4 points
Prompt is clear in the essay.
Informative with clear focus and supporting details.
Very well organized; easy to read.
Voice is confident throughout.
Sentence flow throughout essay.
Nouns and verbs make essay informative.
Zero grammatical errors.
ESSAY PROMPT
IDEAS
ORGANIZATION
VOICE
SENTENCE FLUENCY
WORD CHOICE
CONVENTIONS
3 points
Prompt is somewhat clear in the essay.
Informative with clear focus with some supporting details.
Has a beginning, middle, and end.
Voice is confident moderately.
Sentences mostly flow.
Decent use of nouns and verbs.
Few grammatical errors.
2 points
Prompt needs to be elaborated.
Focus needs to be expanded and supporting details are needed.
Little organization, needs transitions.
Voice is somewhat confident.
Sentences needs to flow.
Needs specific nouns and verbs; too general.
Several grammatical errors.
1 point
Prompt was not included, and essay is irrelevant
Topic needs to be developed.
Organization is needed.
Little to no voice; needs confidence.
Sentences are difficult to read and do not flow.
Little to no use of specific nouns and verbs.
Many errors which make it hard to read and understand.
ESSAY GUIDELINES
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Please follow the essay requirements for the category you are applying under. You will be scored on how well your essay addresses the specific questions listed. The rubric can be found below.
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Answer the required essay prompt for your corresponding category in 600 - 1,000 words or less, double-spaced, 12 point font in Times New Roman.
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Essay Prompts
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Academic Achievement Applicants Only: Describe a moment when your academic pursuits changed your perspective or inspired your future ambitions.
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High Financial Need Applicants Only: How has your financial situation shaped your academic career?
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Unique Situation/Non-Traditional Student Applicants Only: What is one example of adversity that affected your outlook/ perspective in life?
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SCHOLARSHIP & ESSAY SCORING RUBRIC
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The ASUH Scholarship Essay is scored based on this rubric. All scores will be divided by 4 to create a score on a 4.0 scale
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NOTE: Your total score will be based out of a total of 100 points. This score is calculated based on your GPA and/or EFC, Essay Score and Letter of Recommendation. All Components must be included for consideration.
FALL 2026 AWARDS ARE OPEN
APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 9th, 2026 at 11:59 PM
WINNERS INFORMED:
ASUH SCHOLARSHIP
Thank you for your interest in the ASUH Scholarship. This opportunity is available to all full-time, classified undergraduate students of UH Mānoa. This award was designed to assist students to financially offset the cost of tuition. (Awards may be subject to state and federal applicable taxes. This may also affect your financial aid status and cost of attendance.)
Funds can be awarded up to $5,000 per individual.
Applicants are only available for one award.
Note: Past and present ASUH Senators, Executive Officers, Student Court Members and ASUH student employees are not eligible to receive these awards. Students who have received this award are not eligible to apply again within the same academic school year.
Study Abroad Scholarship is available through the ASUH Scholarship as well.
HIGH FINANCIAL NEED CATEGORY APPLICANTS ONLY:
A copy of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the APPLYING academic year with the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) must be submitted via the online application. Please include your full name.
UNIQUE SITUATION/NON-TRADITIONAL CATEGORY APPLICANTS ONLY:
Applicants include but not limited to:
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Student parents
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Non-traditional Freshmen
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Returning/Transfer Students
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Situations that significantly affects student (i.e. family related, health related)
ASUH SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORMS
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Online Application - application form for the ASUH Scholarship Award (see below)
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Letter of Recommendation - to be filled out by an appropriate reference
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Frequently Asked Questions - answers to a list of common questions regarding the ASUH Scholarship
SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS
Student seeking to apply for the ASUH Scholarship Award:
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Must be a full-time, undergraduate, classified student at UH Mānoa
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Must apply under one of three categories:
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Academic Achievement (Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher)
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High Financial Need
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Unique Situation/Non-Traditional Student (Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher)
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Must complete all required fields of the online application
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Student applying for the ASUH Scholarship Award:
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Must upload a .docx of the essay that should be no more than 600 - 1,000 words, double-spaced, in 12 point Times New Roman font. Must follow Essay Guidelines.
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Must submit a copy of their most recently completed semester's official or unofficial transcript to the ASUH Office...
We are now accepting unofficial and official transcripts.
If you are an incoming freshman, please send us your unofficial transcripts from STAR. We do not accept high school transcripts. -
All transcripts should be emailed to asuh@hawaii.edu or mailed to:
Associated Students of the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
2465 Campus Road
Campus Center Rm 211A
Honolulu, HI 96822
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Must have upload a Letter of Recommendation from a non-family member with contact information
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Is recommended to participate in an ASUH sponsored event within the following semester
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Please double check your UH Student ID when applying
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
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Letter of Recommendation can be overlooked upon request only due to extenuating circumstances. Please email asuhuaa@hawaii.edu two weeks prior to application deadline.
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The UAA committee has discretion to fund all or part of any applications.
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An applicant's GPA/transcript is a dependable indicator
ASUH SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY GUIDELINES
Q: May apply to more than one ASUH Scholarship?
A: Yes! It is highly encouraged that applicants apply to more than one scholarship. However, after the scoring process we will only award you with a scholarship in which you receive the most monetary amount.
Q: If I apply in the fall semester, when will I get my award?
A: You will be awarded in the same semester that you apply in.
Q: If I apply to more than one ASUH Scholarship then do I have to submit multiple letters of recommendation?
A: You may use the same letter of recommendation for both applications. We suggest that your letter of recommendation is general or inclusive enough to be used for both applications.
Q: I’m an incoming freshman and haven’t been able to make close connections with my new professors yet. Can I ask a teacher from my high school to write me a letter of recommendation?
A: Yes, new students are allowed to ask their high school teachers/advisors for a letter of recommendation.
Q: If I am an incoming freshman, do I submit my high school or college transcript?
A: If you are an incoming freshman, please submit your unofficial transcript from STAR. We do not accept high school transcripts.
Q: May the letter of recommendation be waived for me?
A: While we understand that our constituents may have unique situations in which a letter of recommendation is hard to obtain, we do not waive letters of recommendation lightly. However, we would like to make suggestions about who you can ask since we do not specifically require it to be written from an academic source or faculty member. Letters may be from an employer, work supervisor, volunteer coordinator, and or community member that is not related to you.
Q: If I’m a transfer student, can I submit my community college transcript?
A: Yes, transfer students should include their transcripts in their application if they have not taken any classes yet from UH Manoa.
Q: I’m transferring next semester, can I apply for this semester’s scholarship?
A: Applicants must be enrolled at UH Manoa during the same semester as scholarship applications are being advertised for. For example, if you are transferring next fall semester then you should apply once fall semester has begun.
Q: Where can I submit my transcripts?
A: Transcripts should be mailed to:
Associated Students of the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa
2465 Campus Road
Campus Center Rm 211A
Honolulu, HI 96822
Q: When can I expect to hear the results of my application?
A: Current application results are being decided upon currently, and will be announced soon.
ASUH SCHOLARSHIP FAQ
