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CME Group Foundation Scholars Program
Deadline to apply: April 4, 2023 3:00 pm CT

CME Group Foundation has established a scholarship program to assist Black and LatinX students who are current or rising undergraduate sophomores, juniors or seniors or rising juniors, seniors, or graduate students enrolled in the 4+1 MS Finance degree program.

This program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor, and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.

Applicants to the CME Group Foundation Scholars Program must:

    • Be black or LatinX;
    • Be a current or rising undergraduate sophomore, junior or senior student (students enrolled in a 4+1 MS degree program are eligible;
    • Be enrolled or planning to enroll full-time at one of the following CME Group Foundation partner schools for the entire upcoming academic year:

Partner Schools:

  • DePaul University
  • Illinois Institute of Technology
  • Loyola University Chicago
  • National Louis University
  • Northern IL University
  • Southern IL University – Carbondale
  • Stevens Institute of Technology
  • St. Xavier University
  • University of IL – Chicago
  • University of IL Urbana – Champaign
  • Wilbur Wright College – Chicago*

*Wilbur Wright College students must be current students in their second year at Wilbur Wright College, planning to attend one of the approved four-year colleges listed above for their Junior and Senior years.

    • Majoring in:
  • Accounting
  • Computer Science
  • Cyber Security
  • Data Science
  • Finance
  • Financial Engineering
  • Information Technology
  • Math
  • Statistics
  • Have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent);
  • Be willing to attend a one-day market education program at CME Group in Chicago in August 2023 to learn about the industry and summer internship opportunities. Recipients will be reimbursed for travel expenses for the day. Market Education Day may be virtual, based on health guidelines.

Awards

If selected as a recipient, the student will receive up to $20,000. Award amounts may vary based on financial need.

Awards are renewable until a bachelor’s degree is earned on the basis of continued full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic performance.

Awards are for undergraduate study only. Awards may be used for all education-related expenses.

Notification

Applicants will be notified in June.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of CME Group Foundation. Payments are made in one installment in August.

Selection of Recipients

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

  • Academic record
  • Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
  • Work experience
  • A statement of educational and career goals and objectives
  • Unusual personal or family circumstances
  • Two essays*

Recipients must demonstrate financial need.

Selection of recipients is made by CME Group Foundation. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. Students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

*Essay Topics

  • Why have you chosen to pursue a degree in your major and what excites you about that field?
  • What is a time you have faced a challenge? What did you do to respond to it?

As part of your application, you must upload the following document(s):

  • A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Unofficial or online transcripts must display student name, school name, grades and credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.
  • A copy of your Federal FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR). If you are not eligible to apply for FAFSA, you must upload a note of explanation in place of the SAR.

Your application is not complete unless all required documents are submitted electronically through the Scholarship America Student Hub.

CME Group Foundation has partnered with Scholarship America. Select the button below to be directed to the Scholarship America Student Hub!