The UMKC Truman Center is celebrating Harry Truman’s legacy of public service with a “Bootstrap Scholarship” award that will permit students who otherwise might not be able to do so to spend four weeks in Washington, D.C.

The purpose is to introduce two qualified undergraduates interested in public service to the national policy process through a month-long immersion experience with the Washington, D.C. offices of the Missouri Congressional delegation or other offices as appropriate.

Student interns will be assigned to governmental offices (legislative or administrative) and will work with identified mentors while there. Ordinarily, the internship is to be completed during a one-month assignment during the Summer Academic Session during the month of June. In those cases where the student and placement site agree upon a longer placement (and the student can find sufficient funding to cover the added costs), a longer placement may be agreed to by the Truman Center.

The internships will be available to students who meet the following criteria:

• Full-time status at UMKC as a rising junior or rising senior
• Minimum UMKC GPA of 3.25
• Any academic major provided the student has had at least one American Government course at the college level. Preference will be given to those students with a demonstrated interest in public service and civic leadership.

Applicants are to submit an application that must contain:

1. An “Essay of Interest in Government Service” in which they describe why they believe they would benefit from this experience and how it would fit into their academic program and career plans.
2. A current UMKC transcript, a current resume, a statement that documents their need or worthiness for “Bootstrap” assistance.
3. At least three letters of recommendation. At least two recommendations must be from instructors who know the student’s work at UMKC and one must be from someone who knows the student as a person outside the classroom – as an employee, community volunteer, athlete or in another role that the student has successfully fulfilled. This letter can come from off-campus or from such a person on campus if the student does not have an off-campus contact.

The completed application portfolio with all required materials will be due in the Truman Center mail box, Room 302 Scofield Hall by 3 p.m., December 17, 2013. Questions? Contact Gayla Curtis at 816-235-2720 or by email at: Curtisgd@umkc.edu.

Applications will be reviewed by a committee associated with UMKC and the Truman Center. Applicants may be asked in for an interview. Successful applicants will be notified by February 5, 2014.

Students selected to participate in this internship opportunity will be required to do the following:

• Attend at least two and possibly more pre-departure meetings on the UMKC campus to discuss the required reading and the internship expectations. These will include an orientation that covers health/safety issues and pointers on appropriate behavior when working in a professional office setting, among other things.
• Enroll for three credit hours at UMKC in a political science off-campus internship course (in consultation with the Departmental Administrative Assistant) for credit during Summer 2014.
• Upon returning to campus, interns will need to be prepared to discuss their experience with the media and at future Truman Center events as well as do so in a write up for the Truman Center website.

• A graded reading and writing assignment will be required, with details in the syllabus found at: course syllabus.

Participating students will receive 3 credits in political science upon successful completion of all requirements of the internship.
* The faculty mentor will be one with expertise on the office or institution in which the student interns and will be appointed by the Director of the Truman Center. Interns may live in one of the residential dorms on the George Washington University campus, or may reside in other approved intern program housing in Washington depending on its availability and cost. Additional information will be provided after the interns are selected. Interns may be mentored in Washington by persons affiliated with or approved by the university in addition to those available in the offices to which they are assigned.

UMKC and the Truman Center will provide a scholarship and other forms of assistance to each student to cover the following expenses associated with the internships:

• We will purchase the required book; provide 3 credit hours of undergraduate educational fee remission at current UMKC rates for residents for Summer Session, 2014; pre-pay lodging (to a maximum of $1,900); reimburse for meals and incidental expenses (to a maximum of $1,000)—All expenses must have receipts to get reimbursed and purchase round-trip airfare coach/baggage allotment (to a maximum of $400).

The student interns will be responsible for any additional money they might need for transportation, living and other incidental expenses incurred (beyond those covered) while in Washington and for changes made to air itinerary after the ticket has been purchased.