Distinguished Grants Program

Introduction

The University of La Verne’s Distinguished Grants Program is committed to supporting undergraduate students by providing resources to discover scholarships for enriching study abroad experiences and simplifying the application process for prestigious internship programs in Washington, DC. Our emphasis lies in three prominent Student Study Abroad Scholarships—BOREN, Fulbright, and GILMAN—and two impactful Student Internships in Washington, D.C.—Washington Internship and Washington Center.

Scholarship Overview

Student Study Abroad Scholarships

Boren	Funds public service study overseas with language component
Fulbright	Awards study/research projects at foreign universities/institutes
Gilman	Awards Pell-Eligible students to intern or study abroad

Student Internships

Washington Internship	Place into internships in non-profit, and for-profit companies
Washington Center	Place into internships in government, a non-profit or the private sector

Scholarship Details

Boren Awards	Provide undergraduates a chance to study, conduct research, receive practical training, or provide technical assistance outside their own countries, with the goal to foster mutual understanding, build global problem-solving capabilities, and strengthen the international competence of U.S. citizens. The awards fund study in Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Students can choose either to find their own language program in which to enroll, or enroll in a Boren credit-bearing language courses during the summer (domestic) and fall (overseas), with the option to continue overseas study into the spring. In exchange for funding, Boren Awards recipients commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate a longer term commitment to government service. The preferred fields of study are: Agricultural & Food Sciences, Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer & Info. Sciences, Cybersecurity, Engineering, Environmental Studies, Geology, Mathematics, Medical Sciences, Nursing, Physics, Public Health, Anthropology, Archaeology, Area Studies, Business, Criminal Justice, Economics, Geography, History, Internationall Affairs, International Development. To learn more, visit their website: https://www.borenawards.org/
Fulbright Student Program Awards	Facilitate cultural exchange through direct interaction on an individual basis in the classroom, field, home, and in routine tasks, allowing the grantee to gain an appreciation of others’ viewpoints and beliefs, the way they do things, and the way they think. Select a country of study from the list of Fulbright awards. To learn more, visit their website: https://us.fulbrightonline.org/countries
Gilman Awards	Broaden the destinations where U.S. students study and intern abroad, in order to build relationships, foster mutual understanding, and represent American culture and values, including in developing countries and countries critical to U.S. national security. Gilman awards Pell students funding to study in countries with Level 1 and Level 2 travel advisories. First, work with Assistant Director Maribel Rodriguez (mrodriguez4@laverne.edu) of Office of International Services and Engagement Study Abroad to identify a study abroad program. Then reach out to Director Gail Tang (gtang@laverne.edu) of Distinguished Grants Program to apply for the scholarship to study abroad. To learn more, visit their website: https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/

Internship Details

The Washington Center

Provides immersive internships and academic seminars to inspire students to become well-informed, public-spirited, and more socially engaged in their communities.
Fields of internships include Politics, Public Policy, International Relations, Communications, Media, Business, Criminal Justice, Law, Economics, Accounting, Finance, Educational Policy.
To learn more, visit their website: https://twc.edu/

Washington Internship Institute

Fosters students’ intellectual, personal, and professional development through individually tailored, quality internships and challenging academic coursework that take full advantage of the opportunities available in the nation’s capital and reflect the best practices of experiential learning and liberal education.
Fields of internships include Public Health (not clinical), Public Health Policy, Environmental Policy, Political Science, Pre-Law, Criminal Justice, Business Management, Arts administration, Social Justice (e.g., election interference).
To learn more, visit their website: https://wiidc.org/

FAQs

Boren FAQ	https://grad.ucla.edu/asis/library/borenfaq.pdf
Fulbright FAQ	https://eca.state.gov/fulbright/frequently-asked-questions
Gilman FAQ	https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/applicants/applicants-faq-2/
Washington Institute FAQ	https://wiidc.org/faq
Washington Center FAQ	https://twc.edu/programs/academic-internship-program#faqs