Diversity

“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.

Featured Fellowship: FirstGEN Fellows

The First Generation Civil Rights Fellowship is an Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc., Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and National Immigration Law Center collaborative program, which advances first-generation college students committed to social justice. The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers’ Committee) launched the First Generation Civil Rights Fellowship (FirstGEN) program during the fall of 2012 and welcomed its first class during the summer of 2013, to coincide with the Lawyers’ Committee’s 50th anniversary. Shortly after, the Washington, D.C. office of the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC) signed on to become FirstGEN partnering organizations. Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC joined in 2015. The Lawyers’ Committee continues to serve as the program’s lead organization.

FirstGEN is a ten-week summer program for undergraduate students who are the first in their immediate families to attend an institution of higher education, and who are passionate about pursuing careers in social justice. Fellows gain hands-on experience working on civil rights matters as full-time Public Policy & Social Justice interns, while also participating in an advocacy training program. Normally, each organization hosts up to two fellows each summer, and all fellows come together for the weekly advocacy training program. FirstGEN creates a greater community of advocates by linking emerging leaders with existing ones, and by creating a FirstGEN alumni network. In addition to a full-time internship and training, fellows receive up to a $3,000 stipend.

FirstGEN Fellowship

FirstGEN Fellows is a ten-week summer program in the D.C. area for undergraduate students who are the first in their immediate families to attend an institution of higher education, and who are passionate about pursuing careers in social justice.

Eligibility: Undergraduate students, who are first-generation college students (first in their immediate families), dedicated to pursuing careers in the social justice field; candidates who are people of color, women, LGBTQ, or other minorities are strongly encouraged to apply

Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF) Program

For more than 20 years, the Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF) Program has provided students with fellowship opportunities to gain hands-on research experience with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy.

Eligibility: Be at least 18 years of age at time of application; Be a U.S. Citizen; Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0; Be currently enrolled full-time as a degree-seeking student in a STEM program at an accredited college or university at the Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral level (Students pursuing an Associate’s degree are eligible to apply if transferring to pursue a Bachelor’s degree for Fall 2021). Must be at least a college sophomore at the time of application; Be available to participate in the full 10-week program

Charles B Rangel Summer Enrichment Program

The Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program is a six-week summer program designed to provide undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs, a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs, and the enhanced knowledge and skills to pursue such careers.

Eligibility: US Citizen; full-time undergraduate students, with at least sophomore status on the date of the application deadline; have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.

National Institute of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) offers competitive scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to careers in biomedical, behavioral, and social science health-related research.

Eligibility: In order to determine if you meet the financial need eligibility guidelines, you must complete the Certification for Exceptional Financial Need; US Citizen or Permanent Resident; currently an undergraduate at a four year institution; Minimum GPA 3.3

Freeman-ASIA

The Freeman-ASIA program is designed to support U.S.-based undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are planning to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. The program’s goal is to increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents with first-hand exposure to and understanding of Asia and its peoples and cultures.

Eligibility: U.S. citizen or permanent resident; Must currently receive need-based financial aid or demonstrate a verifiable need for financial assistance; undergraduate student with a minimum GPA of 2.8; Must have applied or have been accepted to a study abroad based program in: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam; and certain other requirements

AG Bell College Scholarship Program

AG Bell Scholarships are for high-achieving students who have bilateral hearing loss that was diagnosed before age 4. You must be using Listening and Spoken Language as your primary communication mode. You must be attending a mainstream university and working toward a four-year undergraduate degree or a graduate degree.

Eligibility: Must be an undergraduate student, a graduate student or a postgraduate student;Must attend a university or a four-year college; Minimum 3.5 GPA; Restricted to applicants that have hearing disabilities; Must study full-time; other restrictions may apply