Program Description
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing combined scholarship and internship opportunities designed to promote public service and to create access to higher education for undergraduate and graduate students. All scholarships are tied to a specific job placement in a specific location.The program offers:
- Full-tuition scholarships
- Paid internship (minimum 640 hours) leading to permanent employment
- Employee benefits
- Mentoring, career development, and leadership training
- Use of a personal computer
Successful applicants are:
- Committed to public service
- Leaders in their community
- Intellectually curious
Recipients of the program enter into an agreement with the USDA and receive full-tuition scholarships for two to three years. Prior to graduation, recipients intern at the USDA for a minimum of 640 hours. Recipients may be required to work during the upcoming summer. The internships are paid in addition to the scholarship funds. There are numerous ways to complete your internship hours prior to graduation. Recipients are required to work for the USDA for a minimum of 2 years in a guaranteed job upon graduation. If you have any questions please contact Willis Collie at (202) 720-6506 or wcollie@ars.udsa.gov.
You may download the complete 2005 Public Service Leaders Scholarship Program Packet here. Adobe Acrobat is required.
Important Dates
Here are the important dates for the 2008 program.
Application Deadline:
March 25, 2008
Orientation for Selected Scholars in Washington, DC:
July 6-12, 2008
