The Civic Scholars Program provides a rigorous, in-depth curriculum for undergraduate students with an interest and passion for civic leadership. First years and sophomores are selected in a competitive merit-based process and learn together through the following two years.
The program includes two years of intensive coursework, experiential learning, civic skill building, leadership training, and mentorship to prepare Scholars for a life dedicated to civic and community engagement. Civic Scholars receive an award of $7,500 to support a substantial civic project or internship during the summer following their first year in the program. Students with high financial need will also receive a $1,000 supplemental stipend. Eligibility is determined by Student Financial Services at the time of program acceptance. Civic Scholars may also apply for up to $1,000 to cover Civic Summer project expenses.
The Gephardt Institute seeks a broad range of applicants from all backgrounds, perspectives, and schools who have varied knowledge and experience levels in civic engagement, including:
- Community engaged learning and research
- Community organizing and activism
- Social entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility
- Direct service
- Philanthropy
- Policy and governance
Applications for Civic Scholars are now open!
Applications opened Wednesday, Dec. 18, and must be submitted by Feb. 2 at 9 p.m. CT.
Program Goals
- Civic Leadership: Students will be capable and confident in their ability to collaborate with others and lead efforts that improve the human condition.
- Civic Commitments: Students will understand themselves as agents of change with the knowledge and skills to strategically impact the collective good throughout their lives.
- Civic Knowledge and Skills: Students will graduate with fluency in civic engagement concepts, analytical tools, and skills that they are equipped to apply to a range of civic issues.
Program Details
The Civic Scholars Program includes the following components:
Academic Coursework: Four semesters of rigorous coursework
- Year One – 2 credit course each semester
- Year Two – 1 credit course each semester
- Classes cover many topics related to civic engagement, democracy, dialogue, community engagement, research, project development, and others designed to support the development of students’ Civic Summer projects and their long
- Students should expect to complete readings, several writing assignments, engage with guest speakers, lead and participate in class discussion, and participate in hands-on and immersive learning experiences.
- Since the Civic Scholars Program extends beyond the classroom, there will be times during the semester when you spend additional time on Civic Scholars activities beyond what you might anticipate from a two-credit course.
- Classes are co-taught by two instructors, often a Gephardt Institute staff member and a community leader. In recent years, Dr. Alannah Glickman, Dewitt Campbell, MSW, and Dr. Dwayne T. James have served as instructors of the program.
Community Building: We build an intentional community that allows students to show up for each other with support, accountability, and mutual respect while offering a space to take risks and explore ideas openly and honestly. The program acts as a microcosm for other community efforts a student may wish to join.
- Participate in an annual kickoff retreat designed to build the cohort community and introduce students to the variety of civic leadership pathways.
Immersion Trips: Immersive learning in the St. Louis region and Washington D.C. during organized Winter Break trips, to learn about local neighborhoods, public policy, and civic efforts for social change.
Civic Summer: Receive a $7,500 academic summer award to be used the summer between their first and second years in the program for a substantial civic project of their choice, developed in consultation with their mentors and instructors.
- Civic Summers can happen anywhere in the world and can take shape as a self-directed project or one that extends and deepens existing community-based civic efforts.
- Students with high financial need will also receive a $1,000 supplemental stipend. Eligibility is determined by Student Financial Services at the time of program acceptance.
- Civic Scholars may also apply for up to $1,000 to cover Civic Summer project expenses.
Professional Skill Development:
- Public Narrative and Public Speaking: Students complete public presentations to share their civic interests and civic summer accomplishments.
- Networking and Mentorship: Network with and be mentored by prominent civic leaders and the course instructors. Civic Scholars will also mentor the incoming cohort each year.
Program Timeline for Civic Scholars Cohort 14
*Some of the details below may be subject to change. Instructors will inform students of anticipated program changes as soon as possible.*
Application: The 2025 application period opened n on Dec. 18, 2024 and will close on Feb. 2, 2025 at 9 p.m. CT. Selected applicants will be interviewed by a selection committee in February 2025 and final decisions will be made in March 2025. Click here to go to the application.
Spring 2025: In March 2025, students who have been offered and accepted to be participants in the Civic Scholars Program will complete their program agreement form and attend a welcome event.
Fall 2025: The program starts! Classes will be Thursdays from 3-5 pm. This semester will focus on building foundational knowledge of civic engagement strategies and civic skills like public narratives, civic dialogue, and community outreach. The kickoff retreat will take place on Friday, Aug. 29 – Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025.
Spring 2026: The DC Immersion Trip will take place in January 2026. The DC trip connects students’ learning to the national level to learn about how federal politics and policymaking shapes social change efforts across the country. The Spring 2026 semester course will focus on developing students’ Civic Summer Projects.
Summer 2026: Civic Summer! Students are required to complete a minimum of 400 hours of a Civic Summer project in the location of their choosing. Students must work in partnership with a community partner or mentor. See Program Details above for more information about funding.
Fall 2026: Classes start again! Second year classes are one credit each semester and take place on Tuesdays from 4-5pm. This semester will focus on integrating the Civic Summer experience, presenting their learning at the public-facing Civic Scholars Share Out, and collaborating to develop Collective Action Projects.
Spring 2027: During the final semester of coursework, students will implement their Collective Action Projects, reflect on their experience in the program, and create a civic vision and commitment to guide life after graduation.
Civic Scholar Cohorts
Class of 2026
Vy Nguyen
Class of 2026 Civic Scholar | 2023 Mosbacher St. Louis Fellow | Fellows Internship Site: Saint Louis County Department of Health
Class of 2025
Amelia Letson
John & Mary Jo Crosby Civic Scholar | Mosbacher St. Louis Fellow | Internship Site: Pro-Choice Missouri | WashU Votes Co-Chair
- Email: a.a.letson@wustl.edu
Examples of Past Civic Summer Projects
| Community Partner | Project | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Justice: Office on Violence Against Women | Research project on the impacts of government funding on local legal aid organizations that serve survivors, and creating a grant guide for St. Louis non-profits that serve survivors of gender-based violence | Washington, DC |
| Illinois Environmental Protection Agency | Continuing work of a previous Civic Scholar on the Environmental Justice Academy. Civic developed curriculum and leading educational sessions in East St. Louis for local residents being trained to forward environmental efforts in their community. | Chicago, IL / East St. Louis, IL |
| Welcome Neighbor | Developing healthcare trainings and resources in languages of need for immigrant and refugee communities, with focus on dental healthcare; providing additional support to new immigrants | St. Louis |
| Public Health Foundation of India | Working to evaluate the effectiveness of a local peer-to-peer public health intervention that targeted rural adolescents and developing promotional materials to raise awareness about the program. | Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, India |
Questions? Contact Associate Director for Civic Engagement, Alannah Glickman for more information about Civic Scholars.
The Civic Scholars Program is made possible by generous gifts from John Beuerlein, MBA ’77, and Crystal Beuerlein (in honor of Bob Virgil, MBA ’60, DBA ’67, and Gerry Virgil); Maxine Clark, Trustee, and Bob Fox; Laura Zajac Kleinhandler, AB ’90 and David Kleinhandler; Joseph N. Marcus, MD ’75, and Margaret A. Olsen, Professor of Medicine and Surgery; Matt Seiden, AB ’78, and Wendi Weill; Mickey and Debbie Stern; Bob and Gerry Virgil; and anonymous donors.