The Scholarship and Additional Student Awards

 

Sondheim Public Affairs Scholarship

The Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program provides generous four-year awards often covering the greater part of the cost of attendance at UMBC. Students selected for the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program receive scholarships for 4 years of undergraduate academic study. In-state students receive scholarships of $5,000, $10,000 or $15,000 per year. Out-of-state students receive scholarships of $10,000, $15,000 or $22,000 per year.

In addition, Sondheim Scholars can apply for awards to pursue experiential learning and professional development opportunities. These awards are designed to be flexible and support Sondheim Scholars as they explore a wide variety of academic and career pathways.

 

Sondheim Experiential Learning Award

Each Sondheim Scholar may apply for a Sondheim Experiential Learning Award of up to $5,500 to be used towards pursuing experiential learning opportunities. Sondheim Scholars can use the Experiential Learning Award to pursue:

    • An unpaid internship
    • Full-time summer service-learning
    • A summer research experience
    • Summer or semester study abroad

      Evan Avila and Sen. Patty Murray, dressed in business attire, posing smiling in front of an American flag and a green flag.
      Evan Avila (Political Science and Economics) used a Sondheim Experiential Learning Award to intern with the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). Here, he is pictured with Senator Patty Murray (D – WA), the Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee.
Dominique Henriques Melo with a family of two young women, four children and two small dogs, posed behind a table with a cake and party supplies. On the wall behind them are balloons and a banner which says, "Feliz Cumpleaños!"
Dominique Henriques Melo (Biology and Psychology) with her host family in Barranquilla, Colombia.

Sondheim Scholars who have received Experiential Learning Awards have:

Academic Enrichment and Professional Development Award

A conference name-tag for Emmanuella Osei, with the title "SACE2024" in large letters at the top.
Emmanuella Osei (Public Health) used an AEPD Award to attend the Sadie Alexander Conference for Economics in Washington, DC

Each Sondheim Scholar may apply for an Academic Enrichment and Professional Development Award (AEPD) of up to $550 to be used toward participating in co-curricular and educational opportunities that advance the mission and vision of the Sondheim Public Affairs Program.

Sondheim Scholars may use this award to:

  • Attend an academic or professional conference
  • Enroll in a summer or winter training institute (non-credit bearing)
  • Participate in a UMBC-sponsored service immersion trip
  • Represent UMBC at a co-curricular competition, such as Mock Trial, Moot Court, or Model United Nations
Arisbeth Valencia and Dr. Fouts posing in a conference setting with name-tags around their necks.
Arisbeth Valencia (American Studies) with her UMBC mentor, Dr. Sarah Fouts, at the American Studies Association Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico
A poster headed "Late-Stage American Empire? the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Studies Association." The poster shows modern high rise buildings with large murals on them towering over an image of an old, traditional town square with stone buildings and a fountain.The river in San Antonio at sunset. A palm tree and boardwalk are in the foreground with highrise buildings and boats across the water.
Vunnathi Ankem posing smiling in front of her poster at the ABRCMS Conference.
Vunnathi Ankem (Psychology) presented a poster at the ABRMCS Conference in San Antonio, TX