Ford Scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors with a documented learning disability or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. The Anne Ford and Allegra Ford Thomas scholarships are each worth $10,000 over four years.
Ford support helped launch field-building endeavors like international studies, law and public policy. The Apprentice Scholars program includes a two-semester course during the Junior year, summer research in close collaboration with a faculty sponsor and a major project during the Senior year.
Ford Scholars Program
In addition to financial awards, Ford’s scholarship programs provide academic guidance and leadership development. The foundation’s fellowships support students in many different fields, from the sciences to the humanities. The fellowships also encourage partnerships between faculty and students. In this way, the Ford Foundation promotes equal opportunities for all students.
Ford scholars work closely with their faculty mentors on research projects, providing them with valuable experience and the chance to explore a career in academia. The program aims to build long-term mentoring relationships, as well as foster an environment of collaboration and constructive criticism between students and faculty members. Ford Scholars are provided with a stipend for their participation, and many of them go on to become professors themselves.
The program is open to students who work hard, have significant financial need and face barriers to higher education. The scholarship helps fund tuition, books and other expenses at a college or vocational school of their choice. Up to 130 renewable scholarships are awarded each year. The program is administered by Scholarship Management Services, a division of Scholarship America, one of the largest designers and managers of scholarship and tuition reimbursement programs for corporations, foundations, associations and individuals.
Each Ford Scholar will be paired with a faculty sponsor and engage in an intensive academic project for a semester or summer term. These projects vary in scope, but all involve an academic exchange and rigorous scholarship. In the past, students have worked with faculty on research into medieval manuscripts and the history of science; the art of the Hudson Valley; and the impact of technology on modern life.
This year’s scholars are working with a professor on a project called “The School-to-Military Pipeline”. The student and the professor will conduct an extensive literature review, as well as search governmental data about high school recruitment and military service member profiles. Throughout the process, the student will learn how to conduct research, develop and write research papers, as well as gain experience in curriculum design and course development.
Another Ford Scholar is collaborating with the Loeb’s curator of photography on an exhibition of objects from the Museum’s recent gifts to New York City and the Hudson Valley. The scholar will play an active role in conducting research, both online and at the Museum, as well as potentially visiting local collections and archives.
Ford Apprentice Scholars Program
The Ford Apprentice Scholars Program is a unique opportunity for students to work with a professor in the summer. It is designed to give students perspective on what it is like to be a researcher and prepare them for the rigors of graduate school. The program is available to CAPS Research Scholars and McNair Scholars.
The scholarship is designed for students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and promise. It is intended to help them prepare for graduate school and a career in college teaching. It provides participants with a special course of study, summer research in collaboration with a faculty sponsor, and a major project during the senior year.
In addition to the Ford Scholarship, Eckerd offers other scholarships to encourage students to pursue technical careers. The Auto Tech Scholarship, which was introduced this year, will provide need-based financial assistance to eligible students pursuing an automotive technician program. The scholarships will be administered by the TechForce Foundation, a national nonprofit that supports students pursuing career pathways in the automotive industry.
A student can be a good candidate for the Ford Apprentice Scholarship if they have a strong work ethic and a genuine interest in the intersection of economics and law. They should also be able to conduct research independently and identify appropriate materials for the course. In addition, they should be willing to guest-teach a class session alongside the instructor. This will allow them to gain teaching experience while also helping them to develop their own course materials.
This year, three anthropology majors were selected for the Ford Apprentice Scholars program. They will be working with a professor in the department of anthropology on a research project this summer. The scholars will receive funding for both the research and a presentation at a conference during their senior year. The program was made possible by a grant from the Ford Foundation.
Lucas Berglund, Jonathan Falbe-Hansen, and Mariana Olivares-Cely were all chosen as Ford Apprentice Scholars this year. They are all rising juniors and will take part in a two-year course of study that aims to prepare them for graduate school and a career in college or university teaching. The program is sponsored by the College and involves special coursework, summer research in collaboration with a faculty mentor, and a major project during the senior summer.
Internships
As the old adage goes, “experience is the best teacher.” But more than just that, internships provide invaluable firsthand knowledge and expertise in an area of study that students cannot learn from books or classroom lectures. Internships bolster resumes and make job applicants stand out from the pack, as they demonstrate the ability to apply theoretical concepts to real-world situations.
Internships are also a great way to test out specific industries and careers before making a commitment to them. This allows individuals to see whether their chosen career path is a good fit for them, thus preventing any long-term regrets. Likewise, internships are a great opportunity to network with professionals and mentors who can later act as references when applying for full-time positions.
Many college graduates struggle to find work after graduation, and internships offer them the opportunity to build a strong resume early on. Demonstrating dedication to the field and a willingness to learn leaves a lasting impression on supervisors and coworkers, who are then more likely to offer job offers when the time comes.
Moreover, interns can help to solve real-world problems and improve processes by offering fresh perspectives. Their unfamiliarity with the company structure enables them to identify areas of the business that may be outdated or inefficient, and can energize departments with new ideas for marketing campaigns or other strategic initiatives.
In addition, interns often learn the basics of a particular industry, such as the ins and outs of accounting or marketing, which they can apply to their future jobs. They can then take these skills to the next level by building on them and becoming experts in their respective fields.
For the companies that host internships, bringing on talented new hires is crucial to their success. Internship programs allow them to engage talent early, boost their employer brands, support their diversity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, and create a talent pipeline. In fact, studies show that interns are 57% more likely to receive a job offer after they complete their internship.*
Careers
When you hear about scholarships for high school students with learning disabilities, it may seem contradictory that the same people who are prone to struggles in certain academic areas can succeed at such a high level. But Anne Ford proved that the right motivation and encouragement can make a world of difference in the lives of students with learning disabilities. Her story is an inspiration for all of us, and in her honor, the National Center for Learning Disabilities established the Anne Ford Scholarship.
This scholarship provides assistance to help pay for college for high school seniors with learning disabilities or ADHD who plan to enroll full time in a bachelor’s degree program. It is awarded in increments of $2,500 per year over four years.
Students who are interested in pursuing careers in finance and capital markets can apply to this scholarship. To be eligible, applicants must be a graduating high school senior with a documented specific language-related learning disability or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, have financial need, and possess visual arts talent.
A Politics & International Affairs and Women’s Studies double major, Cameron Allen has a passion for history and a strong interest in social justice. Throughout her internship experience, she hopes to refine her research, planning and communication skills while building her knowledge of international relations and global policy.
She has a passion for languages and culture, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. She is fluent in French and Hebrew, and is currently learning both Arabic and Spanish. She enjoys working with small organizations and is excited to develop her nonprofit management skills as a Programs intern with the Women’s Foreign Policy Group.
She is passionate about the intersection of social justice and gender equality, especially for marginalized communities. Her background as a first-generation college student has made her more receptive to the needs of others, and she believes that all voices should be heard. After completing her internship at the Department of State, she hopes to work in government or continue pursuing her research interests. She is especially interested in China & Asia-Pacific studies, and is learning Mandarin Chinese.