Information Sessions Available on Study in the UK, D.C. Internships, Public Service Opportunities

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 1, 2014) – The University of Kentucky Office of Nationally Competitive Awards is offering various information sessions about awards, scholarships, fellowships and internships during the month of October. Students interested in pursuing studies in the United Kingdom; interning in Washington, D.C.; or public service opportunities, should plan to attend.

Nationally competitive scholarships and fellowships are awards that are funded by sources independent of UK. These sources include non-profit groups, government agencies and companies. Criteria for scholarships vary but generally include academic performance, financial need, community affiliations and specific attributes important to the sponsoring organization

The first information session will take place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 213 Funkhouser Building. Director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards, Pat Whitlow, is holding a session titled Summer Study in the United Kingdom. The session is about opportunities available through the Kentucky branch of the English Speaking Union Awards Scholarship. Junior recipients have the opportunity to study English literature, history and social sciences at Oxford University, University of Cambridge or the University of Edinburgh during the summer. Joining Whitlow for this session is English and gender and women's studies senior and 2013 English Speaking Union scholarship recipient Ryan Winstead. For additional information, visit the English-Speaking Union website at www.esuus.org/kentucky/about/British_Universities_Summer_School_Scholarship/.   

The second information session, Internships in Washington, D.C., will take place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 213 Funkhouser Building. Whitlow will provide more information about internships in Washington D.C. for students who are interested in public policy. The session will focus on three potential opportunities. The Carnegie Junior Fellows Program enables graduating seniors and recent graduates to work as research assistants for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship enables recent graduates to work as a junior staff member at the participating organization of their choice for six to nine months. The White House Fellows Program enables individuals to spend a year working as a full-time, paid fellow to senior White House staff, cabinet secretaries and other top-ranking government officials.

The third information session is titled Scholarships for Public Service and will take place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 213 Funkhouser Building. At this program, Whitlow will be provide more information about scholarships for students interested in attending graduate school and pursuing careers in public service. The informational session will focus on three specific programs. The Truman Scholarship provides current juniors funding for graduate school who are committed to public service. The Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship supports both undergraduate and graduate students in academic programs related to international affairs, political and economic analysis, administration, management and science policy. The Rangel International Affairs Fellowship supports two years of graduate study, internships and professional development activities and entry into the foreign service. Joining Whitlow for this session with be political science senior and 2014 Truman Scholar Grace Trimble.

Space is limited for all of the October information sessions. Students interested in attending should register at https://jfe.qualtrics.com/form/SV_5v7mXNjhW7zvVJj. If you have questions contact Jennifer N. Strange at jennifer.strange@uky.edu.

Part of the Academy of Undergraduate Excellence within the Division of Undergraduate Education, the UK Office of Nationally Competitive Awards assists current UK undergraduate and graduate students and recent alumni in applying for external scholarships and fellowships funded by sources (such as a nongovernment foundation or government agency) outside the university. These major awards honor exceptional students across the nation. Students who are interested in these opportunities are encouraged to begin work with the Office of Nationally Competitive Awards well in advance of the scholarship deadline.

MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, 859-257-8716; whitney.hale@uky.edu