As freshmen, University Fellows read Aristotle and learn the concept of arete, the ancient Greek term for "excellence." Aristotle understood excellence as both doing things well and doing them for virtuous purposes. In keeping with this idea, the University Fellows Excellence Fund provides financial support for students to engage in truly excellent endeavors such as global service projects or advanced scholarship. Last summer, five Fellows received awards. Three completed international health fellowships (Uganda, Haiti, and Peru), one taught English and math to children living in the slums in India, and another interned with a social entrepreneurship non-profit in South Africa. 

In 2008, our inaugural Parents Council recognized a need within the Fellows community. Some students lacked money to purchase textbooks, others to purchase essentials like a winter coat. They established the University Fellows Student Assistance Fund, which assists Fellows with substantial financial need. In recent years, the fund has been used not only for textbooks but also for fuel and health insurance. Some of our neediest students work more than one part-time job, commute from home to save money on living expenses, and still manage to successfully carry a full academic load. For these students, the Assistance Fund makes college a bit more manageable.