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Current Students

The Cornell Commitment

The Cornell Commitment consists of three programs:

These programs recognize, reward, and encourage further development of a select group of students who exemplify Cornell's commitment to academic excellence, work and service, research and discovery, and leadership and learning, and in so doing, enrich their experience at Cornell and beyond.

Cornell Tradition
The Cornell Tradition supports lifestyles that integrate a strong work ethic, public service, and academic achievement by rewarding students who exemplify these characteristics with recognition and financial assistance for their education.

The program encourages Tradition Fellows to unify around these common commitments and to serve as models to their communities. It also supports the development of fellows into well-rounded, productive members of society who, as alumni, will continue to support the program, both financially and through active involvement with those fellows who follow in their footsteps.  Cornell Tradition Application Information

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Hunter R. Rawlings III Presidential Research Scholars Program
An anonymous gift to the university created the Cornell Presidential Research Scholars program in 1996. In 2006, Cornell's Board of Trustees renamed the program in honor of President Hunter R. Rawlings, III, in recognition of his commitment to students and scholars.

Open to all students, across all academic disciplines, in all seven undergraduate colleges, this program enables its awardees to collaborate with faculty mentors of their choosing in designing and planning an individualized program of research - a degree of collaboration usually unheard of in the undergraduate experience. Magnifying the power of this dynamic student-faculty partnership, the program gives each scholar a generous $8,000 research support account (RSA) and an annual need-based loan replacement of up to $4,000. 

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Meinig Family Cornell National Scholars Program
Meinig Family Cornell National Scholars are a select group of students who are drawn from all parts of the country and demonstrate an outstanding degree of leadership. Along with their leadership abilities, these students exhibit academic excellence and a commitment to serving the communities in which they live. By encouraging the growth of these important qualities, the program not only enriches the Cornell community but also lays the foundation for these students to excel as leaders well beyond their college years.

When you become a Meinig Family Cornell National Scholar, you are joining a forum of leaders, through which you can tap into the resources of other leaders all over campus. The following benefits are also available:

  • Connections to the Cornell administration.
  • Leadership development opportunities.
  • Loan replacement (up to $4,000) or a Book Award of $600 each year.
  • One-time funding (up to $3,000) for an internship that is either in the nonprofit sector or is career-related, along with an estimated savings replacement of up to $3,000.

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