Stamps Program | University of Chicago Stamps Scholars Program
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO STAMPS SCHOLARS PROGRAM
About the Program
UChicago partners with the Stamps Scholars Program, made possible with the support of benefactors E. Roe Stamps and his late wife Penny, to recognize exceptional students who exemplify leadership, perseverance, scholarship, service, and innovation. The University of Chicago Stamps Scholars Program accepts applications from second-year students for enrichment grants that allow them to take on ambitious experiential learning projects during their third and fourth years.
Award Amount and Eligible Opportunities
UChicago Stamps Scholars receive grants of $20,000 that can be used over the course of their final two years at the University. Selected students can use the funding during both the summer and the academic year beginning in Summer 2023.
Recipients may use these enrichment funds for a wide variety of experiential learning opportunities, including internships, research projects, entrepreneurial endeavors, volunteering, attending professional conferences, and other experiences at the discretion of the University and the Foundation.
The award cannot be used for an internship with an organization that was formed for the purpose of supporting a candidate for political office. Because the University is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under the tax code, it is prohibited from participating in political campaign activities.
Eligible Destinations for International Opportunities
Current University guidelines restrict international travel. If a student is awarded a Metcalf stipend for an on-site internship outside the U.S., they must successfully petition the University for an exemption to this policy in order to receive funding.
Travel to countries with U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory Level 3 & 4 must be approved by the Study Abroad Risk and Security Assessment Committee (SARSAC) and be approved by the Pandemic Travel Review Committee (PTRC) when the Level 3 or 4 is due to COVID-19. As part of the petition process, students will be asked to specify if they will require a work permit to complete their internship and will need to submit a budget worksheet indicating that any Metcalf stipend they receive will not be used to travel to the site of an internship outside the U.S.
For questions regarding the petition process, please contact Katie Fassbinder, at katief@uchicago.edu.
For country-specific information, reference:
- U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories
- CDC website
- International SOS ratings where one can log in with UChicago’s membership number: 11BCAS084635.
Application Process
Eligibility
Current second-year College students who plan to graduate in June 2025 are eligible to apply for the Stamps Scholars Program.
Required Materials
Interested students should submit the following materials through UChicago Handshake by the application deadline of 11:59pm on Sunday, April 10, 2023:
- A standardized cover sheet with information about the applicant, their project, and their faculty or staff mentor, available for download through the Handshake posting. Please use the cover sheet template provided upon clicking the green "Apply" button. *Please submit your cover sheet and your resume as one document: paste your resume into the cover sheet document on a separate page and upload it as one "Resume" document on Handshake.
- A resume, no longer than one page. For assistance with preparing a resume, please visit Career Advancement’s Resume & Interview toolkit or schedule an appointment with a career adviser.
- An unofficial transcript, accessible through myUChicago.
- A statement of purpose, no longer than two pages (uploaded into the "Cover Letter" field; either single or double spaced is acceptable), explaining:
- the applicant’s academic or professional goals, especially for their final two years at UChicago
- the project(s) or experience(s) the student plans to use the enrichment funds for if selected as a Stamps Scholar
- the UChicago faculty, staff member, or other UChicago affiliate expert in a relevant field whom the student has identified to serve as a mentor and provide support and guidance during the project(s)
- how the student’s prior experiences have prepared them to succeed in the proposed project(s)
- how the project(s) would support their stated goals
- A questionnaire with information requested by the Stamps Scholars Program foundation. Students can complete the questionnaire by following this link.
- A letter of recommendation from a UChicago faculty, staff member, or other UChicago-affiliated expert in a related field who can attest to the applicant's character, the viability of their proposed project(s), and their academic, extracurricular, or professional performance. Recommenders can submit their letters using this form. The letter of recommendation can be submitted up until the deadline, end of day Sunday, April 10th.
- A completed Stamps Scholars Mentor Form from a UChicago faculty, staff member, or other UChicago-affiliated expert in a related field who has agreed to serve as the student’s mentor for their proposed project from the student's statement of purpose. This can be the same faculty or staff member who is writing the recommendation on behalf of the student but does not need to be. Mentors can submit their agreement form using this online form.
Campus Interview Component
Following application review, select candidates will be invited to move forward in the selection process to participate in a virtual interview component, completing several interview questions through the Big Interview platform. Selected candidates for this component of the process will receive specific instructions and guidance via email.
Interview with Stamps Scholars Program Staff
The selection committee will nominate a select number of candidates for an interview with the Stamps Scholars Program staff, which will make final decisions.
Information Sharing Notice
By applying to the program, you give the University of Chicago permission to share all information you provide in your application with the Stamps Scholars Program team.
Stamps Scholar Benefits and Responsibilities
Recipients are expected to participate in Stamps Scholars programming both at UChicago and with the national Stamps Scholars network, including:
- New Stamps Scholars Orientation and Welcome Reception in Spring 2023
- Quarterly on-campus discussion seminars on leadership development during the academic year
- The biennial Stamps Scholars National Convention in Spring 2023
Questions?
Please contact Sophie Wingland at swingland@uchicago.edu with questions about the Stamps Scholars Program.