Note: The following announcement is in regards to a new, post-graduate fellowship. This is separate from the previously announced Wallenberg Summer Fellowship.
University
of Michigan Wallenberg Fellowship
I feel so at home in my little Ann Arbor that I am beginning to sink roots here and have a hard time imagining having to leave. But I am not being very useful here.
R. Wallenberg, letter to his grandfather, April 10, 1934
Inspired by
the spirit of Raoul Wallenberg, the Wallenberg Fellowship is
awarded in the spring of each year to a graduating senior of exceptional
promise and accomplishment who is committed to service and the public good. The
fellowship provides $25,000 to carry out an independent project of
learning or exploration anywhere in the world during the year after graduation.
The Fellow will engage in a self-designed and self-directed area of exploration
or project of experiential learning. Through an active and immersive year-long
experience, and by connecting in meaningful ways with the lives of other people
and communities, the Wallenberg Fellow will prepare to make a difference in the
world.
The
Fellowship honors Raoul Wallenberg (B.S. Arch. ’35), one of the most
illustrious graduates of the University of Michigan. At Michigan, Raoul
Wallenberg was recognized for the excellence of his academic work, his eagerness
for knowledge of the world and for understanding others, and for his intrepid
independence and resourcefulness. He left Ann Arbor resolved to be actively
engaged in life. Ten years later, as a Swedish diplomat during World War II,
Raoul Wallenberg coordinated the rescue of tens of thousands of Jews in
Budapest. He disappeared after he was arrested by Soviet authorities. One of
the great heroes of the twentieth century, Raoul Wallenberg shows that even
under the most daunting circumstances one person can make a difference.
Eligibility and requirements
Applicants
must be in good academic standing and in their final undergraduate year at the
time of their application and must graduate by the time the fellowship begins. Applicants
may be of any citizenship. They should have an excellent academic record. They
should show evidence of qualities necessary for successfully completing an
independent year-long project, such as seriousness of purpose; interest in and
openness to others; eagerness to learn and curiosity about the world; self-reliance,
poise and maturity; and creativity and resourcefulness. Fellowship support will
start on August 15, 2013 and last between eight and twelve months, ending no
later than August 14, 2014.
Application
Applications
include the following:
- Application form
- Project proposal of no more than 1,250 words
- Project budget that details the costs associated with the proposed activities
- Personal statement of no more than 1,000 words
- Up to three letters of recommendation from faculty, advisers or mentors
- Curriculum Vitae or résumé
- Transcript
Project proposal. Your proposal should describe a creative
self-directed plan for experiential learning or exploration that will engage you
with the lives of people and their communities. Your plan may be to build on an
experience or interest you have. It may be directed at a life-long ambition
that allows you to make use of skills you have acquired. Your plan may include a
combination of internships, apprenticeships, research, informal learning,
volunteer activities, service or other forms of meaningful interaction and
engagement that you initiate and that will allow you to meet your goals. You may
include travel to several destinations, but these must be part of a coherent
and persuasive overall plan. You must design your own plan and not rely on
opportunities provided by another party or organization. The project should not
be in a local area where you have previously lived or studied for an extended
length of time, nor should it have employment or a formal course of study as
the primary activity. Proposals may not include travel to destinations under
University Travel Restrictions.
Present
your plan in terms of the following:
- Focus: What questions, issues or area of discovery do you want to explore, and what activities do you wish to undertake to do this?
- Preparation: What assets do you bring to your proposed activity? What skills, study, research, experience and other preparation will help you successfully accomplish your plans?
- Engagement: How do you plan to interact with people and communities in meaningful ways?
- Goals: What do you hope to accomplish? How will your proposed undertaking develop your knowledge and interests and broaden your experience in ways that will contribute to your future path and plans?
- Impact: What impact will your activity have on the places and communities you visit? How will it broaden your humane understanding of the world and help prepare you to make a difference in the lives of others?
- Feasibility: How do you plan to stay within your budget? Are there practical constraints with visas or other permissions for the destinations you propose? What are the potential health and safety risks?
Budget statement. A budget template is provided for
you to show and explain all anticipated costs associated with the proposed
project. If you intend to travel to expensive destinations, explain how you
plan to stay within your budget. You must provide information about other
anticipated sources of funding. If you are proposing international travel, the
budget must include international health insurance and emergency evacuation
insurance, such as that offered by HTH International, and any required
immunizations. Ineligible expenses include cameras, laptops, digital recorders,
telephones, other personal equipment, and personal items such as clothing and
medication.
Personal statement. Discuss how your background and
life experience, including opportunities and challenges, motivate your decision
to apply for the Wallenberg Fellowship. The personal statement should reflect
on the personal significance of the proposed project. It should realistically
assess your readiness for meeting the demands of an independent year-long
project and your commitment to make a difference in the world.
Letters of recommendation. Ask up to three faculty, advisers,
or mentors to send letters of recommendation using the provided form. One
letter may come from someone outside the University who knows you well. These
should offer candid assessments of your academic and personal achievement; of
your aptitude and readiness for carrying out the proposed project; and your potential
for benefitting from the experience.
Curriculum Vitae or résumé. The curriculum vitae describes your
secondary and undergraduate education; your work, research, teaching or other
significant experience relevant to your proposed project; professional or
volunteer affiliations, activity and community engagement; honors and awards;
and publications, performances or exhibitions. Please include a section
describing the destinations and durations of any international travel
experience you may have had.
Transcript. Include an unofficial University of
Michigan transcript and transcripts of other post-secondary study, including
summer school.
Selection process
Application
is a two-stage process. Seniors must apply to the Dean’s Office of their school
or college. Each school or college will review applications and select
nominations, and may forward up to two nominations to the Wallenberg Fellowship
Selection Committee, made up of representatives from the President’s Office,
the Provost’s Office, Rackham, LSA, and Engineering.
Deadlines
- End of January: information session for schools/colleges, students
- March 15: complete applications due to the school/college
- April 1: deadline for nominations to the Wallenberg Fellowship Selection Committee; three finalists will be selected for interviews
- Mid-April: recommendations submitted to Provost/President
- Early May: announcement at Commencement
Staying in touch
The
Wallenberg Fellow will have a University of Michigan adviser throughout the
year. The Fellow is encouraged to share reflections and evaluate the project
regularly during the year, and to consult with the adviser about problems or
difficulties. The adviser must be notified in advance of significant changes in
plans or itinerary. If a change in plans is necessary, this should be in the
spirit of the original proposal. The Fellow also will provide a final report on
activities and expenses, and must seek prior approval before expending $1,000
or more from Fellowship funds for purposes not in the project proposal.
Questions?
Contact Dr. John Godrey at jgodfrey@umich.edu
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