Established in 1998 with generous gifts from the Springs Close Foundation, the Close Scholars Program supports the commitment of the Springs Close Foundation to give back to the communities of York, Lancaster, and Chester counties, as well as Winthrop's vision of enrolling "an achievement-oriented, culturally diverse and socially responsible student body." The idea that drives the Close Scholars Program is that service is vital to the complete education of college students because future leaders have a civic responsibility. Through the establishment of the Close Scholars Program, the Springs Close Foundation, together with Winthrop University, enables talented and committed students to develop the social consciousness and inner strength that comes from helping others, as well as a legacy with a rich yield to the greater community.

We are now taking applications for our next cohort of Close Scholars! The deadline to apply is March 31, 2023 and students selected for an interview will  be contacted via email the week of April 10. Please use the link below to apply. 

Close Scholars 2022-2023 Application 

Application Timeline Process:

• Deadline for Applications: Friday, March 30
• Review of Applications: Monday, April 3 - Friday, April 7
• Emails Sent to Selected Candidates for Interviews: Monday, April 10 - Friday, April 14
• Interviews: Monday, April 17 - Friday, April 21
• Selected Finalists/New Close Scholars Notified by Email: Week of April 24

The benefits of being chosen as a Close Scholar are numerous and include:

• The fulfillment of four years of college with the financial assistance of the Springs Close Foundation
• The opportunity to serve the community
• The opportunity to gain leadership skills through participation in service and enrichment activities
• The freedom and creativity to explore new service opportunities
• Support from the program coordinator and other Close Scholars

Close Scholars must fulfill the following requirements:

• Attend in-service activities planned at least once a month by the program coordinator
• Follow all policies of the university
• Maintain a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA throughout all semesters
• Volunteer 112 hours per semester in one or more pre-approved service sites
• Applicants must be a South Carolina resident