Students who have a plan to pursue their passion for learning outside of the classroom this summer and have achieved junior standing are encouraged to apply. The application deadline is March 31, 2013.

Background

Michael W. Raymond, Ph.D., professor of English at Stetson University until his death in 2007, believed that higher education was an opportunity for students to discover their passions. He railed against the view of the four years students spend attending a college or university as a time and place for vocational training. The idea that college represented a transactional experience in which one "put in" four years of time, a pile of cash and expected a degree in return which represented little more than a ticket to the rat race was anathema to him.

Dr. Raymond's message to undergraduates at Stetson University was clear: The university exists as a sanctuary and a crucible, a place to learn to love the process of learning, and to catch fire with an intellectual passion that will sustain you for the rest of your life. He was speaking from his own experience as an undergraduate at Stetson University, and this grant in his honor is designed to help current and future undergraduates to pursue their own dreams and passions.

Purpose and Overview

The Dr. Michael W. Raymond "Beyond the Classroom Grant" is awarded annually to students who have achieved junior standing and who actively pursue their passions for learning outside of the domain of assignments, credits and compulsory education.

Grant money is to be used during the summer actively pursuing a passion or a dream. Ideally, the recipient will be working on an independent project, be it creative writing, journalism, film, acting, political activism, scientific research or a business plan. Possible uses for the grant may include travel money for research, books, equipment or simply supplemental income to cover fundamental living expenses in order to "take a little of the pressure off" of the grant winner during the pursuit of independent learning and exploration.

The grant will be awarded to undergraduate students in their junior year with the understanding that they will return to Stetson University for their senior year. The grant is not restricted to a particular field of study.

Eligibility

In order to apply for the grant, students must meet the following criteria:

• Will reach junior status by the end of the current spring semester.
• Intend to return to Stetson University for their senior year.

Deadline: March 31, 2013

Application Process

To apply for the grant, students must submit the following:

• A completed application form.
• In the spirit of writing across the curriculum: A 250 to 750 word personal letter describing the origins of the applicant's passion, as well as a brief overview of how the applicant expects to use the grant money.
• A sample of existing evidence and/or past work in the passion of their choice.
• Applicants may optionally include a faculty recommendation letter.

All application materials should be submitted in either Microsoft Word or PDF format to jschorr@stetson.edu.

Please send questions about the grant, applications and nominations to John Schorr at jschorr@stetson.edu or 386-822-7246.