WHY SHOULD I DO IT?
What is the advantage of applying for a Tonya?
We have identified several
-Sewanee pays YOU to work for the organization of your choice -- $960 - $1,360 a month!
- It allows you to pursue a meaningful internship that is otherwise unpaid.
-It offers great leverage for you in arranging or creating an internship with a potential internship sponsor because you can offer to work for FREE.
-Because the University will only fund meaningful work experiences (not grunt work), you’ll work on REAL PROJECTS that give you insight into a career field and develop your skills.
-It looks great on a resume (both the Tonya and the internship).
-Because you develop/choose the internship, you can dream big!! (Past interns have worked for the UN in Vienna, in prestigious think tanks, at The White House, with public relations firms in New York, with the largest banks and brokerage houses in the country, etc.)
CAN I DO IT?
How many Tonyas are awarded?
Because award funds available are based on the performance of the Tonya endowment funds, the number of stipends may vary from year to year. Students are selected from a highly competitive pool of applications. In past years, students who have applied have had, on average, a 50% or better chance of getting a stipend, assuming they have a strong application.
Do I have to be a Political Science major to obtain a Tonya? Would it help?
Students in ALL majors have received Tonyas. A student's major does not play a role in the decision process.
I am a freshman/sophomore. Can I get a Tonya? What are my chances?
All class years have received Tonyas. While a student's class year does not play a direct role, the Tonya Board does look for strong recommendations, which underclassmen may have more difficulty obtaining, since they do not know professors as well. They also seriously consider the level and quality of work that you will be performing in your internship. In some cases, upperclassmen are thereby favored, because they have taken coursework that will allow them to perform more substantial work in their internships.
I received a Tonya internship last year. Can I get another Tonya for this summer?
Due to the increased demand for a Tonya stipend, the Board has recently voted to award only two Tonya stipends to a student. Should you apply to receive more than one Tonya, please be aware that it is the intent of the Tonya Board for you to experience different career fields and offices.
The internship I want pays, but not as much as I need. Can I get Tonya
funding to supplement the internship pay?
This has recently become an issue. The Tonya Board does not feel that it is appropriate for you to receive more than $500 from your sponsor and to also receive the full Tonya stipend. However, in cases where the employer takes care of housing for you, but is not paying you directly, you are still eligible for Tonya funding. Should the employer pay you a truly small amount, or only compensate you for nominal expenses, you may also be eligible. Please contact Career Services for more guidance.
I don't have a very high GPA. Will that hurt my chances?
Your GPA is only a part of the criteria used. Be reminded that the Tonya Board is seeking indication that you will perform well in your internship. If your grades do not convey that, you will want to make sure your recommendations and your proposal do.
How long can my internship last?
12 weeks maximum for both graduating seniors and for underclassmen
Can international students apply?
Yes, the Tonya is open to full-time international students. However, due to INS regulations, additional requirements are necessary for the student to comply. The student should speak with an internship coordinator at Career Services to discuss eligibility.
PROGRAM DEFINITIONS
What types of internships would qualify as Public Affairs?
All Tonya Public Affairs internships must meet at least one of the following definitions of the term “public affairs”:
1) The proposed work contributes to the formation, adoption, or implementation of a policy or program which applies to the general public or to an identifiable segment of the public
2) The work contributes to the understanding of a policy or program which applies to the general public or to an identifiable segment of the public
3) The work contributes to the understanding of an identifiable aspect of the political system.
Other important considerations:
Excluded from consideration are projects in which the principal purpose involves partisan political activity or social service.
The more an internship involves the implementation of policy, and the narrower the scope of that activity, the greater the importance that the experience involve exposure to, and opportunity to reflect on, the larger policy issues and political processes that provide the context for implementation issues.
Non-profit interest groups and public affairs organizations do provide appropriate internship experiences. However, internships may not include participation in public demonstrations on behalf of particular viewpoints.
Internships with for-profit organizations will be considered only when they present opportunities for both significant learning about public affairs and a well-established relationship to the applicant’s academic and career interests.
Internships may be in the United States or abroad.
Often, it is helpful to indicate which internships have difficulty qualifying for Public Affairs. These include:
-publications
-arts and entertainment
-public relations
-art museums: Curatorial work will not be considered for a Tonya. However, if the work involves programs with public content, such as public access to museums, or programs reaching out to the public or addressing improving the public good, they will be considered. For example, several Public Affairs interns have worked with museum programs reaching out to children in the community.
-public service: Direct work with clients/students/patients as the main thrust of the internship in most cases will not qualify. -scientific/environmental field work: Pure research will not be funded by the Tonya Public Affairs, unless there is a very clear and direct way in which it addresses the public good or public policy in which you will be involved.
What do I do if I still cannot tell whether my internship would fit one of these?
It is often helpful to look through the list of internship sponsors from previous years. The Tonya Directory, available in the Office of Career Services, lists all internship sponsors from the inception of the Tonya program through 2002. For further clarification for your specific internship, contact Career Services to schedule an appointment with an internship coordinator.
PRELIMINARY PROPOSAL
What should I write in the Preliminary Proposal?
The purpose of the preliminary proposal is to make sure that you are on the right track, and that you have applied for the appropriate Tonya (Economics or Public Affairs). Briefly describe the organization with which you wish to intern and what duties you would be performing during the internship. For Public Affairs particularly, please make clear in what way the internship fits into the definition of Public Affairs.
I want to apply for a Tonya, but it's already time to submit the Preliminary Proposal, and I am still pursuing multiple internship sponsors. Can I still apply? How can I handle this?
