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Career Services
ESF Career Fellowships

The Office of Career Services is excited to be able to offer annual Career Fellowships to students as part of the Betsy and Jesse Fink Career Development Program. We strongly encourage you to learn about Fellowship opportunities, review examples of what past selected recipients have used Fellowship funding for, and to submit an application this upcoming year. You can learn more about the Career Fellowships online, at monthly information sessions, and through meeting with a Professional Staff member in our office.

Overview

The Career Fellowships support internships and independent exploration for undergraduate and graduate students. Applicants must provide evidence of their exceptional engagement in their field of study, as well as their intention to pursue a career in it. These Fellowships are made possible by the generous donations of alumni and supporters of the College, who are committed to solving environmental challenges and supporting students who strive to do the same.

Fellowship applicants must demonstrate:

  • Dedication to the environment and their field of study;
  • Passion and enthusiasm for their proposed experience;
  • Demonstrated promise in pursuing their career goals; and
  • Ability to plan and follow through with a professional experience.

For the 2023 application cycle, we will be accepting proposals that are virtual, domestic, or international with the hope that these can be funded. We do not anticipate having any issues with virtual and domestic proposed experiences. However, given the continually changing landscape with COVID, if a student chooses to move forward in proposing an experience that involves international travel, they run the risk of not being considered for funding if at the time of review, travel to that location is in question.

Eligibility

The Career Fellowships provide financial support to undergraduate and graduate students who have completed at least one full semester at ESF. Students must be full-time, in good standing with the College, and be returning to campus for at least one semester full-time following the experience

Amount of Support

The Career Fellowships process provides funding to students based on merit and identified need. Support will vary depending on the experience proposed. Awards can range, but typically cap at $6,000.

Fellowships that are Awarded Annually in the Program

  • Fink Fellowship
  • Cotton Fellowship
  • Robert M. Sand '50 Internship Fund

Multiple awards are given as a part of each Fellowship. It is also possible that additional Fellowships may be added to the process depending on time of the donation. Students submit one application per experience to appropriate category to be considered for all available Fellowships in that year.

Application Tracks and How to Apply

Which Fellowship application is right for you? Read below to learn more about the two application options to decide which your experience aligns best with. You can always meet with the Office of Career Services to further discuss your ideas and seek recommendation on which application would be best to use. Examples of previously funded experiences can be found after the application timeline below.

Internship

The internship application provides a stipend (hourly payment) for students wishing to complete an unpaid internship in collaboration with a host organization. Students work directly with host sites to determine when the internship will be completed and what will be done.

Complete the Career Fellowships Internship Application below. Completed applications will also include a letter of support from a Faculty Member/Sponsor (sent via e-mail to careers@esf.edu or delivered to the Office of Career Services, 105 Bray Hall) and the Employer Verification Form from the internship supervisor. More information can be found in the application.

Independent Exploration

The Independent Exploration application supplies financial assistance for students looking to create or complete an independent or group project. This application is broad by nature to encompass entrepreneurial endeavors, multi-disciplinary group competitions, professional development workshops, student experiences that are not internships, and more.

Complete the Career Fellowships Independent Exploration Application and submit with one letter of support from a Faculty Member/Mentor,). Letters of support can be sent directly via e-mail to careers@esf.edu or delivered to the Office of Career Services (105 Bray Hall).

Program and Application Timeline

Date

Time and Location

Early Spring 2023

Information Sessions hosted on the Career Fellowships

Friday, March 22, 2024 at 4:30 pm

Deadline

March/April 2024

Career Fellowships Committee will convene to review applications and make student selections

April 2024

Career Fellowships recipients will be notified of their selection

Friday, September 20, 2024

Final reports due from Career Fellowships (submitted as Microsoft Word docs via e-mail to careers@esf.edu

 

Final Reports and Additional Commitments

ESF Career Fellows must submit a digital copy (MS word document) of a final report to the Office of Career Services following the internship, project, or conference. A lengthy final report is unnecessary; generally 3-5 pages is sufficient. Pictures, videos, blogs, and other forms of media of produced during the experience will also requested.

Returning Fellows will also be asked to serve as representatives at on-campus events and at future Information Sessions depending on their schedule and availability.