St. Edward's University has three programs that fund student experiences outside the classroom.

The Student Conference Fund

This fund offers support to students of all majors to travel to professional meetings and conferences. Funds may support registration, travel, hotel and food costs. The typical award ranges between $100 and $500.

Students actively involved in the conference proceedings are given preference and may petition for a higher award if it's necessary to ensure their participation. "Active participation" includes making oral presentations, designing posters, participating on a panel, or performing/exhibiting a new composition.

Students who receive funding from the Student Conference Fund must submit an application to present at the Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE), or submit a piece for publication to a regional, national, or campus journal (Arete, the Sorin Oak Review, jSource).

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year. Please submit applications via email to Cynthia Darling, Academic Program Manager. Requests must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the planned trip. A follow-up report is also required. Applications are processed within ten business days.

Download the application form.

Amid Beauty & Sadness

Recent graduate Shannon Ung traveled to Cambodia on a Summer Academic Excellence Award to explore the genocide that affected her family.  

Summer Academic Excellence Awards

Summer Academic Excellence (SAE) Awards, which typically range from $600 to $5000, are awarded annually to rising seniors with a 3.7 GPA or above,  or to rising seniors with a 3.6 GPA and at least two prior experiences interning, doing mentored research or creative work, studying abroad, sustained community service or campus leadership. Funding enables you to engage in summer projects that help build your credentials for the future. 

Think about what experience would most enhance your academic interests and future career goals. You might be an Environmental Science major who wants to engage in water-quality research with a nonprofit, a Political Science major who wants to travel to an archive to get material for your senior thesis, or an International Relations major who needs to study intensive Mandarin in Beijing. There are as many kinds of proposals as there are kinds of student ambitions, but all projects should have a substantive link to your academic interests. 

Things to consider:

  • We cannot fund St. Edward's University coursework or faculty-led study abroad.
  • Projects that include research related to a thesis or independent study will be given preference.
  • Projects that incorporate the use or study of a foreign language are encouraged.
  • Financial need is a consideration.
  • Students may not receive funding to travel to any country with a U.S. State Department Travel Warning.
  • Awardees must attend two workshops that focus on how to integrate student projects into strong post-graduate fellowship applications.  
  • Awardees are required to complete at least one post-graduation fellowship application.

Students with GPAs above 3.7 will be invited to apply in January.  Click here for 2022 SAEA application. Students with a 3.6 GPA and at least two prior experiences interning, doing mentored research or creative work, studying abroad, sustained community service or campus leadership should email Dina Guidubaldi, dguiduba@stedwards.edu for more information about the application process. 

 

Martin Scholars

The Martin Scholars Program provides students with two summers of funding for experiences that help build  credentials for the future, and a series of workshops that help students clarify their future goals. 

First and second year students with a GPA of 3.7 or above based on the January grade run may apply. Third year students are not eligible and should instead apply for the Summer Academic Excellence Awards. Martin Scholar applicants need not know what they plan to do for the two summers at the time of application, though concrete ideas are encouraged in the application process. The workshop series will help students clarify goals and develop and create budgets for summer plans. 

Click Click here for 2022 Martin application. to start the 2022 Martin application. Please email Dina Guidubaldi, dguiduba@stedwards.edu for more information about the application process.