New fund supports students engaging in transformational internships through local partnerships in Charlotte
Elon is launching the new Queen City Internship Grant to provide funding for eligible students participating in the Elon in Charlotte summer or fall Study USA programs. Priority is given to unpaid internships, internships with a nonprofit and students completing their first credit-bearing internship. The grant is available though Elon’s national campus initiative in coordination with the Student Professional Development Center.
The goal is for students to feel a strong sense of connection to Charlotte by working throughout the community. This grant is especially impactful for arts and sciences students as many of their internship opportunities are unpaid or low-paying.
Selected interns will receive an internship stipend and a Study USA grant. The internship stipend amount is based on projected internship hours, need and other internship-related requirements. Students are guaranteed a $1,000 minimum internship stipend and a $1,500 Study USA grant, which can be used to help cover the cost of participating in the Elon in Charlotte program.
“The Queen City Internship program fully immerses Elon students in the Charlotte community through local engagement and allows students opportunities for experiential learning that may not be possible without this program,” said Karen Neff, assistant director of Elon Charlotte. “I’m excited to welcome more Elon students to Charlotte and witness their contributions to the Charlotte community as well as the impact the community will have on each student’s own personal growth and professional development.”
The Queen City Internship Grant program is about encouraging our students to get engaged in meaningful community-based projects. Tony Weaver, the 2023-25 Faculty Administrative Fellow, said it is a priority to bring talented students from various majors into the Charlotte community and this new grant supports that. “Imagine a business analytics major applying their skills so a nonprofit understands its audience better and designs a more effective way to communicate or a student from public health or psychology working directly with community leaders to examine food deserts in the area,” Weaver said. “We hope the financial support provided from the grant gives our students opportunities to expand their internship search to include companies that may not have the resources to hire a full-time intern. We want this to be beneficial to our students as well as the company and the larger Charlotte community.”
Elon’s newest Study USA program, Elon in Charlotte, launched in August. Students live, take classes, intern and network with alumni in one of the fastest-growing cities in America. Charlotte serves as a finance hub for the country and hosts major health systems, life sciences firms, sports teams, media organizations and more. The summer Elon in Charlotte program is open to all majors. The fall program, the Sport Experience, offers a variety of sport management courses.
Questions about the grant? Contact Karen Neff at kneff2@elon.edu.
Apply for the grant here.
Apply for the Elon in Charlotte summer or fall program here.