Richard Rubin Scholar Mentoring Program
Application 2016
Mission Statement
Recognizing the great importance of personal and professional mentoring to alter the
trajectory of a young person’s life, the Richard Rubin Scholar Mentoring Program was
established in 2004 by an initial gift from Richard L. Rubin and a group of his protégés who
are former Swarthmore College students.
Embodying the values of its founder and contributors, the fund’s fundamental objective is
to advance the academic, interpersonal, social, and professional success of disadvantaged
Swarthmore College students while they are enrolled at the college and in their lives
beyond graduation. To accomplish these goals, the Rubin Scholar Program aims to provide
undergraduate students with:

A supportive and engaging campus mentor starting in their sophomore year at the
College and following graduation;

A supportive off campus mentor who can help provide additional support as well as
professional resources;

The opportunity to apply for a funded internship, after the sophomore year, with a
mentor of accomplishment in a field that will provide the student the opportunity to
develop and strengthen his/her career goals;

Support for and coordination of enriched opportunities that strengthen aspiration,
awareness and attainment that will lead the Rubin Scholars to outstanding
educational, personal, and community achievement.
Richard L. Rubin, former Chief Executive of Dorman Mills and a former president of the
Dedalus Foundation in New York was a professor of political science and public policy at
Swarthmore College. On the faculty of Swarthmore College since 1979, he was the first
director of Swarthmore’s Public Policy Program.
Richard Rubin Scholar Mentoring Program
Application 2016
Student Selection Criteria
The program’s fundamental objective is to advance the academic, interpersonal, social, and
professional success of Swarthmore College students who are from disadvantaged
backgrounds. The Rubin Scholar Selection Committee will select students, regardless of
their sex, race, ethnic background, age or sexual orientation. The Committee will use the
following criteria in evaluating and selecting student candidates:
1. The student is receiving financial aid from Swarthmore College.
2. The student is a currently enrolled freshman or sophomore.
3. The student is a first generation student, student of color, low income and/or from a
disadvantaged background.
4. A Swarthmore College faculty/staff member has nominated the student and has a
continuing mentor relationship with the student. The faculty/staff member should
provide the Selection Committee with a written recommendation describing the
student’s strengths, potential and the reason a mentorship will benefit the student.
5. If a student has not been nominated by a faculty or staff member, the student can
nominate themselves, but needs to provide a written recommendation from a
faculty/staff member who also agrees to serve as their campus mentor.
6. The Committee will review applications with written essay, resumes and letters of
recommendations.
1
Richard Rubin Scholar Mentoring Program
Application 2016
Student Essay Guidelines
You either have been nominated or have nominated yourself to participate in the Richard
Rubin Mentoring Program. If you do not already have a mentor, this program will pair you
with a campus mentor who will provide you advice and counsel throughout your remaining
college career and hopefully beyond. If you are selected, it is hoped that your mentors will
share their expertise and experience and provide valuable on-going advice related to your
life as a student, as well as to your professional and personal goals.
The second component of the program is having the opportunity to apply for internship
funding for the summer of your sophomore or junior year. The goal is that the internship
will help develop your skill set by placing you “in the trenches” of a professional work
environment.
In order to select those students that could best benefit from this valuable program we ask
that you: (1) complete the attached application; (2) write an essay of no more than
1000 words; and (3) submit a letter of recommendation from a Swarthmore
faculty/staff member.
The substance of your essay should cover the following:
1. Tell us about yourself, particularly your professional goals beyond Swarthmore.
2. If possible, starting with the goals you would like to achieve through your mentor
ship, how will a mentorship benefit your personal, academic and professional
development?
3. Provide an example of a situation where you could have used mentorship guidance
during your time at Swarthmore.
4. Who has had the greatest influence in your life? How?
5. Tell us about anything else that you feel the committee should know about you.
2
Richard Rubin Scholar Mentoring Program
Application 2016
Application Cover Sheet
Name:
Class of:
Date:
1. All applicants must submit a completed application packet PRIOR to the deadline
(February 22, 2016). The following items must be included:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Application cover sheet
Current resume
Written essay
One letter of recommendation
2.
Applications should be sent to Betsy Durning at edurnin1@swarthmore.edu
3.
You will receive confirmation of your application.
4.
If your letter of recommendation must be sent separately, please check box.
Check if letter of recommendation is being sent separately
Name and contact information of person submitting letter of recommendation:
If you do not already have a mentor and to assist the committee in matching you with a
campus mentor, please indicate your top three career fields of interest below. We will do
our best to identify mentors in one of your fields of interest; however, we cannot guarantee
mentors in every field.
Are currently receiving financial aid from Swarthmore?
All application materials are due to the Dean’s Office, Parrish 140 by February 22, 2016.
3