TheDream.US
TheDream.US is a scholarship program for undocumented students. UTRGV is a partner institution and provides support for the scholarship. Students DO NOT have to have DACA or TPS to apply. Students attending UTRGV who are either high school or community college graduates can apply for TheDream.US - National Scholarship. To learn more about this scholarship visit www.thedream.us.
Applications are open to undocumented immigrant students with or without DACA or TPS who came to the U.S. before the age of 16 and before Nov. 1, 2017.
The award is renewable each year – you simply have to meet the continuing eligibility criteria. To learn more and apply visit https://thedream.us.
New entering TheDream.US Scholars, please register for your orientation! www.utrgv.edu/orientation
At new student orientation, you will have the chance to register for your classes! Remember, TheDream.US Scholarship requires scholars to enroll full-time with 12 hours or more per semester. www.utrgv.edu/ucentral/registration/registration-instructions/index.htm
TheDream.US Scholarship funds will be paid towards your tuition 10 days before your first-class day of the semester. The UTRGV Scholarships and Enrollment Communication Office will process funds according to your full-time enrollment.
If applicable, TheDream.US Scholars must provide the Affidavit of Residency Form to the Admissions Office. You may find the form for submission below:
www.utrgv.edu/undergraduate-admissions/readmit-students/admissions-forms/index.htm
It is very important for TheDream.US Scholars to apply for financial aid via the TASFA Application. If you are looking for additional financial assistance, then the TASFA application is for you. For additional information or assistance, contact the UTRGV Financial Aid Office at 956-882-4026. Your UTRGV TASFA contact is Ms. Kristy Villarreal, kristy.villarreal@utrgv.edu.
www.utrgv.edu/ucentral/student-resources/student-forms/financial-aid-forms/index.htm
One of the great tools TheDream.US Scholarship offers is the ISTS Portal. In this portal, you can review your scholarship funding, determine how much funding you have left, and review the scholarship funding timeline. You may log into your ISTS Portal here: https://dream.applyists.net
TheDream.US has a hub available for current scholars. The hub is considered the headquarters where you can find the Program Guide, PC Directory, all emails we sent in Latest News, career and personal development opportunities, and a Resource page with past info-sessions and how-to videos.
Review TheDream.US scholarship requirements in the scholarship guide: https://thedream.us/for-scholars/national-scholarship-program-guide
Monitor your ISTS portal for your scholarship balance and allotted time to complete your degree: https://dream.applyists.net
TheDream.US scholarship can be used for your summer semesters! At the end of each Spring semester, and before the summer semester begins, we will review all TheDream.US Scholars enrolled in summer courses. At that time, the UTRGV Scholarships and Enrollment Communication Office will enter the TheDream.US award. The funding will be used to cover any remaining tuition costs after other financial aid has paid for tuition costs. Visit my.utrgv.edu ASSIST to look at your student bill.
It is very important for TheDream.US Scholars to apply for financial aid via the TASFA Application. If you are looking for additional financial assistance, then the TASFA application is for you. For additional information or assistance, contact the UTRGV Financial Aid Office at 956-882-4026. Your UTRGV TASFA contact is Ms. Kristy Villarreal, kristy.villarreal@utrgv.edu.
www.utrgv.edu/ucentral/student-resources/student-forms/financial-aid-forms/index.htm
Scholarship requires scholars to maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher and enroll in at least 12 hours. If you are concerned about not meeting these requirements, contact your Scholar Advisors, Mr. Jesus Hernandez, and Ms. Samantha Castellanos. Your Scholar Advisors may assist you by developing a plan to get you back on track!
Jesus Hernandez: jesus.hernandez@utrgv.edu
Samantha Castellanos: samantha.castellanos@utrgv.edu
Holds are placed on student accounts due to pending items. A list of holds and how to clear each hold can be found below:
www.utrgv.edu/holds
A great attribute of TheDream.US Scholarship, is that it comes with a $750 stipend for each Fall and Spring semester! You can determine if you would like the stipend to be applied towards your tuition bill, or if you would like the stipend to be given directly to you. It is recommended you authorize the stipend be applied to your bill to avoid being dropped if you have a remaining balance. Complete and submit the following form to scholarships@utrgv.edu: https://www.utrgv.edu/scholarships/scholarships/outside-scholarships/thedream.us/thedreamus-fillable-form.pdf
TheDream.US Scholarship does have to be renewed every summer! You will receive an email communication from TheDream.US Scholarship in June. The email will provide a link for scholars to renew their TheDream.US Scholarship. The renewal application does require an unofficial transcript from UTRGV. The UTRGV transcript will be emailed to all Scholars from the UTRGV Scholarships and Enrollment Communication Office once spring grades post. https://thedream.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Renewal-Graphic-April-2020.png
You may visit your Academic Advisor at any point during your academic career. An Academic Advisor is here to assist you with any questions regarding your degree plan. An added benefit of the scholarship is that you have Scholar Advisors to provide the additional support needed for academic success. You may contact your Scholar Advisors, Mr. Jesus Hernandez, and Ms. Samantha Castellanos, to review your academic record and seek additional assistance with your scholarship. Be sure to conduct outreach to your Scholar Advisors if you are unsure of your registration, will be registering less than full-time status, or are below the 2.0 GPA requirement.
