Portz Scholars
Portz Scholars applications are accepted once a year. Applications are due to NCHC's Awards & Grants Committee by the first Friday in June. Honors Colleges & Programs may submit one paper per year. Each applicant must submit a nomination form, a copy of the nominated paper, a one-page abstract, and a brief letter of nomination.
After the applications are received, the papers are divided up among committee members. Each committee member nominates one to two finalists from his/her pool of papers. All papers nominated for the final round are sent to all reviewers and the reviewers rank the top 4. The three papers with the highest scores become the winners.
Papers must come from a student who was enrolled in the institution's college/program during the previous academic year. The work must be written (not photo or video). There are no specifications regarding length.
Portz Grants
NCHC institutional and professional members are eligible to apply for small grants (up to $500.00) and for large grants (normally up to $1,000.00). Applications are accepted twice-yearly, March 15 and September 15. Portz Fund grants are intended to support Honors program/college innovation.
The Portz Grant Application and supporting narrative are required for a grant application. Portz Fund grants are made to Honors programs/colleges (not to individuals) to help them engage in program innovation rather than to fund ongoing operations or meet ordinary expenses. Applications that demonstrate clearly the way in which the innovation will be of benefit beyond the confines of the institution’s own Honors program/college normally are favored as are applications that demonstrate commitment of the institution's own funds (not fractions of released time for faculty or administrators, computer usage, and the like).
The narrative statement should address the way in which a Portz Fund grant will help your Honors program/college in terms of one or more of the Basic Characteristics of a Fully-Developed Honors Program.
Portz Fund grants may not be used for food, drinks, on-campus space rental, or student travel to conferences.