UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State students in their second year may now apply for the Spark Program, an 8-week series of workshops and mentoring to help students successfully apply for fellowships.

This year workshops are slated for each Tuesday from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Mann Assembly Room, Paterno Library. Dinner will be provided.

Applications are due by Sept. 13, and can be found here, along with program requirements. Decisions will be made by Sept. 20.

The program for second-year students will cover development of a personal mission statement, preparing typical application materials, requesting strong letters of recommendation and making the most of their undergraduate careers at Penn State. The program is designed to give participants the opportunity to develop their critical thinking and technical writing, and envision their future.

The workshops and mentoring will allow students to prepare materials for competitive fellowships such as Fulbright U.K. Summer Institutes, Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, as well as Penn State-sponsored programs such as the Erickson Discovery and the Student Engagement Network grants. Students may also opt to work on another, preapproved, research experience or internship that requires a personal narrative.

First-year students can apply for the spring Spark Program starting in November.

The Spark Program is a joint collaboration between the University Fellowships Office and University Libraries.

The University Fellowships Office is part of Penn State Undergraduate Education, the academic administrative unit that provides leadership and coordination for University-wide programs and initiatives in support of undergraduate teaching and learning at Penn State. Learn more about Undergraduate Education at undergrad.psu.edu.