Receive up to $6,000 and support to help you secure a top-tier internship in your field at a nationally recognized nonprofit or government agency.
- Applications for Summer 2024 are open through March 1, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
- View a recording of our virtual information session.
Awardees receive:
- Up to $6,000 to cover costs of living during an otherwise unpaid internship with either a nonprofit organization or government agency over the summer (from appx. mid-May through early-August.)
- Support and connections to earn a prestigious placement in your field anywhere in the United States — at a leading international organization, federal bureau, or similar institution working to develop positive social change while addressing specific public policies.
Previous Frederick Interns have worked with leading organizations like Human Rights Watch, the U.S. Department of State, Women in Government, the National Coalition for the Homeless, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Ideal Candidates:
- You must be a full-time Pitt undergraduate student in the semester following your internship.
- You are a high-achieving student with an interest in leadership, public service, policy, and the common good.
- You will bring diversity to the cohort of interns who will support one another virtually throughout their summer internships.
Materials for submission:
- Statement of Interest: An essay of 750-words or less discussing your area of public policy interest for the internship, how this program would further your academic goals, and how public service fits into your broader life trajectory. Applicants for the Frederick Internship should mention potential organizations that address this issue.
- Diversity Statement: An essay of 250-words or less addressing how the issue or policy is related to diversity, equity, and justice, how you bring a diverse perspective to the critical issue, and, if applicable, please describe any personal challenges you face in taking an unpaid internship.
- Resume: A document that describes your academic progress, employment experience, and co-curricular involvement.
- Letter of Recommendation: A letter from an individual who can speak to either a.) Your academic capacity, success, or potential in a specific academic discipline or b.) A mentor who has awareness of your critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and or leadership skills preferably in a professional setting.
If you have questions, contact Andrew Lotz, PhD, Lecturer and Academic Advisor in the Department of Political Science, at ANL7@pitt.edu.
This award is generously funded by David C. Frederick, Honors alum ('83) and Pitt's first Rhodes Scholar. He also earned his PhD at Oxford and his JD at the University of Texas. He is as an appellate attorney in Washington, D.C., and has notably argued more than 50 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. He has advocated for the public and communities in several high-profile cases, and established this award to inspire and enable more undergraduates to enhance their careers in public service.