Receive up to $5,000 to help you pursue an internship in the U.S. Congress in Washington D.C. Applications for Summer 2024 are open through March 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
You can access the application on InfoReady to apply for the Frederick or Keefe Awards.
View a recording of our virtual information session.
Awardees receive:
- Up to $5,000 to cover costs of living during the summer of your otherwise unpaid internship (approximately from mid-May through early-August.)
- Support and connections to apply for placement in the U.S. Congress. The award committee a relationship with the office of U.S. Senator Robert Casey of Pennsylvania, but the award advisors can also help you apply for other Congressional opportunities.
Ideal Candidates:
- Must be a full-time Pitt undergraduate student in the semester following your internship.
- Are high-achieving students with an interest in leadership, public service, policy, and the common good.
- Bring diversity to the cohort of interns who will support one another virtually throughout their summer internships.
Materials for submission:
- Statement of Interest: An essay of 750-words or less discussing your area of public policy interest for the internship, how this program would further your academic goals, and how public service fits into your broader life trajectory. Applicants for the Keefe Fellowship should mention specific members of Congress who focus on this issue and why it would be beneficial to work within their office.
- Diversity Statement: An essay of 250-words or less addressing how the issue or policy is related to diversity, equity, and justice, how you bring a diverse perspective to the critical issue, and, if applicable, please describe any personal challenges you face in taking an unpaid internship.
- Resume: A document that describes your academic progress, employment experience, and co-curricular involvement.
- Letter of Recommendation: A letter from an individual who can speak to either a.) Your academic capacity, success, or potential in a specific academic discipline or b.) A mentor who has awareness of your critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and or leadership skills preferably in a professional setting.
If you have questions, contact Andrew Lotz, PhD, Lecturer and Academic Advisor in the Department of Political Science, at ANL7@pitt.edu.