Portuguese Studies Scholarships and Awards

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John A. and Mary V. Lima Memorial Scholarship in Portuguese Studies

The John A. and Mary V. Lima Memorial Scholarship Fund in Portuguese Studies will award two scholarships to undergraduate students majoring or minoring in Portuguese at Rhode Island College in the amount of $2,500 each upon satisfactory completion of the required course(s) in the program. At least one scholarship is intended for a student majoring in Portuguese; however, the selection committee reserves the right to adjust the distribution of the awards depending on the pool of applications presented. The awards are subject to the conditions and requirements of the Institute for Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies (IPLWS), the Rhode Island College Foundation and the John A. and Mary V. Lima Memorial Scholarship.

Scholarships will be awarded to students who have demonstrated a commitment to study the Portuguese language and Lusophone cultures at Rhode Island College. A limited number of scholarships based on the availability of institutional and private funds will be awarded to academically meritorious students who have met eligibility requirements and the criteria of the respective scholarship fund and donor.

To be eligible for this scholarship, the applicant must:

  1. Have matriculated into a baccalaureate degree program at Rhode Island College.
  2. Have attained and continue to maintain a cumulative GPA of a minimum of B- (2.67).
  3. Have successfully completed at least 16 college credit hours at RIC, 4 of which are in Portuguese.
  4. Have declared a major or minor in Portuguese.

To apply, the applicant must complete and submit the John A. and Mary V. Lima Memorial Scholarship Application Form, including essay questions, along with one recommendation from one Rhode Island College professor in the applicant's major area of study (preferably) using the John A. and Mary V. Lima Memorial Scholarship Instructor Recommendation Form.

Recipients will be notified by email, if selected. The IPWLS reserves the right to cancel any scholarship or aid awarded at any time if the applicant fails to meet the standards of academic progress, any other scholarship requirements or falsifies information reported.

For more information, contact the director of IPLWS Professor Silvia Oliveira at soliveira@ric.edu.

Lema-Fernandes Study Abroad Fund 

The Institute for Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies at Rhode Island College will award scholarships to partially support the tuition of RIC student participants in study abroad or internship programs in Portugal or other Portuguese-speaking nations. Limited funds are available, and awards depend upon the pool of applications presented. In previous years, awards have ranged from $1,000 to $6,000. Students in their graduating year who are completing or have already completed all requirements in the minor or major in Portuguese are eligible to apply.​

Applicants must also comply with all RIC Study Abroad requirements, be accepted and/or enrolled in a course or program abroad and demonstrate a commitment or intention to study Portuguese at Rhode Island College. Complete and submit the Lema-Fernandes Study Abroad Application Form, including essay questions along with one recommendation from one Rhode Island College professor in the applicant's major area of studies (preferably) using the Lema-Fernandes Study Abroad Instructor Recommendation Form. 

Awarded funds will be disbursed to the student’s RIC account upon completion of the study abroad program, transfer of credits to Rhode Island College and proof of enrollment in Portuguese at RIC upon return (if applicable).​

For more information, contact the director of IPLWS Professor Silvia Oliveira at soliveira@ric.edu.

Prémio Em Estudos Portugueses Award

The Prémio em Estudos Portugueses Award is sponsored by the Institute for Portuguese and Lusophone World Studies and consists of a cash prize of $200 awarded each year to a graduating student who has distinguished themself by outstanding academic achievement in Portuguese studies at Rhode Island College. Recipients are nominated by the Portuguese faculty in the Department of Modern Languages following the criteria established in collaboration with the donor of the prize. The prize is awarded at the College's Cap and Gown Convocation in May of the academic year. 

Sigma Chapter of Phi Lambda Beta

The Rhode Island College Sigma Chapter of Phi Lambda Beta Portuguese Honor Society is an auxiliary of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese. The purpose of this society is to reward outstanding achievement in the field of Portuguese language and Portuguese, Brazilian, African Lusophone cultures and literatures and their diaspora. Phi Lambda Beta is an exclusive National Portuguese Honor Society and has chapters in most major colleges and universities in the United States that offer academic programs and degrees in Portuguese, Brazilian and African Lusophone Studies.

Active members of the Sigma Chapter of Phi Lambda Beta Portuguese Honor Society are Rhode Island College students who are nominated on the basis of high scholarship in the Portuguese Studies Program. High scholarship is defined as a minimum of 3.25 GPA in Portuguese courses and a minimum of 3.0 GPA (on a 4.00 scale); a minimum of three years of college Portuguese or the equivalent; and a minimum of one course in literature in the Portuguese Studies Program. 

Honorary, associate and alumni membership shall also be attributed to persons – faculty members, community members, RIC alumni – who have demonstrated through scholarship, teaching and/or service, that they are earnestly interested in the promotion of the Portuguese language and Portuguese, Brazilian and African Lusophone Studies and their diaspora at Rhode Island College.