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Internship Stipend

Sigma Tau Delta offers funding for current undergraduate and graduate student members accepting  internships for which their expenses exceed what they will be paid. Sigma Tau Delta will not cover expenses related to tuition and/or student fees. The Internship Stipend is a competitive program providing a limited number of stipends of up to $1,500 each.

The internship must involve working for an "organization" while being directed by a supervisor/mentor within that organization, and the intern’s duties must be consistent with the applicant’s level of education, area of study, and career goals. Financial need will be taken into consideration in addition to internship length. Applicants are responsible for obtaining and providing verification of the internship. Check out BestColleges' Ultimate Guide to Internships for advice in finding and applying for internships. 

The internship stipend does not apply to activities that are part of a student’s pre-professional degree requirements, such as student teaching or capstone internships in journalism/technical writing, and cannot be used to supplement a graduate assistantship. Students are eligible for the internship stipend award one time per internship.

Eligibility

Applicants for an Internship Stipend must be:

  • an active student member of Sigma Tau Delta;
  • pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree; and
  • enrolled part- or full-time in a degree-seeking program.

Application Dates

Applications for the Internship Stipend are accepted during the spring, summer, and fall awards cycles. See the Awards Overview page for the Internship Stipend application windows.

How to Apply

AwardSpring

Applications for the Internship Stipend are accepted through AwardSpring. The link to access the Sigma Tau Delta AwardSpring platform will be posted on the AwardSpring Application informational page of our website during the spring, summer, and fall application windows.

If you are using AwardSpring for the first time, you must create an account by clicking "Register." If you have used AwardSpring previously, you should use login using your email address and existing password.

Required Materials

1. Two letters of recommendation

  • While you should ask your recommenders in advance if they are willing to write a letter for you, the letters will be requested via the AwardSpring platform.)
  • Recommendation letters are due one week after the application deadline.
  • At least one recommendation letter must be from a college faculty member.

The due date for these letters of recommendation will be one week after the AwardSpring application deadline. Letter of Recommendation authors are encouraged to review our Writing Effective Letters of Recommendation video resource.

2. Personal Statement Essay Questions (up to 200 words each)

  • Describe your service to Sigma Tau Delta, your institution, and/or the community that reflects Sigma Tau Delta's mission. Include any leadership positions you have held.
  • Describe your internship organization and internship position, including roles and responsibilities.
  • Detail how the internship will help you grow intellectually and professionally.
  • Explain how the funding support will be beneficial to you. To help the committee determine need, applicants will want to address why their financial situation warrants support.

3. Supplemental Documents

  • Resume
  • Internship Verification—The internship organization's letter stating you have been awarded the internship.
  • Budget—Itemize the funds and expenses associated with the internship, such as salary, grants, housing, transportation, etc.

    Sample Internship Budgets
    Sample A
    Sample B

    How to Develop a Budget
    University of North Carolina Writing Center

Blog Requirement

Following the internship, stipend recipients are required to submit an article (400-600 words) for WordybyNature, the official Society blog, sharing such things as how the internship contributed to their professional growth or field of study; its impact on their future career plans; and the importance of the funding to the internship experience.

Blog Guidelines

Past Recipients

View: Past Recipients

Questions

Please contact the Central Office staff at sigmatdapply@niu.edu.