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The Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship is designed to enhance the experience of Grinnell College's international students by providing the opportunity to learn more about the United States through independent travel. Travel fellowships of up to $5000 will be available each year. The fellowship is made possible through the generous support of Teresa and Merle Fischlowitz.
Merle Fischlowitz '53 recalls that during his years at Grinnell, his association and friendship with many international students were among the most rewarding aspects of his education. He has always been aware that international students are an important part of the Grinnell community.
Mr. Fischlowitz believes that an important part of education for international students is their opportunity to see the United States and to learn more about our culture than can be accomplished in few years of living and studying at Grinnell College. The Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship provides international students with the opportunities for both purposeful and casual exploration of the United States.
The applicant must be a degree seeking student of first, second, or third year standing at Grinnell College from a country outside of North America and not from any possession or territory of the United States. The successful candidate will demonstrate maturity, openness and planning in their applications, interviews, and recommendations.
The Fellow must return to Grinnell for at least one academic year immediately following the summer travel.
The Fellow will make a moral commitment to leave the United States after completion of their education, and to carry with them their travel experiences in the USA as part of their continuing education. Students who reside in the U.S. after fully completing their education (including graduate school), on an H-1b visa or other program that allows intent to immigrate, should expect to repay the fellowship funds.
Travel funded by this Fellowship may be used only in the contiguous forty-eight states. Funds may be used only during the period of the award for transportation, lodging, food, and events or activities consistent with the spirit of the Fellowship. Up to thirty percent of the award may be retained to offset unrealized summer earnings to be applied to fees or tuition at Grinnell College during the following academic year.
Travel funded by the Fellowship must include some time spent in a large metropolitan area, and must be in at least two regions (New England, Middle Atlantic, Southeastern, Pacific Northwest, South Central, Plains States, Mountain West and California) of the United States outside of the upper Midwest. Travel funded by the grant shall last at least 21 days and no more than 10 weeks between the final day of classes in the spring semester 2010 and first day of classes in the fall semester 2010.
Please note that participation in the Fischlowitz International Student Travel Fellowship does not preclude a student from taking part in a summer internship or research experience, in most cases. Grinnell's summer break is typically about 13 weeks; because the minimum requirement for travel on this fellowship is three weeks, most students will find it possible to both complete an 8-10 weeks internship/research experience and travel as a Fischlowitz Fellow. Indeed, almost all of our past fellows have done so. Fischlowitz Fellowship travel need not be on consecutive days; it can be split into two or more pieces at the beginning and end of the summer, and can include weekend trips.
Applicants are required to tie their travel together with a theme. Instead of just proposing travel to places that sound interesting, applicants must show what connects the places they wish to go and what they want to do in each place. Themes can be very broad or very narrow. Travel in each location is not limited only to the student's theme; for example, a student who travels to New York City to look at art may also visit other landmarks, such as the Empire State Building, or attend a Broadway play.
Examples of possible themes include (but in no way are limited to):
- Architecture
- Natural wonders
- Baseball
- Borders
- Public transportation
- Cities near water
- Food
- The US Civil War
- American race relations
- Places where famous movies were filmed
- Art
- Religion
- Music
- Theater
Applicants who wish to discuss the appropriateness of their theme should meet with Doug Cutchins, x4408.
Each Travel Fellow shall keep a travel journal of his/her experiences that will be submitted to the Fellowship Committee at the end of the summer. The journal may be supplemented by other reporting forms. For example, Fellows may submit an art project, a musical composition, or a performance. Fellows are encouraged to find ways to document and share this experience with the Grinnell College community. The journal shall be kept in Office of Service and Social Commitment and on the Fischlowitz Travel Fellowship web page for perusal by others. Existence of travel journals shall be publicized to all international students each year, regardless of whether they intend to apply for the Travel Fellowships.
A selected Travel Fellow will present an on-campus colloquium in the fall semester following the travel experience.
If a Travel Fellowship recipient is unable to leave the United States for any reason at the completion of his/her education (including graduate education), the recipient will be morally obligated to repay the money received back to the Travel Fellowship Fund.
The following application materials must be submitted to the Fellowship Committee:
- Application cover sheet, including a signed "Statement of Intent to Return to Home Country"
- 2-4 page essay describing motivation, learning goals, and preparation
- Budget proposal (3 pages maximum)
- Proposed itinerary (10 pages maximum)
- Faculty recommendation
- Photocopies of the applicant's passport and visa. These are to be held for safekeeping in case you lose your passport and visa while traveling on the Fischlowitz Fellowship.
- A list of the places in the US that the applicant has already traveled to, and the length and purpose of this travel.
- A completed and signed Permission Form and Waiver (click to download)
Applications may be downloaded here. All applicants should follow these submission guidelines.
An interview will be required of all finalists for the fellowship.
The deadline for applications is Monday, February 15, 2010 by 5:00pm in the Office of Social Commitment, 1233 Park St.
All applicants are expected to adhere to these ethical guidelines.
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