Bright Futures Initiative: Unpaid Internship Scholarship

Application Opens: Monday, March 31, 2025

Application Closes: Monday, May 5, 2025

The Bright Futures Initiative awards students with need-based scholarships ranging from $100-$1,250 to help offset expenses incurred during unpaid internships.

Eligibility

• A secured unpaid on-campus and off-campus internship with a non-profit organization or government agency for summer 2025.
• A new internship experience during summer 2025 and completed by the start of the fall 2025 semester.
• Supervised by a professional in the field.
• Registered UMD undergraduate students returning to campus for Fall 2025.  May 2025 graduating seniors are not eligible.
• Preference will be given to those who have not previously received this scholarship.

This scholarship is generously funded by the Eisen Family, the University Career Center & The President’s Promise, and individual donors through Maryland Giving Day. 

Sustainability Unpaid Internship Scholarship

Application Opens: Monday, April 7, 2025

Application Closes: Friday, May 2, 2025

The Sustainability Internship Scholarship will help off-set expenses associated with an unpaid internship.  Scholarship awards ranging from $1,000-$1,750 are available to help offset expenses.

Eligibility

• The internship must be related to sustainability or with an organization that aligns with the UN’s organization aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
• A secured summer unpaid internship with a nonprofit or government agency.
• Supervised by a professional in the field.
• All undergraduate class years are welcome to apply. May 2025 graduating seniors are not eligible. 

This scholarship is made possible through a partnership between UMD’s Student Government Association, Office of Sustainability and the University Career Center & The President’s Promise.

The Bright Futures Initiative awards students with need-based scholarships ranging from $100-$1,000 to help offset expenses incurred during unpaid internships in the summer. Scholarships are generously funded by the Eisen Family, the University Career Center & The President’s Promise, and individual donors through Maryland Giving Day.

The Bright Futures Summer 2025 Application will open on Mon, March 31, 2025

Deadline to apply: Mon, May 5, 2025

If you are an undergraduate student who has secured an unpaid summer internship with a non-profit organization or government office, you are eligible to apply.

To apply and learn more about the scholarship, visit go.umd.edu/brightfutures25

J. Edgar Hoover Foundation Leadership Scholarship

The J. Edgar Hoover Foundation established the J. Edgar Hoover Foundation Leadership Scholarship in June 2016 to provide merit-based scholarships for students in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice. It is the donor’s preference that this scholarship be awarded to students who intend to pursue a career in law enforcement and have demonstrated leadership qualities. The J. Edgar Hoover Foundation is committed to promoting good citizenship through the appreciation of our government in the United States. One of J. Edgar Hoover’s ideals was the committed belief in meritocracy through higher education.

Multiple scholarships ($1,500 each) will be awarded to high achieving CCJS rising juniors and seniors. Recipients will be chosen on the basis of demonstrated strength in CCJS coursework, merit, and leadership ability. Preference will be given to students who have an interest in and are eligible for law enforcement careers.  Recipients of the scholarships will be recognized in the College’s annual Scholarship Recognition Program Booklet, shared with BSOS Donors.

Applicants for the J. Edgar Hoover Foundation Leadership Scholarship must meet the following criteria:

• Declared as a CCJS major
• Rising junior or senior standing for the 2025-2026 academic year
• Will register as a full-time student for the Fall 2025 semester and in good academic standing
• U.S. Citizen

Please apply online by 4:00 PM on Friday, March 7, 2025.

For questions, please contact CCJS Advising at ccjsadvising@umd.edu.

About The Sebastian Herbstein Memorial Scholarship in Fiction Writing
The Sebastian Herbstein Memorial Scholarship in Fiction Writing will be awarded to an undergraduate student engaged in any major or discipline of study at the University of Maryland who shares Sebastian’s passion for fiction writing and excellence in storytelling.

The Award:
Two cash prizes, $1,000 for first prize and $600 for second prize, will be awarded for works of short fiction of 5,000 words or less. At the discretion of the judges, an honorable mention might also be recognized. In accepting the award, the recipients will provide information on how the monetary prize will be used in pursuit of creative writing. The winning pieces will be posted on the Sebastian Herbstein Memorial Award Website, together with a photograph and short bio of the winners. The award winners may list the honor in her or his resumes.

Award Eligibility:
Quality of submission (GPA and major will not be qualifying criteria) and undergraduate enrollment at the University of Maryland. A previous winner of the award is ineligible for future competition. Students MUST be enrolled at UMD to qualify for this award.

Award Application:
Only one entry per applicant will be allowed. The entry should consist of:

1. Name, UID, mailing address, e-mail address, school and program attending;
2. A brief written explanation the applicant’s passion for, and experience with, fiction writing, which should include a statement explaining how the applicant might use this award to further his or her writing;
3. A piece of short fiction writing with a five thousand (5,000) word maximum; Entries should be double-spaced, using Times New Roman, 12 pt, black font. Submissions that do not adhere by these style guidelines will not be considered.
4. A color, high-resolution (300 dpi or above) digital photograph of the applicant;
5. Consent to publishing the winning entry, bio and photo on the Jiménez-Porter Writersʼ House and College of Behavioral and Social Sciences websites. Consent is considered to be granted when the application is submitted.

Deadline to apply for Spring 2025 is March 1, 2025.

Spring 2025 BSOS Student Experience Funds

Calling all BSOS undergraduate students 📣: It’s the time to apply for Spring 2025 BSOS Student Experience Funds, which can help you offset expenses related to unpaid internships, research, service learning, and professional or academic conferences!

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Next best consideration date: February 7, 2025. 

Important updates from the USG Center for Scholarships.

• Scholarship Applications: The USG Scholarship Application is now open. At this time, we have [5] applications submitted from CCJS@USG for the Spring 2025 semester.  The priority deadline for the application is November 30th, and the final deadline is December 31st.  This application is open to all returning and incoming students for the spring 2025 semester. 
• Budgeting Workshop: We will host a budgeting workshop with Lafayette Credit Union on November 12th from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.  Students can sign up here. 
• Save the Date –  USG Tax Clinic 2025: The USG Tax Clinics will be held in February 27 and March 27 from 12-6pm. We are currently seeking volunteers for the clinic. Those interested in volunteering can sign up by completing this Volunteer Form.

If you have any questions or need further information, do not hesitate to reach out to usg-schoalrships@umd.edu.