Welcome to your hub for the Gephardt Institute Civic Leadership Programs application for Civic Scholars and the St. Louis Fellows Program.

The Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement supports student learning, engagement, and leadership in civic life

Our civic leadership programs provide powerful experiences that support experiential education, civic leadership development, internship opportunities, and help you explore how to align civic and community engagement with your own passions and skills.   

We encourage you to apply if you are interested in deepening your understanding of and experience with nonprofit missions, public policy, grassroots organizing, public health, the arts, and more, through the lens of civic and community engagement.

Start My Cohort Program Application

The application period for our undergraduate cohort programs now closed.

Deadline to submit:  Jan. 22, 2023 at 9 p.m. CST

Submit a Student Recommendation

Recommendations are required for all programs. For Civic Scholars only: recommenders must be WashU faculty or staff.

Deadline to submit:  Jan. 27, 2023 at 5 p.m. CST

Apply for a Partnership Extension Grant

Are you a 2023 Civic Scholar or St. Louis Fellow who is finishing up your Civic Summer or your Fellowship, and want to extend your summer project work? Apply for a Partnership Grant Application from the Gephardt Institute’s St. Louis Impact Fund by Aug. 28, 2023.


Cohort Program Overview

Civic Scholars ProgramSt. Louis Fellowship Program
Program FocusCivic Scholars is a cohort experience featuring an academic curriculum (6 credits), leadership training, mentorship, and a summer civic project completed between junior and senior year.These cohort programs connect students with St. Louis area civic, arts, and public health organizations for summer internships supported by immersive learning and experiences in the region. Specific opportunities include Arts as Civic Engagement, Dr. John C. Morris Fellows, Goldman Fellows, and other opportunities to work in St. Louis, including on LGBTQIA+ advocacy.
Program EligibilityRising juniors.
(You must be enrolled as a junior in fall 2023).
Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors. (You must be enrolled as an undergraduate student in fall 2023).
Regional FocusCivic summer projects can be completed nationwide or internationallySt. Louis Metro Area
Program LengthCivic Scholars is a two-year program completed during junior and senior years.Our St. Louis Fellowships are completed from March 2023 through August 2023.
Funding or Stipend$6,000 stipend $6,000 stipend

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Are international students eligible for Civic Scholars or the St. Louis Fellowship Program?

Yes, international students are encouraged to apply for all Gephardt Institute civic leadership programs. Upon being selected, additional follow-up will be required through OISS to complete the appropriate documentation.

I am applying to Civic Scholars. Do I need to have my Civic Summer Project pre-determined before applying?

No, and in fact, much of your junior year experience in Civic Scholars will be spent focused on preparing you for your Civic Summer.

If am applying to the St. Louis Fellows Program, do I need to have my internship identified before applying?

No, and while it helps to have a particular issue area or professional focus that you’re passionate about exploring in your internship, the Gephardt Institute team will work with you to identify and find the best internship for you in your fellowship.

Is the summer internship paid?

Fellows will secure an unpaid internship, but through our programs, you receive funding in the form of a $6,000 stipend in lieu of summer earnings and to help offset cost-living costs and expenses.

I’m currently studying abroad or planning to study abroad. Can I apply for a civic leadership program?

Yes, and please contact our team if you have specific questions about the timing of the internship and completion of your study abroad. If you are selected for a finalist interview while abroad, your interview can be conducted virtually.

What’s the difference between a recommendation and a student suggestion?

Recommendations are required as part of the application process for each St. Louis Fellows or Civic Scholar applicant. You can include more than one recommendation, but only one is required to submit your application.

Student Suggestions allow faculty and staff the opportunity to connect a student with the Gephardt Institute for the Civic Scholars or St. Louis Fellows civic leadership programs. They are not part of the application process, but help us identify students who may be a good fit for these programs.

For questions about a civic leadership program or the application process, please contact Sonia Sequiera, Director of Programs and Operations, at soniasequeira@wustl.edu

Application Process

The application process is common across all cohort programs. To submit your application, please ensure the following has been completed: 

  1. Submit your completed online application, including your resume and essays responses, Jan. 22, 2023 at 9 p.m. CST.

    We advise that you work on your application essays in the form of a Word document first. Copy and paste your responses from the Word document into the online form to avoid any potential technical issues. Gephardt also provides a fillable PDF to help you draft your application, but final responses must be submitted through the application form. Please include all Washington University affiliations, including student organizations, scholarship programs, and work/internship commitments on your resume. Additionally, your resume should highlight any significant civic and community engagement experience.
  2. Ensure your recommendation form responses are submitted online via this form by the stated application deadline. Applicants should solicit one recommendation as part of your application. You can include more than one recommendation, but only one is required to submit your application. View sample request email >>

    For Civic Scholars applicants, the recommender MUST be a WashU faculty or staff member. You can include more than one recommendation, but only one is required to submit your application.

    For St. Louis Fellowship Program applicants, the recommender can be anyone who can speak to your engagement in a community setting, with a strong preference for either a WashU faculty/staff member or someone who is familiar with your interests, work, and involvement in the past year. You can include more than one recommendation, but only one is required to submit your application.

Extended Program Details

Information Sessions and Drop-In Hours

We encourage attending one or more of the following information sessions. These sessions provide an opportunity to learn more about our programs, preview the application process, ask questions, and connect with institute staff. 

Information sessions and drop-in hours will be made available in-person and digitally. If you are not able to attend, please contact us for a recording or visit our youtube channel.

Civic Leadership Program Information Sessions

These information sessions are an ideal opportunity to learn more about our St. Louis Fellows Program and Civic Scholars Program.

Times and dates for information sessions will be announced shortly. Click on the links below to view our 2022 recordings.

Program2022 Information Sessions2023 Information Sessions
All Civic Leadership ProgramsView RecordingDec. 7, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Stix House
Civic ScholarsView RecordingDec. 7, 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Stix House
Arts as Civic EngagementView RecordingDec. 7, 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Stix House
Dr. John C. Morris FellowsView RecordingDec. 7, 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Stix House
Goldman Fellows and other St. Louis FellowsView RecordingDec. 7, 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. at Stix House

Virtual & In-person Drop-In Hours

Virtual drop-in hours are available for applicants to learn more about all civic leadership programs. Gephardt Staff and program alumni will be available to answer questions about each program and can give feedback on application drafts.

More details can be found on our events calendar.

Session Date and Time
St. Louis Fellows, virtualFriday, Dec. 9, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 4, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
St. Louis Fellows, in-personThursday, Dec. 15, 3 p.m. – 5.p.m.
Friday Jan. 20, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Civic Scholars, virtualFriday, Jan. 6, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Civic Scholars, in-personFriday Jan. 20, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

CAMPUS RESOURCES

In addition to information sessions and drop-in hours, applicants are encouraged to take advantage of WashU resources to support your application. The following offices offer one-on-one appointments, available to all WashU students: 

Resume & Interview SupportEssay Writing
The Career Center
DUC 110
https://careercenter.wustl.edu
The Writing Center
Mallinkrodt Center, Lower Level
https://writingcenter.wustl.edu