The Chris Grootaert Endowed Economics Scholarship

Born in Ghent, Belgium, Dr. Christiaan Grootaert obtained his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Upon graduation, he joined the staff of the World Bank where his efforts focused primarily on poverty alleviation in West Africa. Dr. Grootaert was one of the founders of the Living Standard Measurement Study, which created a worldwide system for the collection of poverty data.

While living in Hawaii, Dr. Grootaert gained a lifelong appreciation for Hawaiian culture, history, and music. In gratitude for the outstanding education that he received at the University of Hawaii, and in his desire to advance the interests of native Hawaiian people, Dr. Grootaert established the Chris Grootaert scholarship endowment in perpetuity. The scholarship reflects his belief that economic leadership and knowledge is an integral part of the empowerment of the native Hawaiian community.

The Grootaert scholarship endowment is established in perpetuity to support students of Hawaiian ancestry in the study of economics. A maximum amount of $2000 per student may be awarded per academic year and can be repeated with a lifetime maximum of $5000 per recipient.

Scholarship recipients must be undergraduate students pursuing degree in economics, with preference given to native Hawaiian students. Academic merit (minimum 2.75 GPA) and financial need will be considered in the review of candidates.

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To Apply:

Please apply for the scholarship through the Common Application.

If you have questions, please contact the Undergraduate Program Chair.