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Office of Professional Development & Community Engagement

Dr. Christie and Ben Nelson Internship Fund Application Process


Application Process


COMPLETE APPLICATION IN WORD, THEN PRINT FOR SUBMISSION BY MARCH 31, 2025

All application materials must be completed and submitted by March 31 of each year. To apply, the applicant must submit the following documents to the Office of Professional Development and Community Engagement:

  1. Personal statement explaining how the internship meets the criteria specified above and the applicant’s understanding of the link between their goals, past experiences, and the opportunities afforded by the internship(s) in question;
  2. Resume;
  3. Westminster College internship forms;
  4. If available, an offer letter from a company, organization, nonprofit, or related, which includes the location of the position; and an
  5. Estimated budget, with cost estimates and explanations for the following:
    • Housing, food, transportation, utilities, and others (one budget for each internship included in your application).
    • The budget should reflect a realistically conservative assessment of the financial needs associated with this experience.

    Note: Applicants may apply for consideration of up to three qualifying internships, but funding may only be applied to the internship(s) indicated in the application.

Non-eligible experiences:

  1. Fee-based volunteer programs
  2. Fee-based internship programs
  3. Missionary type trips
  4. Student teaching, field experiences, or practicum
  5. Academic courses or training programs without an experiential learning component equivalent to that described above.

Selection Process

  1. Applicants pursuing underpaid and unpaid internships, co-ops, and other such experiences—especially with organizations for the public good, such as non-profits and government agencies—will receive top priority consideration.
  2. Nationally and internationally known nonprofits, organizations, and agencies receive top priority (students will be prioritized by the better opportunities received).
  3. To be eligible, applicants must pursue positions at least 150 miles from campus and their homes.
  4. Rising sophomores will receive priority consideration for this sponsorship (top priority), followed by rising juniors.

Terms and Conditions

If selected, applicants agree to:

  1. Write a thank-you letter to the Donors;
  2. Attend an internship preparation workshop;
  3. Submit a reflective essay after the internship to be shared with the Funders; and
  4. Participate in a post-internship reception.

If you are selected, you will be notified by May 1, 2025. If you have any questions about the sponsorship fund or internships in general, please contact:

Justin Gregorich
Director of Professional Development and Community Engagement
Westminster College
319 South Market Street
New Wilmington, PA 16172
gregorjr@westminster.edu
330-200-9177