The Steven and Diane Robinson Knapp Fellowship for Entrepreneurial Service-Learning has been established at the
George Washington University by Steven Knapp and Diane Robinson Knapp to recognize, reward, and facilitate
creative public service and academic engagement. GW undergraduate or graduate students are selected to design and
implement entrepreneurial service-learning projects. Fellows work with the Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic
Engagement and Public Service, a faculty member and may work with other students or community partners to
execute a project that makes a significant difference to the lives of others.
One or more Fellowship awards will be distributed annually, within the range of $2,500 to $10,000. Fellows may
apply for this award to assist with conducting research and an action project for an independent study course;
however, the award funds cannot be used for tuition. Fellows will receive professional development opportunities
allowing them to work with community partners and/or faculty members who are subject experts. Additionally,
faculty advisors will receive funding for their role as academic advisors to selected fellows.
Selection for the fellowship is at the discretion of the Provost. Applicants will be required to submit a written
proposal. Should applicants advance to a second round of reviews, they will be required to give a five minute
presentation of their project to a review panel during the month of February (date TBA). Detailed instructions for the
presentation will be issued upon notice that applicants are being considered for a second review.
APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
GW undergraduate or graduate students with at least one more semester of study are eligible for
consideration and must be enrolled at GW for the full Academic calendar year in which the award is
being given. Eligible proposals may include projects with any private non- profit organization or any
institution or agency of a federal, state, or local government. Eligible private organizations may include
any that are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as legitimate non-profit organizations or
institutions.
FELLOWSHIPS REQUIREMENTS
The fellowship will be conducted over the course of an academic year (summer or fall to no later than
June 30th of the following year). Fellows will be required to sign a work-plan and time agreement upon
acceptance of the award. In order to receive final payment, the work of scholarship must be submitted and
approved. Submission of periodic reports, as well as receipts and invoices from expenses related to the
project will be required. There are two components to the fellowship program: an academic research
portion and the social entrepreneurship service project.
Academic requirements
At the time of application, applicants must have established a partnership with a faculty member who will
serve as the academic advisor to the project. Fellows are required to write a 3000-word (8-10 pages) or
equivalent work of scholarship (multimedia, presentation, performance, etc…) examining the issue(s) the
project is designed to address and the outcomes of the project. This work of scholarship must be
submitted within the duration of this project’s agreed upon timeline. For example if the project begins in
the fall of 2015, the work of scholarship must be submitted no later than July 30th 2016.
Service requirements
Fellows will also be required to submit periodic project updates and evaluation to the Center for Civic
Engagement and Public Service, which may be published on the Center’s website and in other media. The
service project must be entrepreneurial in that it is an innovative solution to critical problem.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
● Quality of proposed project (should constitute substantial, feasible, and innovative contribution to the
issue being addressed or program being enhanced)
● Evidence that the proposed project addresses a critical need or socioeconomic disparity
● Evidence of knowledge and commitment to relevant social issues or programs
● Evidence of prior ability to oversee successful, sustainable projects and create works of scholarship.
All materials must be submitted to The Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public
Service or smithml@gwu.edu by the deadline for consideration. Only complete and timely applications
will be reviewed by the Center’s committee of faculty and staff and forwarded to the Provost for review.
APPLICATION DEADLINES AND PROCEDURES
Deadline: 5:00 pm, January 29, 2016
Submit to: The Honey W. Nashman Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service 800 21st Street,
NW Suite 505 Washington, D.C. 20052 or smithml@gwu.edu.
PART I
Applicant and Faculty Advisor Information
(For multiple applicants, please submit additional sheets with this information)
Applicant and Faculty Advisor Information
(For multiple applicants, please submit additional sheets with this information)
Applicant Name: ______________________________ E-mail: _______________________________
GWID: ____________________________________Phone: ____________________________________
Campus
Address:____________________________________________________________________________
Street
City
State
Zip Code
GW School: _____________________________________________________________________
College Dates of Attendance: ___________________________________________________________
Major Field of Concentration: __________________________________________________________
Academic Matriculation Status (please circle/ highlight): freshman
sophomore
graduate student
junior
senior
doctoral student
Faculty Advisor: ____________________________________ GWID: _________________________
Email: ____________________________________Phone: __________________________________
Name/address of organization with which you plan to do this service-learning project (if applicable):
Name ______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Street
City
State
Zip Code
PART II
Executive Summary (1 page):
Provide a brief overview of the project and the issue it addresses, based upon the full application below.
This summary will be used in publications and other media to explain your project. Please also include a
project title.
PART III
Provide short answers of no more than 100 words to the following questions:
· What is the project?
· Why is this project important?
· What issues will it address?
· Who will benefit?
· How is this project innovative?
· What will you research?
· How will the research conducted support or inform your service project?
· How will you evaluate and report the outcomes of your project?
· How will you measure the success of this project?
Part IV
Project Timeline: Use the following model to develop your estimated work plan for the year of
fellowship
Goal
Task/Progress Measurement
Estimated Deadlines during
Summer 2016 to 2017
Use the following model to include a three year plan to demonstrate how this project will be
sustainable after the fellowship
Goal
Task/Progress Measurement
Estimated Deadlines
Part V
Key Participants Provide short biographies of no more than 100 words
Include information relevant to previous experiences and future academic/ professional goals and
community activities. (If you have a large team only select your leaders)
· Provide a short personal biography:
· Provide short biographies of any other team members
· Provide a short biography of your faculty advisor
PART VI
Budget Outline and Narrative (1-2 pages)
· Submit an itemized budget (this can be tentative) and a narrative that describes how you intend to use
this funding and why it is necessary for you to accomplish the goals of your project. Please use the
following template to develop your estimated budget for the year of fellowship
· Within the narrative indicate other funding sources if any that you have secured or expect to have to
complete the project.
· Please limit your funding requests of this particular fellowship to no more than $10,000.
Item
Amount
Description
Supplies / Services
Subtotal
Travel
Subtotal
Staffing
Subtotal
Total
PART VII
Additional Documents
·
Include a short letter of intent from the faculty advisor participating on this project.
·
Include a short letter of agreement from your community partner if applicable
·
Include any relevant research materials or data to support your project proposal in this section.
PART VIII
I certify that information submitted for this award is true to the best of my knowledge.
Applicant Signature: _____________________________________ Date: ______________________