www.utrgv.edu/advising/
Jesus Hernandez: jesus.hernandez@utrgv.edu
Samantha Castellanos: samantha.castellanos@utrgv.edu
We understand there are circumstances in which a scholar may need to take a semester off. If you plan to take a semester off (break in enrollment), please connect with your Scholar Advisors, Mr. Jesus Hernandez, and Ms. Samantha Castellanos. Your Scholar Advisors will review your academic record and provide you with a plan of action to return to UTRGV. To maintain your scholarship, you will need to complete a request form via your ISTS portal. Additional information regarding the break in enrollment process can be found below:
https://thedream.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/National-Scholarship-Program-Guide-June-2022.pdf
Jesus Hernandez: jesus.hernandez@utrgv.edu
Samantha Castellanos: samantha.castellanos@utrgv.edu
- Scholar HUB https://www.thedream.us/for-scholars/
- Scholar Resource Guide: https://www.thedream.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Scholar-Resource-Guide-Spring-2022-Final.pdf
- National Scholar Program Guide: https://thedream.us/for-scholars/national-scholarship-program-guide
- Scholar Partner College Directory: https://thedream.us/for-scholars/partner-college-directory
- TheDream.US UTRGV Support Personnel
| Title | Name | Role | |
| Supervising Clinical Therapist – Counseling Center | Leah Ellis | Mental Health Liaison | leah.ellis@utrgv.edu |
| Supervising Clinical Therapist – Counseling Center | Andrew Perez | Mental Health Liaison | andrew.perez02@utrgv.edu |
| Associate Director – Career Center | Lourdes Servantes | Career Services Liaison | lourdes.servantes@utrgv.edu |
| Assistant Director of Career Outcomes – Career Center | Jaime Villanueva | Career Services Liaison | jaime.villanueva@utrgv.edu |
| Scholarship Coordinator – Scholarships and Enrollment Communication Office | Antonio Alvarez | Scholarship Office Liaison | antonio.alvarez02@utrgv.edu |
| Program Coordinator – Office of Student Success | Samantha Castellanos | Scholar Advisor | samantha.castellanos@utrgv.edu |
| Associate Director – Academic Advising Center | Jesus Hernandez | Scholar Advisor | jesus.hernandez@utrgv.edu |
TheDream.US has over 2,100 graduates who are driven, resilient, and helping move our shared country forward. They are nurses, teachers, authors, computer scientists, research scientists, business entrepreneurs, nurses, policy analysts, social justice workers – all contributing to the social and economic prosperity of this country.
Their stories are ones of resilience and determination. You can read about what they do, why their work matters, and the unique perspectives they bring to their work. Visit https://www.thedream.us/impact/stories/
All graduating scholars must apply for graduation the semester before their intended graduation date. Once the application is submitted, your Scholar Advisor will review your record to determine eligibility for graduation. Steps to apply for graduation can be found below:
https://www.utrgv.edu/commencement/graduation/apply-for-graduation/index.htm
DegreeWorks is an online tool used to review progress toward degree completion. This tool is used by your degree auditor to determine eligibility for degree awarding. Additional information can be found below:
https://www.utrgv.edu/ucentral/student-resources/degreeworks-student/index.htm
Holds are placed on student accounts due to pending items. A list of holds and how to clear each hold can be found below:
www.utrgv.edu/holds
TheDream.US Scholars receive a graduation stole provided by the scholarship. Upon your final semester before graduation, the UTRGV Scholarships and Enrollment Communication Office will have your TheDream.US graduation stole for you! Stop by the UTRGV Scholarships and Enrollment Communication Office, and a scholarship representative will hand you your stole. If you are unable to pick up your stole, please contact Mr. Antonio Alvarez, Scholarship Office Liaison, for assistance.
Antonio Alvarez: antonio.alvarez02@utrgv.edu