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Washington Internship Scholarships

Pi Sigma Alpha awards four Washington Internship Scholarships annually to members participating in political science internship programs in Washington, DC, for either the summer term or fall semester.  Each scholarship is $2,000.

At least one of the scholarships is reserved for a member participating in a program of The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC.) Nominations are due April 15.  The recipients are announced by June 1. 

The internship must take place in Washington, DC. It may be under the auspices of the candidate's own institution or any other recognized internship organization, and the home institution must award academic credit for the internship.

NOTE: The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars(TWC) will also provide $2,500 toward housing costs for any of the 3 winners of the Pi Sigma Alpha intern scholarship who participates in a TWC internship program. The Washington Center, founded in 1975, is the largest full-time internship program in the nation's capital, serving over 1500 students each year. Its housing is located in high-rise apartments in Northern Virginia. For further information, contact: The Washington Center, 2301 M Street, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington, DC 20037-1427 (info@twc.edu; www.twc.edu).

The intern scholarships will be awarded by a national selection committee solely on the basis of academic merit and service to Pi Sigma Alpha, the member's university or college, and the community. Pi Sigma Alpha welcomes applications from any member without regard to race, gender, or ethnicity.

Each chapter is invited to nominate one candidate for the intern scholarship. A completed application package should be submitted to the National Office and must include three (3) copies of each of the following (one original and two photocopies are acceptable):

1. A completed individual application form

5. A letter of recommendation from one other political science faculty member who knows the candidate well

6. An official college transcript (3 copies; two may be photocopies)

Applications must be received by April 15. The recipients will be announced by June 1. Funds will be awarded upon confirmation of the candidate's acceptance by and enrollment in an internship program.

Application form:

• Washington Internship Scholarship Application (.pdf)
• Washington Internship Scholarship Application (MS Word)

For a list of recent Intern Scholarship winners, click here.

OTHER INTERN SCHOLARSHIPS:  In addition to this exclusive Pi Sigma Alpha scholarship program, all Pi Sigma Alpha members are eligible for partial scholarships to the Washington internship programs sponsored by the Washington Internship Institute, The Washington Center, and The Fund for American Studies.  These partial scholarships are granted by the sponsoring institutions to all students who have been initiated into the honor societies of the Association of College Honor Societies.  Applications for these awards are made directly to the sponsoring institutions, not to Pi Sigma Alpha.