Hamel Scholars Program

Hamel Scholarships are merit-based and need-aware; students with greater financial need can receive higher scholarships. Therefore, individual students' awards vary. The Hamel Scholarship is awarded in addition to any other financial aid offered to students, including other merit aid. For example, all students invited to apply to the Hamel Scholars Program are also offered the UNH Trustees Scholarship, which is $9000 in 2024. A student awarded a Hamel Scholarship of $10,000 would receive merit-based aid of $19,000 per year between these two scholarships. Hamel Scholarships will renew at the same amount for eight undergraduate semesters so long as Scholars remain in good standing. 

New Hampshire residents who apply to UNH by the Early Action deadline and who qualify for admission to the UNH Honors College are invited to apply for the Hamel Scholars Program. This invitation is usually sent between mid-December and early January. The Hamel Scholarship application for students matriculating in the Fall of 2025 will require both a written and a video submission. Finalists will be invited to schedule a Zoom interview/information session in mid-February 2025. Scholarship recipients will be notified of their awards at the end of February/beginning of March.

While most Hamel Scholars are chosen through this application process before matriculating at UNH, a small number of Juniors join the program each year. Members of the Honors College receive an invitation to apply for this and other scholarships in spring of their sophomore year. At this stage, students do not have to be New Hampshire residents in order to apply for the Hamel Scholarship.

The Hamel Scholars Program supports its students in developing their leadership skills and helping them pursue individualized leadership goals, which they identify through one-on-one advising sessions and large group whole-cohort meetings. In reaching their identified goals, Hamel Scholars may work in small teams to design and execute a brand-new initiative to help the campus or local community, or they may work as an individual to rise to a leadership role in an existing campus organization, group or community program.

The Hamel Scholars Program offers skill-building and professional-development workshops, volunteer opportunities, twice-annual Leadership Luncheons with high-profile speakers, and intimate "Teas with Trailblazers" to provide Scholars more personal conversations with leaders in a variety of arenas. Scholars are expected to participate in a select number of these opportunities each semester.

Along with the requirements above, Hamel Scholars must maintain good standing in the Honors College.

New Hampshire residency is required for incoming freshmen who wish to apply to the Hamel Scholars Program. However, the Hamel Scholars Program typically admits rising juniors each spring (the number of available spaces varies each year), and no in-state residency is required to be admitted through this process. 

Hamel Scholars Program alumni are welcome and encouraged to continue their involvement post-graduation!

Our Scholars truly benefit from the support, expertise, and mentorship of our Hamel Alums. Please know that you have an open invitation to return to campus for any of our Hamel Scholars events, formal or casual. 

Experts, leaders, scholars, and thinkers in all fields are encouraged to reach out to Daphne Chevalier, Hamel Scholars Program Alumni Coordinator, to arrange a pop-up seminar or workshop, or for an invitation to chat with a small group of current Scholars at a "Tea with Trailblazers" event.

No. The Hamel Scholars Program is a leadership program that enrolls about 100 students, offers a generous scholarship, and requires students to participate in certain activities. Students must specifically apply for the Hamel Scholars Program, a highly competitive process. The Hamel Honors and Scholars College (Honors College, for short) is an enriched curriculum and suite of offerings serving about 1000 high-achieving students at UNH. All applicants to UNH are considered for the Honors College. However, all members of the Hamel Scholars Program must be members in good standing of the Honors College.