George Valenta Scholarship

George J. Valenta, Jr., a University of Michigan alumnus (1955 BA in German, minors in French and Russian), has graciously established a scholarship to benefit students who live in the Max Kade German Residence and place a strong academic emphasis on German Studies.

Description

The department will award up to three scholarships ranging from $2,000 - $2,500 depending on available funds.

Eligibility

All juniors or seniors (at time of application submission) who live in the Max Kade German Residence during the current Academic Year are eligible to apply.

Deadline

The Monday after Thanksgiving break.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit the following materials:

• Personal statement (in English) describing why the student deems themself a good candidate
• A resume (in English) highlighting past experiences or encounters with German and Germany (classes, work experience, etc.)
• Copy of academic transcript (unofficial U-M transcript)

These application items can be submitted via application form. If you have any questions please email maxkade@umich.edu.

Criteria and Review

Applications will be reviewed by the Max Kade faculty coordinator and an undergraduate advisor.

The recipient of the award will be notified by winter break. Mr. Valenta enjoys meeting the scholarship recipient. A luncheon will be organized for the recipient, Mr. Valenta, and a German department faculty member, usually the Chair, during the winter term.

**Financial assistance from all sources during the academic year (September thru August) factors into the ongoing review of your financial aid eligibility now and in the future. This includes periods when you may not be actively enrolled in courses, and includes the spring/summer term following graduation. If your total financial aid, including any new offer, exceeds your eligibility for financial assistance this academic year, your aid may be limited in a future term or reduced from previously received assistance. You can learn more about financial aid terms and conditions on the Office of Financial Aid's website. If you have questions or want to consult with someone about your particular situation, please contact OFA.

Donor Information

In 1951 George Valenta came to the University of Michigan as a Regents Alumni Scholarship recipient. Discovering his aptitude and passion for language, he received a Bachelors in German, with a double minor in Russian and French. Even as an undergraduate, George was grateful for the scholarship that gave him the financial support to study at the University of Michigan, and planned to reciprocate when he could.

He spent his first post-graduate year at the University of Potiers in France where he studied German via French. During frequent trips to Mexico and South America he has also acquired fluency in Spanish.

Upon earning a Master of Science in 1960, Valenta worked as a speech pathologist/audiologist in Grosse Pointe Farms for 30 years before he retired in order to pursue his interests in theater and the arts. Since that time he has been involved with a number of theater groups, namely the Michigan Classical Repertory Theater (MCRT), Ann Arbor Civic Theater, and the Comic Opera Guild. Valenta appeared in a rare North American fully staged production of Minna von Barnhelm with MCRT.

He created and hosted more than 200 Hatha Yoga programs that continue to air on CTN cable channel 17 each Tuesday and Wednesday. He also volunteers at Matthaei Botanical Gardens, local Senior Centers, and continues to teach Hatha Yoga at Washtenaw Community College each semester.