Criteria for The Lilly Foundation Scholarships
The purpose of the Indiana Crusader Connection scholarships is to develop opportunities for internships in the state of Indiana. A Lilly Endowment grant allows the Career Center to award scholarships of $1000 to undergraduate students in the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business Administration and Engineering who perform unpaid internships of 100 hours or more. The goal of these scholarships is to encourage recipients to work in the state of Indiana following graduation. In addition to the $1000 scholarships, students also receive one free academic credit and work-related experience. Scholarships are available every semester.
Qualified candidates will meet the following criteria:
- Have a minimum of 50 credit hours prior to the internship, although exceptions may be considered.
- Applicants must not be second-semester seniors.
- Have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 and be an undergraduate in good academic standing.
- Be full-time Valparaiso University students in Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, or Engineering.
Specifics regarding Lilly Grant $1,000 Scholarships are as follows:
- Students completing internships will be awarded one free credit at the end of the semester following the internship experience and receive a grade of “S” or “U.”
- The application process must be completed and the scholarships awarded prior to the start of an internship. No retroactive scholarships will be awarded.
- Students failing to complete summer internships in accordance with criteria will not receive bi-weekly scholarship payments.
- Students completing internships in the Fall or Spring must sign the attached Student Waiver. Any student who fails to work 100 hours or more must repay the $1000 scholarship.
- The Lilly Grant requires that students complete a minimum of 100 internship hours. Academic areas or internship providers may require additional hours.
- Each academic department will determine specific requirements for internships, e.g. deadlines for submitting written reports.
In accepting a Lilly Grant Scholarship, students agree to:
- Give a brief (8-10 minute) presentation summarizing the internship experience to a Valpo Core class.
- Compose a one-page reflective essay detailing the internship experience.
- Complete a written evaluation of the internship site.
- Submit both the evaluation and the essay to the Career Center within one month of completing the internship.
Students failing to give oral presentations and submit required materials by the end of the semester following the internships will receive a “U” on their academic transcripts.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Please submit the following required materials to the Career Center.
- A completed scholarship application form, including a one-page essay stating the reason for the internship and funding, signed and dated by the applicant and the applicant’s Department Chair.
- A current, unofficial Valparaiso University transcript.
- A hard copy of a current resume that has been reviewed by a Career Center staff member and uploaded to the Experience database.
- A description of the internship position and responsibilities from the internship provider, including a statement that the internship is unpaid, typed on company letterhead. The Department Chair’s signature should also appear on the written description, thereby confirming approval of the internship for academic credit.
Career Center staff will review all application materials to determine scholarship recipients.
