Announcing the 2008 GW Shapiro Public Service Awards

The Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research is pleased to announce the 2008 GW Shapiro Public Service Awards.

Each year, thanks to the generosity of the J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Charitable Trust, these awards encourage and enable approximately 10 GW undergraduates to undertake innovative, responsible summer public service internships in public service by providing a tuition award of $5500 as compensation for their service.

The deadline for applications is March 14 2008.

Information sessions will be scheduled for early winter, be on the lookout for announcements!

Forms are available online at the CUFR website:

http://www.gwu.edu/~fellcent/shapiropublicservice.htm

If you have questions, please contact us at fellcent@gwu.edu

APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• US Citizen
• Full-Time GW Freshman, Sophomore or Junior
• Minimum 3.4 GPA
• Proposed summer internship must be unpaid
• Proposed summer internship service must total 300 hours (no fewer than 30 hours per week).

PUBLIC SERVICE INTERNSHIP ELIGIBILITY

Eligible public service may include work for any private non-profit organization or any institution or agency of federal, state, or local government. The public service must be performed in the Washington, DC area or in the student's hometown. Students are responsible for finding and securing eligible internships.

Eligible private organizations may include any that are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as legitimate non-profit organizations or institutions. Such organizations may include, but are not limited to, those providing governmental, educational, health, or cultural services, those engaged in advocacy, or those providing programs toward the alleviation of social ills or environmental problems, with the exception of any program or project involving research work which may cause pain (physical or psychological) or death to animals.

AWARD

Awards are for $5500 and will be applied directly to awardees’ tuition accounts for the academic year following their summer of service, submission of a summer report, final verification of service from the internship supervisor, and submission of the required research paper. Awards are applied in two installments of $2750 each, one in the autumn and one in the spring. Awardees graduating in December 2008 may request that the entire amount be applied to their autumn tuition.

Shapiro Public Service awards will be considered as “other merit awards” and could affect any need-based aid students may be offered for the academic year. The awards may be held concurrently with other GW merit awards. Students are responsible for consulting with the Office of Student Financial Assistance to estimate the impact, if any, of a Shapiro Public Service award on their aid package.

RESEARCH REQUIREMENT

Shapiro Public Service awardees are required to write a 3000-word (8-10 page) formal research paper addressing a topic, problem or question growing out of their internship experience. This research paper must be submitted within two weeks of the conclusion of the internship.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

• Quality of proposed internship experience (should constitute substantial, responsible contribution to the work of the internship organization).
• Strength of connections between proposed internship experience and students’ broader intellectual, academic, service and/or professional goals.
• Evidence of prior consistent commitment to public service
• Academic accomplishments

APPLICATION DEADLINES AND PROCEDURES

The deadline for applications is March 14 2008.

Download a copy of the 2008 Shapiro Public Service Award application by clicking here.
Please fill out the form on paper.

A complete application consists of the following:

1. Application form and statements of purpose and financial need.
2. Copy of college transcript(s).
3. Resumé (make sure to include your current contact information).
4. Verification from organization of intent to place applicant, including a description of service and certification that the internship organization meets eligibility criteria.

All materials must be submitted to the:

Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research
714 21st Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20052
fellcent@gwu.edu
FAX: (202) 994-6844