Eligibility

Career Fellowships provide financial support to undergraduate and graduate students who:

• Have completed at least one full semester at ESF by the time of their experience (first semester students can apply)
• Are full-time during the time of their application
• Will be returning to campus for at least one full-time semester full-time after the experience
• Are in good academic standing during the application process and beginning of 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 proposed experience. Awards can range, but typically cap at $6,000.

Which application track is right for me?

Below are two application options to decide which your experience aligns best with. You can always meet with Career Services or attend an information session to further discuss your ideas and seek recommendations on which application would be best to use. 

Internship Track
This 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. 

Independent Exploration Track
This 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.

Previously funded experiences:  2021 |  2022 |   2023

How do I apply?

The application process is during the spring semester. Required materials will include:

• Completed application (MS Forms)
• Internship Application
• Independent Exploration Application
• Resume or CV
• 1-page proposal on why this experience is important to your career development and how it will help you achieve your professional ambitions/career goals
• Letter of support from ESF faculty member
• Internship: Employer Verification Form completed by site supervisor
• Independent Exploration: Budget justification for your needed budget completed on MS Excel

What is the timeline of the process?

Please stay tuned for exact dates for the 2024 cycle

 

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, approximately 3-5 pages. Pictures, videos, blogs, and other forms of media produced during the experience will also be 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.

Past hosts of Regional Interns have included:

• Baltimore Woods Nature Center
• Beaver Lake Nature Center
• Brady Farm
• CNY Land Trust
• Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST)
• Murphy Forest Management, LLC
• NYS Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation
• OCRRA - Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency
• Onondaga Earth Corps
• Onondaga Earth Institute
• PEACE, Inc. (Dept. of Energy and Housing)
• Skaneateles Lake Association
• Upstate Freshwater Institute

Eligibility

Undergraduate and graduate students who:

• Completed at least one full semester at ESF by the time of their experience (first semester students can apply);
• Are in good standing (academic and conduct) with the College;
• Will return to campus for at least one semester following the experience

Each organization also has specific qualifications; students must confirm they meet these before submitting an application. 

How do I apply?

Students will review internship position descriptions and apply to the position(s) of interest. If you are interested in more than one internship opportunity, you must complete separate applications. However, students will NOT be funded for an internship at more than one site.

Complete applications will include:

• Application
• Cover letter
• Resume/CV

This is a competitive internship program, and it is REQUIRED that Career Services reviews your application materials (resume and cover letter) before final submission. This can be emailed to careers@esf.edu for review or via an appointment with a Peer Career Ambassador/Professional Staff member. Applications that are submitted without this occurring will not be moved forward in the selection process.

Select students will complete an interview with the organization(s); some will be on-site while others are virtual.

The process is mutual selection; students must be both selected by the organization and by the Committee. 

What is the timeline of the process?

Please stay tuned for exact dates for the 2024 cycle

 

Internship Funding

Students who are mutually selected by the organization and the committee will be funded at $15/hour for 330 hours ($5,000 total stipend). The specifics of hours per week and the internship length (total weeks) can be found within each internship description (most have flexibility that will be finalized upon selection). 

Thomas Slocum served ESF from 1977 to 2008 as the Director of Career and Counseling Services. This award has been created to honor the support Tom showed to Jesse in making possible his attendance at a job interview that helped launch his professional career. This award will be given to students who embody this career readiness spirit and would benefit from the jumpstart this award would provide.