Nearly 600 UR students pursued internships and faculty-mentored research this summer through the Richmond Guarantee-funded University of Richmond Summer Fellowships program — an 8% increase over last year. The University awarded the students with more than $2.5 million in funding to support these transformative opportunities.

“The goal is to fund all eligible students and all eligible experiences,” said Brendan Halligan, senior associate director of experiential learning and engagement in Career Services. This year, Richmond students worked at organizations based in more than 150 cities across almost 30 states — as well as in Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico — and in 32 countries. A few took on remote experiences, including one who worked from home for a real estate company in Montenegro.

“These fellowships allow students to explore their passions, develop skills in areas of interest, and expand their professional networks without having to choose between gaining experience and earning a paycheck,” Halligan said. “The experiences our students have each summer continually inspire me.”

From assisting senators to working at alumni-founded start-ups, gaining healthcare experience at prestigious hospitals, interning at museums in Richmond, or spending the summer with a Major League Baseball team, students put their URSF funding to use in ways as varied as their interests.

Halligan observed a strong trend this year of students seeking opportunities abroad. This summer, there was a more than 60% increase in students interning with organizations based outside of the U.S. “Our students are interested in exploring the larger world,” he said. “They’re learning about global topics in the classroom and want to experience that in a global setting.”

Halligan’s office also encourages students to reach out to alumni with a common interest. “It’s critically important for our students to engage in mentorship from the Spider network,” he said. “We try to teach students to really use the Spider network, which is key to future internships and post-graduate job opportunities.”

Applications for next summer’s fellowships will open in the spring. Students are encouraged to begin conversations now about their goals and potential opportunities, Halligan said. “URSF provides a distinct advantage, especially in a challenging economy where paid internships can be scarce,” he said.