Irwin and Taylor Scholarships for Public Affairs Internships
Thanks to a generous donation by Lawrence and Jean Irwin, the William & Mary Government Department is able to award a number of scholarships to help support continuing undergraduate-level students undertaking summer internships related to politics, government, or public affairs. The exact number of awards and the amount of each will vary from year to year.
Eligibility
Applicants must be continuing undergraduate-level students majoring in Government or Public Policy and undertaking unpaid or low-paying summer internships related to politics, government, or public affairs in general (positions with law firms, consultants or other for-profit enterprises do not qualify).
Students may apply while still awaiting word about an internship, but Irwin Scholarships will only be awarded once they provide confirmation of a formal offer in letter or email form.
Students receiving credit for academic work in conjunction with their internships, through William & Mary or another university, are not eligible for Irwin Scholarship funding.
Students already receiving funds from William & Mary (e.g., Departmental or Charles Center summer support, Monroe Scholarships, other F.U.S.E. scholarships) are not eligible.
Contact [[cmclem, Prof. Clemens]] with any questions.
The awards are administered as part of the Cohen Career Center's FUSE (Funding for Unpaid Student Experiences) program. Click here for details.
Application
The applicant must submit the following 5 documents. Keep in mind that the application process is competitive and all application materials should be well-written.
To apply, a student must submit the following 5 documents. Keep in mind that the application process is competitive and all application materials should be well-written.
►Statement of interest (no more than 800 words total) addressing the following points:
- What is the connection between this internship and your career goals? How do you hope to benefit from the internship?
- In what way would funding help better enable you to pursue an internship? If relevant, outline any costs you anticipate incurring as a result of the internship.
- List any other sources of funding that you have applied for and/or received whether from either William & Mary or external sources. Please note the amount of the funding and when you anticipate hearing about whether you will receive it.
►Up-to-date resume
►Internship posting or position description
►Budget (demonstrating the use of Funds)
►Proof of the internship opportunity, i.e. offer letter or email, written in English, which outlines employer’s contact information, confirms that the internship has been offered and accepted, lists the start and end dates for the internship, the total number of hours to be worked, and that it is unpaid. The employer also must complete this verification form regarding the Fair Labor and Standards Act.
Application materials must be submitted via Tribe Careers. To apply, log onto your Tribe Careers account and find further instructions on the Tribe Careers homepage.
Post-Internship
Upon completion of the internship, all recipients of Irwin funding must complete and submit an evaluation of the internship. In addition, all recipients must submit one 400-word reflective essay on their experiences, including a photograph and short biography of themselves. Essays may be considered for publication on the Charles Center website. A one minute video of the internship may be substituted for the essay if desired. All essays and videos should be sent to Professor Clay Clemens.
