A merit-based Butler University scholarship, ranging from $5,000 up to full tuition, awarded to incoming students who combine strong academic performance with a demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in their schools or communities.
About this scholarship
For more than 30 years, Butler has awarded the Morton-Finney Scholars Award to students who demonstrate strong academic rigor and performance, alongside a commitment to fostering inclusion and valuing different perspectives and backgrounds through their high school and community activities. The award is named to honor the late Dr. John Morton-Finney, an African American alumnus of Butler University who earned 11 degrees, practiced law for 53 years (becoming Indiana's oldest practicing attorney), was among the last surviving members of the WWI all-Black Buffalo Soldiers unit, and served the Indianapolis Public School system for 47 years as a teacher and administrator.
What the award includes
Award amounts range from $5,000 to full tuition (combined with other Butler gift assistance, state, and federal aid)
Renewable each year, provided the student meets renewal criteria outlined in their scholarship offer
Recipients join the Morton-Finney Scholars Program community: cohort meetings, mentorship, leadership development (public speaking, graphic design, etc.), and a supportive identity-affirming community
Award letters/notifications are typically sent by early February
Who can apply
Must be an incoming first-year (or, per some listings, transfer) student applying for a first bachelor's degree
Must submit the Common App by the November 1 deadline
Must demonstrate strong academic rigor and performance
Must show a track record of, or strong commitment to, fostering inclusion and valuing diverse perspectives and backgrounds through high school and community activities
Recipients must remain in good standing with the Morton-Finney Scholars Program to renew the award (see program guidelines below)
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