Applications

Applications for the 2026-27 academic year open December 1 and will be accepted through April 30 on a rolling basis. Invitations to join the program will begin going out in early March and continue until all spots are filled.

Eligibility for the Wendt Character Scholars Program

Students new to UD are eligible to apply for the Wendt Character Scholarship. Applications are evaluated based on good academic and behavioral standing, service experience, and overall fit with the program. If you are selected, you must commit to full participation in required co-curricular programming throughout the academic year to be accepted as a Wendt Character Scholar and receive the $3,500 scholarship.

The Wendt Character Scholarship is awarded on an annual basis and is renewable up to two times, for a total of three years of participation in the program. We encourage all incoming undergraduate students who wish to be a Character Scholar to apply. After three years of participation, Scholars may apply to be Character Ambassadors for their fourth year at UD.

Learn more about the Wendt Character Scholars Program here. If you have any questions, please contact us at 563.589.3440 or Wendt@dbq.edu.

See Guidelines for New Applicants to the Character Scholars Program
See Guidelines for Renewing Character Scholars
See Guidelines for Third-Year Character Scholars Applying to Be Character Ambassadors

Guidelines for New Applicants to the Wendt Character Scholars Program

Criteria for Selection

Selections are based on the following criteria:

Acceptance as a full-time undergraduate student at the University of Dubuque for the coming academic year. (You can apply for the Character Scholars program at the same time as applying to UD-you don't already have to be accepted and committed to attending to UD)
High school and/or college transcripts that demonstrate your ability to balance academics and co-curricular engagement.
Video and written essay question responses that reflect character and virtue commitments.
Past experience serving a community, i.e. school, hometown, church, or university, etc.
Your potential for personal and leadership development.

Expected Commitments if Accepted into Scholars Program

Each selected student for the Character Scholars Program must commit to participate in the year-long co-curricular programming, which entails the following:

Sign the Character Scholar Commitment.
Meet each assigned Monday evening during the fall and spring semester from 6:00 - 7:45 p.m. and other times as is designated.
Complete weekly assignments in a timely fashion.
Participate in a minimum of 15 hours of service per semester.
Participate in Wendt-sponsored academic and social events during the academic year (e.g. Wendt Character Lectures).
Bring a lively interest and a willingness to engage in the exploration of what it means to cultivate good character and live a life of purpose for the common good.
Maintain academic good standing of 2.5 GPA or better, and good standing in the Office of Student Life.
Commit to staying in touch after graduation to let us know the impact of the program.

Overview of the Application for the Character Scholars Program

What you will need in order to complete the application:

Your contact information, student information, and demographic information
A list of your activities and interests
The URL for your 2-minute video essay (see below), which you will have posted as "Unlisted" on YouTube.
Five written essays of approx. 250 words each (see below)
Two references (non-family members) and their email address and phone number so we can contact them.

Some advice for a positive submission experience:

Use Chrome or Edge as your browser when you fill out your application form.
Prepare your 2-minute video essay and written essays (and save them on your own device) before you fill out the application to avoid the platform timing out and losing your work while you are preparing those.
Read our instructions for preparing the video essay and posting it as an "Unlisted" video on YouTube.
Ahead of filling out this application, talk to your two references (non-family members) and get their email address and phone number. It's a good idea to ask their permission first and let them know we might reach out, but don't panic if we don't.

Application Essay Questions

2-Minute Video Essay on Your Story

Share your story on why you want to become a Wendt Character Scholar.

Share your thoughts: "The kind of person I want to become during my time at UD is someone who..."

Click here for instructions on preparing your video essay.

Written Essays

Before You Begin the Written Essays - A Note to Applicants

This application is about who you are becoming, not just what you've done.

You'll see a set of reflection prompts under each question, connected to our Character Scholar values. These prompts are designed to help you think about your character, purpose, and how you hope to grow in college.

