The School of Politics, Public Affairs, and International Studies, in partnership with the Service, Leadership, and Community Engagement Office, seek proposals from students for up to a $5,000 stipend to complete an independent service-learning/applied-research project.

The stipend will be awarded through a competitive process that is open to all UW students. Guidelines for proposals are broad as the specific needs being addressed should be community-defined. The selected student(s) must be involved in a  service project that addresses a real world need or challenge on a local, state, national or global level. Students from all fields of study are encouraged to submit proposals.

The serviceship award is funded by the Stewart family in honor of their late parents Clyde E. and Jerrine N. Stewart, who served as daily examples of people immersed in family, community, and work. As such, they were of consequence in helping address community needs and real-world challenges. They were enriched by simply doing what they could. Thus, their own family and community were also enriched. The Stewart Family Award continues this legacy by supporting students working on their own service project.

The basic guidelines for projects are:
1. The project must involve engagement in meaningful service to address a community-defined need grounded in achieving clear learning goals through critical reflection. Service-learning applies equal focus to both learning and service goals.
2. The project can focus on field study opportunities and/or research opportunities and should focus on an applied community research/service project that addresses a real world need or challenge on a local, state, national or global level.
3. The project should take place between Spring and Summer 2025 and be completed by August 31, 2025. Projects are not limited to a specific geographic area.
4. Projects must culminate in a presentation or other means of sharing information with the greater community. This might include presentation at the University of Wyoming undergraduate research day, a special symposium, exhibit and/or conference. Students are encouraged to share the project with the specific community they work with as well.
5. All UW students – both undergraduate and graduate – are eligible.
6. The stipend can be used for a wide variety of purposes including project expenses, travel, equipment, living expenses, tuition, etc.
7. All proposals will be judged in a competitive process and the recipient of the award will be notified by March 31, 2025.

The deadline for proposals is 5 p.m. on Friday, February 21, 2025.

Questions related to proposals should be directed to Richard Raridon at rraridon@uwyo.edu.

Current Student Status:
Please upload a single .pdf file that includes the following:

1. A two-to-three page description of the project.

2. A narrative section answering the following questions:
     a. What are the service goals of the project? How will you measure success in achieving these goals? What community   partners/organizations have you identified to work with? (max. 500 words)
     b. What are the learning/research goals of the project? How will these goals serve you professionally and/or personally? How does this project serve the community you identify? How will you assess these goals? (max. 500 words)
     c. How will you incorporate critical reflection to meet your learning goals? (max. 500 words)
     d. How do you plan to share out information at the conclusion of this project? (max. 500 words)

3. A budget indicating how funds will be used and a proposed timeline for the project.

4. Name and contact information for a faculty reference and community partner reference.