Award Specifics
Summer Practicum Award
Eligibility is open to all English majors with junior status heading into their final year at Guilford (rising seniors). The award must be used in the summer following the application—and the project undertaken must be completed by the beginning of the Fall semester. As such, the Summer Practicum Award is intended to support projects that will provide career preparation and aid in the vocational discernment process. Individual grants in this category are expected to range between $500 – $2000. Applicants must clearly state how you will use the funds, the relevance of the project to your English major, how your project will further your vocational goals, and why you are deserving of the award.
Past Summer Practicum proposals were awarded funds for:
- Taking a particular course not offered at Guilford but essential to preparing for graduate school application to programs in English, Creative Writing, or Literature;
- Undertaking an internship;
- Formally working as a literacy volunteer or teaching assistant to see if this career path is for you;
- Gaining a certificate or specialized training that will help you blend your writing skills with technology, medical, financial or legal fields.
Post-graduation Award
Eligibility is open to all graduating seniors with an English major, including those who have already graduated in the previous December. Post Graduation Award applications are welcomed from students who were awarded the Summer Practicum Award as rising seniors, but no preference will be given to these applicants. The award is meant to be used after graduation and the project undertaken should have clear boundaries. This award is meant to support an English major’s transition from student to professional, and to help students translate the skills they have learned as English majors into enter a career of their dreams. Individual grants in this category are expected to range between $2000 -$5,000. Applicants must clearly state how the funds will be used, the relevance of the project to the English degree, how your project will further vocational goals, and why this project is deserving of the award.
Past Post-Graduation proposals were awarded funds for students who:
- decided to pursue a career in teaching, and needed to fulfill the 5th year student teaching requirement, or wanted to teach abroad;
- required supplemental income to take on a post-graduate internship or non-paying fellowship;
- enrolled in a graduate or certificate program in a field related to English or writing;
- pursued an apprenticeship in a specialized area of writing: medical, technical, legal, web, or financial writing.
Important notes for both award categories
We will only consider concrete, well-defined projects with built-in external accountability from a sponsoring agency, non-profit organization, university, or residency program. If the nature or viability of your proposed project changes between application and award, the grant may be withheld or cancelled at the discretion of the committee and donor. Thus, it is important to clearly articulate a “back-up” plan if you are awaiting acceptance into an internship, residency, or other competitive program for which you will apply the Gilbert Award.
