• Applicants must be currently enrolled full-time students at St. Mary’s College who have completed their first year by the time their scholarship year begins (First-year students may apply in the spring of their first year for awards that begin later that calendar year, but such students will only receive their award if they complete enough credits to become sophomores by the time their scholarship begins).
• Applicants must be declared Museum Studies minors by the application deadline. If you are not currently a declared minor, you can declare your intention through Portal.
• At the time of application, applicants will have completed or be enrolled in MUST 200 (Introduction to Museum Studies).
• Applicants are expected to have and to maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.3.
• Accepted applicants are expected to make progress toward completing the minor after their scholarship period ends.

The Sullivan Scholars Program offers students an unprecedented opportunity to explore the fields related to Museum Studies. The program provides this opportunity in part through the creation of a small community of highly motivated and engaged student scholars interested in preserving and interpreting a wide range of public resources. The generous stipend that is available to all Sullivan Scholars can be used to travel to conferences, support unpaid work in an approved host institution, or offset expenses related to work in the field. Prospective scholars should discuss their plans for funds with the Program Coordinator or a Museum Studies faculty member, so their application statement and budget clearly describe the use of funds. Sullivan Scholars also participate in specially organized field trips and in small setting encounters with visiting scholars and fellows in the Museum Studies Program.

In addition to continuing to meet eligibility requirements and complete the minor, Sullivan Scholars are expected to summarize and share their experiences with other participants in the Museum Studies Program and more generally with other students on campus. Scholars may be called upon to visit classes to describe the practical experiences made possible by the stipend or a recently-attended conference. Sullivan Scholars are expected to attend all Museum Studies Program-related events throughout their term, and to represent the Program when meeting Program guests or visiting other venues on behalf of the Program.

Each Museum Scholar will have the opportunity to draw a stipend of up to $4000 each academic year. Students must reapply every year they wish to participate in the program.

The stipend may be used for a variety of purposes related to the program’s mission, including working in a museum setting, credit or no-credit internships, or funding an otherwise unpaid internship or assistantship. Stipends may also be used to offset travel costs to conferences or to purchase supplies and materials for related projects. Please note that stipends may NOT be used to support paid internships or paid employment.

The stipend may be used to support work throughout the academic year, or students may choose to use the stipend to support concentrated work during the summer (graduating seniors must draw down the funds no later than June 30 of their final year of study at the College).

Students may use their stipend at any host site, including but not limited to Boyden Gallery and Historic St. Mary’s City. Students are encouraged to explore opportunities available at museums throughout the southern Maryland and beyond, especially if they plan to use the stipend during the summer. The Career Center has a list of currently approved Museum Studies internships. You may also see here for a list of places where past scholars and other Museum Studies minors have interned. Learn more about Internships

Approval is implicit in the awarding of the Scholarship, and successful applicants will complete paperwork before departing for the summer. To improve chances of a successful application, students are encouraged to discuss the details of their internship experience and their budget with the Museum Studies Program Coordinator or another member of the Museum Studies faculty prior to submitting their application.

Typically, students participating in an unpaid internship or assistantship will be reimbursed $12.50 for every hour they are on-site at their host museum. Students who use their stipend for travel will be reimbursed standard travel costs according to the State of Maryland’s schedules. Students should be aware that State of Maryland guidelines for travel require pre-approval. Students who use their stipend to purchase supplies and materials will be reimbursed the cost of those items. Please note that the total sum of reimbursements cannot exceed $4000.

Yes! Sullivan Scholars do not have to be enrolled in an internship for academic credit in order to receive funds. However, students may wish to explore a for-credit internship to satisfy Museum Studies minor requirements and other college requirements (including ELAW). For students applying for internship credit, the SMCM Career Center urges you to PLAN EARLY. The application process has been made more rigorous as part of the effort to elevate standards across the curriculum. Students enrolled in credit internships are required to complete additional work outside of the work environment to insure academic rigor and learning objectives. Please visit the Career Center to learn more about for-credit internships.