James C. Randall was a Spanish major who spent 13 months living and studying in Santiago, Chile, during his third year as a Grinnell Student. Jim’s experience in Chile facilitated his fluency in the Spanish language and greatly enhanced his awareness of, and interest in, the cultural and geopolitical environment in Chile and neighboring South American nations. Jim spent his summer vacation in Chile working with a program that constructed community facilities in rural villages. The goal of this fellowship is to support a second- or third-year Spanish major or a Latin American Studies concentrator who wishes to carry out research or enhance a study abroad experience in Spain or Latin America. A wide range of projects and activities will be considered, though preference will be given to those who make a connection between their proposed activities and their academics in the project description. Applicants should submit a letter of interest of three to four double-spaced pages that details the individual’s plan, provides information on her/his preparation, explains how it relates to her/his interests and/or focus of study, and includes a brief budget. Each applicant should also submit a copy of her/his transcript. It is recommended that those planning to do service work or intern with an organization provide a letter from the group or organization that indicates their agreement with the plan. Fellowships will be awarded based on student achievement in Spanish and Latin American Studies courses, as well as the academic merit and overall quality of the project. The value of the fellowship this year is $1650. The application deadline is Monday, March 4, 2013. Questions concerning this fellowship should be directed to Yvette Aparicio or the chair of the Latin American Studies concentration, Valerie Benoist.
