AREW Charitable Fund Scholarships

Each year the AREW Charitable Fund provides scholarships to one qualified undergraduate or graduate student in real estate and urban studies programs at each of three New York City schools – Baruch College, Columbia University and New York University.  We also focus on providing internships to these scholarship recipients, track their progress, and work to include them in the AREW community. 

The Merle Gross Ginsburg Scholarship
Beginning in 2008, the Charitable Fund will establish a significant new scholarship in honor of AREW founder and first president Merle Gross Ginsberg with proceeds from AREW’s 30th Anniversary Gala.

The Merle Gross-Ginsburg Scholarship Award offers substantial support to students in the NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate Master of Science program (in either Real Estate or Construction Management) who have completed 12 points. The Merle Gross-Ginsburg Scholarship Award will be awarded to a student(s) in good standing who demonstrate academic excellence as well as financial need. This award is applied to future tuition only and must be used within 24 months of the award. The number of awards and the amount may be modified depending on the applicant pool. The inaugural scholarship award(s) will total $10,000.

An AREW scholarship committee will evaluate up to five student finalists designated by NYU Schack Institute of Real Estate and determine the number of awardees as well as the amount of each award. The committee will have sole and final authority to determine both the number of scholarship recipients and the amount of each scholarship. Scholarship recipients will be determined based on a combination of academic excellence and financial need, as identified through the following:

Emphasis will be given to qualified women with financial need who have been traditionally underrepresented in real estate industry executive positions.

1. An essay, not to exceed two typewritten pages, in which the applicant will discuss her/his vision for the future, the needs of the real estate industry, career expectations and how past and present work experience and education contribute to an identified career path. Reference should also be made to community or charitable activities. The essay should include a statement explaining why the student feels that the scholarship should be awarded to him/her.

2. An assigned paper written by the student. The student will submit the best paper that she/he has completed for a Master of Science in Real Estate or Construction Management course. Group projects may not be submitted.

3. Cumulative minimum GPA of 3.0 for MS coursework as evidenced by submission of a transcript.

4. Financial need, as evidenced by a completed Personal Statement which must be signed by the student. A Personal Statement Form will be included with the scholarship application and is included here.

5. A current resume with anticipated date of graduation.

6. A letter of recommendation from a member of the faculty.

7. A recommendation letter from a current or past employer.

8. After an initial screening of applications by the appropriate educational institution, a committee of up to five (5) members of the AREW Charitable Fund Scholarship Committee MAY interview candidates.

November 30, 2009 - NYU Reception
Pictured (L/R)
Madelyne Kirch, Co-Chair, AREW Charitable Fund, MacKenzie Landers, Natalya Malinsky, Merle Gross-Ginsburg, Rachel Marom, Emely Cabrera, and Stephanie Butler, Co-Chair, AREW Charitable Fund.