About

A Unique Undergraduate Program Devoted to Educating the Future Leaders of Jewish, Western, and American Civilization
The Rosenthal-Levy Scholars Program offers four-year scholarships for exceptional college students interested in studying the great ideas of Jewish and Western civilization at the Hamilton Center at the University of Florida. The program includes a rigorous sequence of academic courses focused on great books and ideas, a unique study abroad experience in Israel, a robust set of extracurricular leadership opportunities, and high-level internships and career mentorship. The program is open to undergraduate students of any background who embody our core principles and aims. Rosenthal-Levy Scholars receive a generous scholarship award—including full tuition for all four years of study and a $7,000 per year living stipend.

Our Core Principles and Aims

The Rosenthal-Levy Scholars Program is devoted to five core principles:
  1. We believe that college students interested in the great ideas of Jewish and Western civilization merit the opportunity to study with master professors and practitioners. The Hamilton Center at the University of Florida is widely recognized as one of the world’s preeminent undergraduate programs for students interested in history, philosophy, literature, economics, law, and strategy.
  2. We believe that Jewish ideas and Jewish civilization—from the Hebrew Bible to rabbinic thought, from medieval Jewish philosophy to the birth of modern Zionism—are central to understanding the deepest questions of human life and the great currents of human history.
  3. We are looking for students with the character, ambition, and moral seriousness to develop as future civic leaders. This is the spirit of the Rosenthal-Levy community of scholars.
  4. We are committed to helping Rosenthal-Levy Scholars advance in their future careers in every key field—including public policy and law, education and academia, journalism and culture, science and technology, business and entrepreneurship, religious and civic leadership.
  5. We believe that our scholars should have intensive experiences studying abroad—both in Israel and in other key nations that are central to the future of our civilization.

The Scholarship Program

The Rosenthal-Levy Scholars program will include:
  • An academic home in the Hamilton Center—including full access to a world-class faculty in history, philosophy, literature, political thought, economics, and strategy and to the newly founded Robert M. Beren Program on Jewish Classical Education. All Rosenthal-Levy Scholars will be required to complete at least one major at the Hamilton Center.
  • Access to the full academic resources of the University of Florida—including majors, minors, and general education courses in business, the natural sciences, artificial intelligence, economics, and beyond. All Rosenthal-Levy Scholars will be permitted and encouraged to complete a second major in any academic field of their choice.
  • A generous scholarship—including full tuition for all four years of study and a $7,000 per year living stipend.
  • A required study abroad experience in Israel, as well as the option to study abroad in other key nations of the world.
  • A community of Rosenthal-Levy Scholars involved in shaping the extracurricular life of the University of Florida through events, study groups, visiting speakers, and campus leadership.
  • A high-level mentorship and internship program devoted to helping our scholars advance in a wide range of careers.

The Application Process

We will admit our first Rosenthal-Levy Scholars for incoming UF students in Fall 2025. The final application deadline is March 15, 2025. We will review applications on a rolling basis, and we strongly encourage students to submit as early as possible. To learn more about the application process and eligibility requirements, click here. Note: The Rosenthal-Levy Scholars program is an independent scholarship offered in coordination with the University of Florida. All applicants must also apply directly and separately for admission to the University of Florida, which you can do by clicking here.

Who Runs the Rosenthal-Levy Scholars Program?

The Rosenthal-Levy Scholars Program is run by Tikvah, an educational institution and think-tank dedicated to preserving the best of Jewish, Western, and American civilization. The scholarship program is made possible by the generous support of two donor families: Gary and Lee Rosenthal and Paul and Karen Levy. The program works in close partnership with the Robert M. Beren Program on Jewish Classical Education at the Hamilton Center at the University of Florida, named in honor of the late Mr. Robert M. Beren, a Jewish leader and generous philanthropist who believed in Jewish and American excellence.

Contact Us

Inquiries should be directed to Alan Rubenstein, Director of the Rosenthal-Levy Scholars program, at the following e-mail: ARubenstein@RosenthalLevyScholars.org