The Richard Rubin
Scholar Mentoring
Program
2014
Application Packet
Application Deadline: February 20, 2014
The Richard Rubin Scholar Mentoring Program
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.
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The Richard Rubin Scholar Mentoring Program
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, a student of color, or from a
disadvantaged background.
4. A Swarthmore College faculty member or administrator has nominated
the student and has a continuing mentor relationship with the student.
The faculty member has provided the Selection Committee with a written
recommendation describing the student’s strengths, potential and the
reason a mentorship would benefit the student.
5. If a student has not been nominated by a faculty member or
administrator, the student may still be eligible for consideration provided
he/she secures a written recommendation from a faculty member or
administrator who also agrees to serve as their campus mentor.
6. The Committee has reviewed an application and short written essay of no
more than 1000 words submitted by the student. In the essay, the student
will address how a mentor will benefit the student’s interpersonal, social
and professional development.
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The Richard Rubin Scholar Mentoring Program
Student Essay Guidelines
You either have been nominated or have nominated yourself to participate in the Richard
Rubin Mentoring and Internship Program. This Program will pair you with a campus mentor
who will provide you advice and counsel throughout your remaining college career and
hopefully beyond. You will also be eligible to apply for a funded internship with a mentor of
accomplishment who is currently in an industry or field outside Swarthmore College. If you
are selected, both mentors will provide guidance in any aspect of your life that you feel
comfortable. At a minimum, it is hoped that they 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.
Another 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.
Several other students have also been nominated for the Program and, therefore, due to
limited resources, we cannot accept all nominees. Thus, 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 member or administrator.
The substance of your essay should cover the following:
1. Tell us about yourself, particularly your professional goals beyond Swarthmore.
2. How will a mentorship benefit your personal, academic and professional
development? Provide an example of a situation where you could have used
mentorship guidance during your time at Swarthmore.
3. Who has had the greatest influence in your life? How?
4. Tell us about anything else that you feel the committee should know about you.
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Richard Rubin Scholar Mentoring Program
Application Cover Sheet
Name:
Class of:
Date:
Instructions:
1. All applicants must submit a completed application packet PRIOR to the deadline
(February 20, 2014). The following items must be included:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Application cover sheet (page 4 of packet)
Student application ( page 5 of packet)
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 the box below.
Check if letter of recommendation is being sent separately
Name and contact information of person submitting letter of recommendation:
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The Richard Rubin Scholar Mentoring Program
Student Application
Last Name:
First Name:
Academic Year:
School Email:
Student ID Number:
Cell Phone:
Summer Address:
Home Phone:
Summer Email:
To assist the committee in matching you with an off-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.
Please list any previous externship or internships, as well as other work experience. Please
include any special skills of which we should be aware.
Are you available for an internship in the summer of 2014?
Are currently receiving financial aid from Swarthmore?
All application materials are due to the Dean’s Office, Parrish 140 by February 20, 2014.
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