Academic study, personal exploration, cultural studies, and public service abroad:

DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) — German academic exchange service: Funds undergraduate “study, thesis research, or internships” in Germany for four to ten months in all academic fields. Depending on particulars, applicant may not need to demonstrate language competency. Sophomore or junior under 32 years of age (various programs including undergrad scholarships — January, scholarship for graduate schools — November, research internships in science and engineering — February).

Freeman-Asia Award: For study in Asia of at least eight weeks. Priority to applicants with academic interest but no prior experience in Asia. Any undergrad year (March, April, and October deadlines for spring, fall, and summer respectively).

Fulbright: Supports educational and cultural exchange through course work, independent research, and internships abroad. Three programs: research grants; creative and performing arts grants; teaching assistantships. New: language training initiative. Senior or alum; master's or doctoral candidate; young artist or professional. Institutional evaluation/rating of project and applicant required. (September 27, 2007 — internal deadline; October 19, 2007 — national deadline)

Gilman International Scholarship Program: Funds study abroad — particularly outside Western Europe — for students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to do so. Must be receiving Federal Pell Grant financial aid. Any undergraduate year (April and October deadlines for spring and fall semesters).

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships: Provides all necessary support for a year of study at an overseas university in any academic field. Three-month awards permit development of language fluency, while academic-year awards allow study in depth. Public speaking ability and some record of social service. To foster international understanding, applicant is expected to speak at local rotary club meetings. Junior year for study in the fall after graduation: apply a year before scholarship begins. Scholarship availability varies by rotary district. (Deadlines for 2008-09 awards: club deadlines may be as early as March 2007 or as late as August 2007)

Rotary World Peace Fellowship: Offered on a world-competitive basis. Each rotary district may submit one candidate. Supports fellow for a two-year master's program at one of the rotary centers for international studies. Funding included for the three-month summer break between academic-year periods, during which fellows are encouraged to pursue degree-related activities such as internships, volunteer work, and research. Must have a demonstrated commitment to peace and international understanding, as well as second language proficiency in French, Japanese, or Spanish. Each rotary district may submit one candidate for competition in the worldwide selection process for up to 60 rotary world peace fellowships offered annually. Graduating seniors or alums (July 1st, 2007 deadline for the 2008-10 rotary world peace fellowship).

Watson:  Offers college graduates of unusual promise a year of independent, purposeful exploration and travel outside the U.S. to enhance their resourcefulness, imagination, openness and leadership and to foster their humane and effective participation in the world community.  Proposal may include learning a language or dance steps or scientific method and, at such times, a fellow may be subject to another’s agenda.  However, fellows are intended to be their own advisors and thus, do not affiliate with an academic institution and do not have training or volunteer work as a primary activity.  Fellows decide how questions can be answered, when it is time to move on or if a project must be adjusted.  Applications include a proposal for a project that is creative, feasible and personally significant; a personal statement; and two to three letters of recommendation.  Institutional nomination is required and Whitman may forward up to four candidates.  Graduating senior of any nationality (September—internal deadline and November—national deadline).

Academic excellence with strong leadership and public service experience:

Jack Kent Cooke: Supports applicants from around the world for up to six years of study toward an advanced degree in any discipline, academic or professional. Funds master’s degrees. Emphasizes academics plus public service for economically disadvantaged students. No age or nationality restrictions. Senior or “recent” alum (graduated up to 5 years prior to competition). Institutional nomination required (March deadline).

Soros Fellowship: Awards to “new Americans”: Grants for two years of graduate study in the U.S. Student must be a resident alien (hold a green card), be naturalized as a U.S. citizen, or be the child of parents who are both naturalized. Candidates apply from the whole spectrum of graduate fields (professional and academic), from creative writing and voice to medicine and neuroscience. Must demonstrate a commitment to U.S. constitution and bill of rights. Senior or alum in first or second year of graduate school, under 30 years of age (November 1st, 2007 deadline).

Truman Scholarship: Awarded to juniors in top quarter of their class who intend to pursue graduate study towards a career in government or public service (including law). Provides funds towards first two to three years of graduate school. Must be an outstanding leader with extensive public and community service. As a condition of receiving Truman funds, scholars are required to work in public service for three of the seven years following completion of a funded graduate program. Junior (February 5th, 2008 deadline).

For study in the United Kingdom:

Gates Cambridge: Funding for students accepted for graduate study at Cambridge. In selecting its scholars, the trust looks for students of exceptional academic achievement and scholarly promise for whom advanced study at Cambridge would be particularly appropriate. The trust expects a good match between applicants’ qualifications and aspirations and what Cambridge has to offer. Successful applicants will have ability to make a significant contribution to their discipline while in Cambridge, with a strong aptitude for research, analysis and a creative approach to defining and solving problems. Senior or alum under 30 from any country except the U.K. (October 15, 2007 deadline for U.S. citizens applying for Ph.D. or M.Phil; December 14th, 2007 for non-U.S. citizens applying for Ph.D.; January 31st, 2008 for non-U.S. citizens applying for M.Phil).

