment to the program. Selections shall be made by a committee, which consists of Criminal Justice and Legal Studies faculty.

Korah Pounds Omega Defense Scholarship Fund

Criteria: The recipient shall be a Criminal Justice major.
Selection Process: Recipient shall be selected based on being an incoming freshman enrolled full-time. Recipients must have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.75 or higher, be pursuing a degree in criminal justice, and contribute to the diversity of the Department of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies.

Gary T. Hargrove Forensic Science Scholarship Fund

Criteria: The recipient shall be a Criminal Justice major, enrolled full-time, and who has taken or is enrolled in CJ450 (Criminal Justice Research Methods).
Deadline: Application must be submitted by April 15.

Scholarship Application Information

Prior to April 15, submit a one-page essay of the reasons you are applying for the scholarship.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – Many scholarships require financial need. Complete and submit the FAFSA at: www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Selection and awarding of the scholarships will take place on or before May 1 of each year.
All scholarship applications will be reviewed by a Criminal Justice and Legal Studies Awards Committee, consisting of those specified in the scholarships’ selection process.
All applicants will be judged on scholarly achievement, extracurricular activities, essay summary and financial need or the selection process specified by the specific scholarship.
If selected to receive a scholarship, the recipient must write a thank you letter for the scholarship donor before the scholarship can go into effect. Instructions will be sent by email. Recipient must be enrolled for the fall semester, following application.

How to apply?

Fill out the Department of Criminal Justice & Legal Studies Scholarship Application at this link: https://uofmississippi.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2sGG9pk1pEYOFj8. Make sure that all sections are complete.
If you have not already done so, submit the Free Application for Financial Student Aid(FAFSA). The FAFSA is used to determine financial need for Scholarships. We recommend you apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov for fastest results.