Office of Fellowships Knight-Hennessy Overview

Who is eligible?

Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) has no restrictions based on age, college or university, field of study, or career aspiration. Citizens of all countries are encouraged to apply. KHS does not require applicants to seek endorsement from colleges, universities, or other institutions, and there are no quotas by discipline or program.

There are two baseline requirements:

1. You must apply to, be accepted by, and enroll in a full-time Stanford graduate degree program including, but not limited to, DMA, JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MPP, MS, or PhD programs (also to include one of Stanford's many joint- and dual-degree options).  Thus, it is imperative you follow the instructions for application to your chosen Stanford degree program, and apply appropriately.
2. You must have earned a US bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, and may only be up to six years removed from your college graduation (e.g., To apply in 2024, you must have earned your degree in January 2018 or later). Those who have served in their country's military have two additional years of eligibility (i.e., you may be up to 8 years removed from graduation). 

Does this application require endorsement by the college?

No.

How much funding is awarded and how can I use it?

The program funds up to three years of graduate education, and for those whose degree program exceeds three years (such as MD or PhD programs, or dual- or joint-degree programs) their academic department(s) will fund the remainder of their education to the extent consistent with the department(s) standard funding commitment. 

For each year of funding Scholars receive: a fellowship applied directly to cover tuition and associated fees; a stipend for living and academic expenses (such as room and board, books, academic supplies, instructional materials, local transportation, and reasonable personal expenses); a travel stipend intended to cover one economy-class ticket for an annual trip to and from Stanford. 

Additional funding for certain years are also available, such as a one-time relocation stipend, and supplemental funds for academic enrichment. Scholars who engage in optional research projects during the summer can receive summer funding. Additionally, Scholars pursuing positive impact through social entrepreneurship may be eligible to apply for seed funding. 

Who from Amherst has won this award?

Since the K-H Scholars program's inception in 2016, three Amherst students have been selected as scholars, in addition to several finalists. 

• Harith Khawaja '19
• Dakota Foster '18
• Matthew DeButts '14

What is the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program history and mission?

The mission of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program is to educate and prepare a community of scholars for leadership roles in academia, industry, government, nonprofits and the community at large. 

Established in 2016, the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program aims to “prepare a new generation of leaders with a deep academic foundation and the broad skill set to develop creative solutions to effect positive change in the world,"  and stems from funding through Stanford alums Phil Knight, MBA '62 (Co-founder of Nike), and numerous benefactors. It is named for Mr. Knight and John L. Hennessy, who was the 10^th president of Stanford University and is the academic architect and visionary behind the program. 

The program offers a transformative experience including opportunities for leadership development, mentorship, and immersive interdisciplinary experiential learning that will produce leaders in government, business, and nonprofits who can creatively address society’s thorniest problems.