Marshall Scholarship: Awarded to outstanding students with a feasible academic plan of study at a British university. Supports two years of study to complete a master’s (possibly a third to pursue a doctorate) at any university in the U.K. in any field. Marshall scholars are intellectually distinguished, America’s “potential leaders, opinion formers, and decision makers,” “who will contribute to advancement of knowledge in science, technology, humanities, social sciences, and creative arts at Britain’s centers of academic excellence.” Senior or alum within two years of graduation. Institutional nomination required. (September 14th, 2007 — internal deadline; October 4th, 2007 — national deadline)

Mitchell Scholarship: Awarded to outstanding students interested in one year of graduate study in Ireland or Northern Ireland in any discipline. “Portable” graduate fellowships for early stages of graduate study: supports one year of study — usually, a one-year master’s degree program. Must possess a bachelor’s degree before beginning study under the scholarship. Senior or alum, under 30 years of age. Institutional nomination required. (September 14th, 2007 — internal deadline; October 5th, 2007 — national deadline)

Rhodes Scholarship: Makes possible two or three years of study at Oxford University in any field. Requires a strong academic record, leadership initiative in community service, extracurricular activities, and athletics. Senior or alum. Institutional nomination required. (September 14th, 2007 — internal deadline; October 1st, 2007 — national deadline)

Thoughtful, talented writers:

Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics: Prestigious essay contest on ethics. Foundation, rooted in memory of the holocaust, seeks to promote tolerance. Junior or senior (December 7th, 2007 deadline)

Olive W. Garvey Fellowship: Prestigious essay contest on the meaning and significance of economic and personal liberty. Garvey fellows — selected from around the world — have become the finest of scholars, business and civic leaders, journalists, advancing appreciation worldwide for ideas of individual liberty and personal responsibility. Any undergrad or graduate year, under 35 years of age (May deadline).

Commitment to public service and social innovation:

Congressional Hunger Center — The Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellowship: A unique leadership development opportunity for those motivated to make a difference in the struggle to eliminate hunger and poverty. Fellows are placed for six months with urban and rural community-based organizations all over the country involved in fighting hunger at the local level, such as food banks, economic development agencies, local advocacy groups and faith-based organizations. They then move to Washington, D.C. to complete the year with six months of work at national organizations involved in the anti-hunger and poverty movement, including national advocacy organizations, think tanks, and federal agencies. Graduating senior or alum (January deadline).

Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund: Grants to students actively working for peace and for social and economic justice. Awarded to those who are part of progressive movement on campus and in the community. Coursework during the grant period may be abroad. Undergraduates of any nationality enrolled in accredited U.S. institution (April deadline).

Echoing Green Fellowship: Foundation awards two-year fellowships to “emerging social innovators.” The fellowships allow “individuals with innovative ideas for creating new models for tackling seemingly unsolvable social challenges” to test these ideas. Foundation also provides guidance and a range of support during fellowship tenure. Project proposal — from up to two applicants — must involve creating a “sustainable” organization geared to social change. Graduating senior or alum of any nationality may apply so long as they will not be in a degree program during the two-year funded project (December 3rd, 2007 deadline)

Humanity in Action: Fellows participate either in the Diversity and Democracy in America Program or Summer Core Programs in Denmark, France, Germany, The Netherlands, and Poland. International teams of Fellows focus on past and present minority issues in their host country, and produce a written report. The American Program in New York is designed for thirty fellows to study the legal, social, cultural, religious, and political conditions that promote, sustain, and threaten diversity in the U.S. Forty-three fellows from the U.S. are selected for the European Programs. The European Programs focus on three interrelated topics: current minority and human rights issues in host countries; development of international human rights institutions and doctrines in the aftermath of WWII and the Holocaust; and resistance to the Holocaust. Each core program is divided into two phases. During the first phase, leaders of human rights organizations, politicians, diplomats, philanthropists, journalists, scholars, artists and authors meet with the fellows during intensive seminars, site visits, and group activities. The second phase is focused on research and writing. Most travel and accommodation costs are included. Prestigious international internships are available to fellows who have successfully completed one of the core fellowship programs. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors in all majors and academic disciplines are encouraged to apply (February deadline).

Huntington Public Service Award: $10,000 award to pursue a public service project anywhere in the world. Project may be undertaken by student alone or by working through an established organization. Graduating senior of any nationality (February 15th, 2008 deadline).

Saxe Memorial Fund: Provides scholarships annually to one or more undergrad or graduate students working in public service. $1,500 award is meant to enable student to gain practical experience in public service by taking a no-pay or low-pay job during a summer or other term. Any undergrad year (March 15th, 2008 deadline).

Simon Fellowship for Noble Purpose: Award to graduating senior who has demonstrated “passion, dedication, a high capacity for self-direction, and originality in pursuit of a goal that will strengthen civil society.” Applicants must articulate plan of future efforts to realize this purpose. Senior (February 15th, 2008 deadline).

See websites to verify particulars.