Summer Internship Grant Program

News & Announcements

February 26 – April 29, 2016 – Application Submission Period


Overview / Purpose

The Initiative in Civic Engagement and Equity (ICE-E) provides grants of up to $5,000 for UDC undergraduate students who are working at unpaid summer 2016 internships that encourage critical thinking about how our society works and action to address inequities.

The purpose of the grant is to enable students who might not otherwise have the financial means, to engage in one of the many unpaid internships in Washington, DC that promote the Initiative’s goal of creating a more equitable society.

Criteria for Participation

Grant awardees must:

  • Be a full-time UDC student (at least 12 credit hours), in good academic and financial standing, in their freshman, sophomore, or junior years. Undergraduate seniors (graduating in May or August 2016), graduate students, and law students are not eligible for the grant.
  • Secure an unpaid internship with an organization located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area that promotes a more equitable society. The internship must be full-time (forty hours per week) and last for at least eight weeks during summer 2016. On campus internships are not eligible.
  • Be willing to engage in at least two “Equity seminars” / leadership development workshops during the eight-week internship period.

Application Process

Applications for Summer 2016 ICE-E grants will be accepted starting on February 26 and running until April 29, 2016. It is highly recommended that students submit their applications as early as possible due to anticipated high demand for grants.

An ICE-E Review Committee will consider all applications. Applicants will be informed of the committee’s decision within two weeks of the close out date (April 29). During that period, the applicant may receive a request for an interview. Applicants will be informed of the committee’s decision via e-mail.

Applicants who are offered grants will have one week to either accept or decline the award.

Application Instructions:

Click here to download application.

Applications must include five items: (1) an up-to-date resume; (2) an official UDC transcript; (3) a signed copy of the internship offer letter on official letterhead, (4) a letter of reference from a UDC faculty member in a sealed envelope, (5) and a copy of the grant application form with essay attached.

All five items should be placed in one envelope and sent to:

Initiative in Civic Engagement, and Equity | Bld. 39, Suite 301I | University of the District of Columbia | 4200 Connecticut Ave., N.W. | Washington, DC 20008

If you have any questions, or for more information, please contact  Program Coordinator, Erika Roberts at 202.274.7144.


2015 Grant Recipients

Top row from left to right: Kimberly Wafer (ICE-E Program Coordinator); Jude Collins (EOP Foundation); Darlene Grant (Greater Washington Urban League); Christina Ranney (National Institutes of Health); Oluwafemi Morrisey (National Building Museum); JoVita Wells (ICE-E Program Director). Bottom row left to right: Ada Harvey (National Institutes of Health); Lavonya Joseph (LAYC Career Academy Public Charter School); Muriel Hamilton (Project Northstar); Ariej Elfeky (DC Dept. of Consumer & Regulatory Affairs). Not pictured: Jacob Pring (National Institutes of Health) and Biruk Assefa (United States Student Association).