Summer Program

Summer Service Projects

The summer service project is an opportunity for Scholars to challenge their service skills and awareness, to reflect on their own understanding of service and partner with a community or organization for eight weeks during any undergraduate summer. Scholars are encouraged to do these things as near to or as far from a comfortable home base as desired. During the academic year, Scholars interested in completing a summer service project must attend all of the monthly Summer Project workshops. Scholars submit a written proposal that extensively outlines the objectives of their work. Each Ingram Scholar will have the opportunity to develop at least one, but no more than two, summer service projects. Scholars will be strongly encouraged to do their first project in the United States, followed by the possibility of doing the second project abroad. The standard stipend for these projects will be $5,000. Examples of past summer projects include:

  • health education in India 
  • homeless prevention campaigns in Washington, D.C. 
  • youth gang rehabilitation in El Salvador
  • Israeli/Arab microfinance in Israel 
  • HIV/AIDS awareness in San Francisco, CA

Please peruse our project database by either using our interactive map or searchable directory.

Faculty Fellows

After having completed at least one summer service project, Scholars may choose to pursue a research/service project with a Vanderbilt faculty mentor. Students will receive a stipend of $5,000 and the faculty mentor will receive a stipend of $5,000. While the Scholar will still be responsible for eight weeks of a service project, the faculty member's involvement can vary. Past examples include:

  • a one-week inclusive service trip to the Flathead Reservation in Montana with Best Buddies
  • a four-week music in genocide project in Rwanda
  • a film exchange between high school-aged girls of a local camp and local senior citizens in rural Alabama
  • partnering with Vanderbilt social entrepreneurship professor to launch start-up Triple Thread Apparel in Nashville, TN

Summer Internships

Scholars will also be encouraged to pursue summer internships that fit into their career and service plans.

Apply Online



Key Dates

Prospective Students:
Early Fall 2011: Scholarship application available online.

December 1, 2011: Postmark deadline for Ingram Scholarship applications AND letters of reference.

Late January 2012: Ingram Scholar Finalists invited to interview on campus.

February 19-21, 2012: Ingram Scholar Finalists interview on campus.

Late February 2012: Notification via online posting for Ingram Scholarship recipients.

Current Vanderbilt Students:
February 1, 2012: Scholarship applications available online.

March 1, 2012: Postmark deadline for Ingram scholarship applications AND letters of reference.

Mid-April 2012: Current Vanderbilt students are interviewed.

  • Ellidia Guan
  • Hometown: Lexington, KY

Throughout high school, Ellidia's passion for music juxtaposed to her interest in the medical field was fundamental in shaping her experience in community service.  Ellidia founded a group called the Revé String Quartet, a musical ensemble that traveled around the state performing classical repertoire for residents of hospitals and veteran’s homes whom did not have the privilege of attending professional concerts


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