Group Travel Scholarships

The DCIS Foundation provides scholarships to support immersive educational travel for DPS (Denver Public Schools) middle and high school groups.

Geographic Scope: Denver Public Schools (DPS) students; travel can be national or international

Travel Level: INTERMEDIATE - Students gain experience planning, traveling, and gaining independence while learning about cultures, languages, traditions, history, and people.

Eligibility:

• Any DPS middle school or high school group
• Travel (national or international) must be completed while students are still in middle or high school
• Teachers actively collaborate with students to decide on trip location, develop curriculum goals, and create itinerary

Focus Areas:

• Intercultural education and immersive learning
• Student travel advocacy
• Educational travel experiences

Scoring Criteria:

• Applications reviewed and scored based on Levels of Intercultural Immersion
• Intercultural education nurtures: being open-minded, tolerant, empathetic, perspective-changing, linguistically proficient, optimistic, with good communication and leadership skills

What They Fund:

• Group scholarships for educational travel
• Must be school-sponsored trips with teacher leadership

What They Don't Fund:

• The DCIS Foundation is not involved in trip development, itinerary planning, or trip decisions—schools are responsible for these aspects

Application Process Overview:

• Two-part application (Part 1: Lead Teacher Application; Part 2: Student Application—each student fills out independently)
• Groups making finals must give student-led presentation to DCIS Foundation board members
• Application scoring based on Levels of Intercultural Immersion

Timeline:

• Application Portal Opens: October 1-31 each year
• Groups not selected for final round notified within 30 days
• Finalist notifications and student presentation scheduling: December or January
• Awards given: January or February

Contact:

• Denver Center for Intercultural Scholars Foundation
• PO BOX 9044
• Denver, CO 80209
• Website: dcisfoundation.org

Group Travel Scholarship Application Process

Application Steps:

1. Lead Teacher Completes Part 1: Teacher Application for a DPS Group Trip (recommended to complete first)
2. Students Complete Part 2: Student Application for a DPS Group Trip (each student going on the trip fills this out independently)
3. Submit Applications: Use the online application portal during the open window
4. Make Edits: Changes can be made to applications up until the deadline
5. Finalist Presentations: If selected for finals, students will give a student-led presentation to DCIS Foundation board members
6. Notification: Finalist groups notified in December to coordinate presentation date and time
7. Award Notification: Awards given in January or February

Required Materials:

• Part 1: Lead Teacher Application
• Part 2: Student Applications (one per student traveling)

Application Portal Window:

• October 1-31 (annually)

Important Notes:

• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Teacher is recommended to share student application questions with students before they apply
• All applications reviewed and scored based on Levels of Intercultural Immersion (chart provided in full application)
• Not all groups that apply will be awarded a scholarship
• Groups not making final round notified within 30 days