How to approach this section:

You do not have to answer every single bullet point under each question. Choose the prompts that speak to you most - the ones that make you think or describe your story best.
We are not looking for perfect answers. We're looking for honest reflection and genuine thoughtfulness.
Your responses can be short but meaningful. Clear and sincere is better than long and polished.
Help us see your authentic self through use of details specific to you! Avoid sharing vague or general truisms or cliches.
Think of this as a conversation about the type of person you want to be - not a test.
We welcome you to share about any unusual or significant life experiences in your reflections.

You might choose to:

Share a story or moment that shaped you.
Reflect on a challenge or responsibility you've carried.
Describe how you hope to grow, serve, or lead at UD.

Our goal is simple: We want to learn how you think about character, community, and purpose - in your own words.

Written Essay 1: Purpose and Direction

What am I hoping to find or become? (Seeking Knowledge & Insight)

What do I hope college will do for me - not just academically, but in shaping who I become?
When have I felt most "alive" or purposeful? What does that reveal about what I value?
Who do I look up to as a person of character? What specifically makes them admirable?
What questions about life, faith, justice, or purpose am I genuinely curious about exploring in college?

Written Essay 2: Wellbeing & Inner Strength

How will I stay grounded? (Supporting Wellbeing)

What pressures or expectations do I carry (from self, school, family, culture)? How do I handle them?
When life feels overwhelming, what helps me reset emotionally or spiritually?
How do I react when I fail, make a mistake, or feel like I don't belong? What kind of resilience do I want to grow?
What habits could I build now to care for my mental, emotional, and spiritual health before college even begins?

Written Essay 3: Community & Belonging

Who will I become with others? (Strengthening Community)

What kind of friend, roommate, or classmate do I hope to be?
When have I helped someone feel included - or accidentally left someone out? What did I learn from it?
How do I handle differences - in background, beliefs, politics, or values?
What would it take for me to help create a community of belonging instead of just trying to "fit in"?

Written Essay 4: Service & Impact

How will I use what I've been given? (Serving Others)

What gifts, passions, or perspectives do I bring that could make a difference on campus or in the world?
When I see something unfair or hurtful, what holds me back from responding - and what might give me courage?
How do I define "success"? Does it include helping others, or just personal achievement?
College will give me opportunities - how do I want to use them responsibly and not just personally?

Written Essay 5: My Character

Which virtues and/or character pursuits guiding the Wendt Character Initiative best capture who I am? (See pursuits and example virtues at https://www.dbq.edu/Wendt/About/)

Which pursuits and/or virtues do I already highly value and practice, and how do they show up in my life?
Which pursuits or virtues am I most excited to delve into more deeply? What do I think might come out of exploring them more?

Guidelines for Renewing Character Scholars

If you are currently a first- or second-year Wendt Character Scholar who will return to UD for the full 2026-27 academic year, we encourage you to apply for renewal by indicating your interest in continuing in the program on the Character Scholars' mid-year reflection assignment (found on Canvas) in January 2026. You can participate up to three years in the Wendt Character Scholars program.

Renewals are evaluated based on good academic and behavioral standing and your completion of responsibilities from the past year. You must be willing to commit to another full year in the program in order to be considered for renewal. Click here for a reminder of what this commitment entails.

Guidelines for Applying to Become a Character Ambassador

After your third year in the Wendt Character Scholars program, you are eligible to be placed in the Wendt Character Ambassadors program. You can apply by indicating your interest on the Character Scholars' mid-year reflection assignment (found on Canvas) in January 2026.

This fourth-year experience comes with a $3,500 scholarship. Each student selected to be a Character Ambassador must commit to participating in the year-long co-curricular programming. This is a significant leadership opportunity, as the Character Ambassador group will work with the Wendt Center team during their one-year commitment to design the year's programming for Scholars, join a mentor group each session, and help lead large group sessions. Some other activities include:

Represent the Wendt Center at Campus Visit days
Lead group service opportunities
Lead Sunday pizza nights for Scholars
Other Wendt-related tasks as they come up