Yes, you can still apply. On your preliminary proposal, list the 3-5 internships you are seriously considering and include a brief summary for each describing what each organization does and what duties you would perform.
FINAL APPLICATION
What is included in the Final Application?
The Tonya Public Affairs Internship Fund final application consists of:
1) an application form (found on the Career Services webpage under "Internships") indicating the name of the employer and dates to be worked
2) a brief executive summary (one page) outlining your job responsibilities; this part of the application will be forwarded to the Tonya board
3) a 3-5 page proposal, which explains in greater detail the nature of the internship, the duties you will perform, and why you wish to undertake it. This part of the application, as well as the items listed below, will be reviewed by Sewanee professors in detail
4) a list of two references; Sewanee professors are preferred (be sure to ask permission); list name, phone number and e-mail address
5) a resume
6) a letter from the internship sponsor confirming that you have been accepted for the internship. Ideally, this letter should include the dates of your internship and a brief confirmation of your duties
How can I improve my chances of getting the Tonya? What is the most important
aspect of my application?
The better the internship matches with the program, the better your chances! Everything else (proposal, transcript, etc.) does play a role, but the most critical factor is whether you are able to develop a substantial internship that will allow you to make a contribution to the organization, and will teach you about that career field.
All applications will be judged on the following criteria:
-the quality of the work (although some menial work can be expected in any internship, the major portion of the work must be substantive, and this should be clearly indicated not only in the proposal, but also in the employer’s letter of commitment)
-the benefit of the work assignment to you and the participating organization
-the conception, definition, research content, and organization of the proposal
-your qualifications, including academic performance
the relationship of the project to your career interest, which is of particular importance for postgraduate internships.
Who should I list as references?
Anyone who knows your work well. Sewanee professors are your best choice, in that Sewanee professors will be selecting Tonya recipients, and they generally trust fellow Sewanee professors' judgments. Employers or high school teachers (if you are a freshman) are also good choices.
I submitted a preliminary proposal for an internship, and since then, I found out I don't have that internship. However, I have found and secured another internship that I want. Can I change the name of the internship sponsor for my Final
Application?
Yes, you can. However, it is a VERY good idea to contact an internship coordinator to discuss this new opportunity. They can advise you whether the new internship still sounds like it will work for the respective programs.
I didn't submit a Preliminary Application, but I found and secured a great internship.
Can I still put in a Final Application?
Possibly. You will need to contact an internship coordinator to discuss the opportunity. They can advise you whether the new internship sounds like it will work for the respective programs, and whether you need to submit any additional paperwork.
I won't be able to turn in my Final Application on time. Can I turn it in late?
No. All the uploaded documents will be bundled and sent to the selection committees automatically at midnight of the deadline.
I have everything but my employer confirmation letter, which won't get here until
after the Final Application deadline. What should I do?
Try to head off this problem early on. Make your sponsor aware of your deadlines, and give him/her an earlier date by which you need the letter. If you know the letter will be arriving very close to or after the deadline, you may wish to have the sponsor fax the letter to Career Services (931-598-1166 - no charge) or email it to Career Services (careers@sewanee.edu). If you cannot get the letter prior to the deadline, submit your application without the letter, and indicate in your application when you expect to receive it. You should also want to talk with an internship coordinator about your situation. While your application may not receive equal consideration, it is possible that it will still be considered, however, a stipend will not be awarded without written sponsor confirmation.
My internship sponsor has told me that he/she won't make a decision until after the
deadline for the Final Application. Is there any way I can still apply for the Tonya?
Some internship sponsors will not make a decision until late April or May, and these decisions will indeed be too late to receive consideration. However, if the sponsor is deciding in early April, and if the sponsor can indicate to you in writing that you are on a short list of candidates, you can submit this letter in your Final Application in lieu of the employer's final confirmation. You will still need to submit their final confirmation letter as soon as it arrives. Again, please contact an internship coordinator about the situation.
HEARING ABOUT ACCEPTANCE
When will I know if I have received the stipend?
Final announcement is made on May 1. Often, interns are notified 1-2 weeks earlier than this.
What happens once I find out I will receive the stipend?
When you are notified, you will be told the dollar amount you have been awarded, and you will be given a contract to complete, indicating that you have accepted the internship and the stipend. You MUST complete and return this contract by the indicated date. Additionally, you will be required to attend a meeting for all Tonya interns. Failure to turn in the contract on time, or to attend the meeting, will be taken to mean that you do not plan to accept the stipend, and it will be awarded to another student. If you know you will not accept the stipend, please notify an internship coordinator as soon as possible, so that another student from the waitlist may receive the award as quickly as possible.
What does it mean if I am “waitlisted”?
Every year, the Board waitlists several students. Because students who are awarded Tonyas occasionally will have to decline the award, many of the waitlisted students will eventually receive stipends. Most waitlisted candidates are notified by mid-May. If you have been waitlisted, please keep in touch with the internship coordinator.
THE INTERNSHIP
Once I get the internship, what is expected of me?
Great work! The Tonya Board expects that you will work 40 hours a week during your internship and that you will make Sewanee proud!
Additionally, you must:
1) submit a final detailed report, no later than one month after the completion of the internship time period. This report will have two sections, an EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, and a DETAILED REPORT. The report must be of high quality, with careful attention to editing, as it will be made available to Tonya Board members, as well as Sewanee students.
-The EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (1 page) will concisely describe the tasks and projects you completed as part of the internship, and will be forwarded to the Tonya Board.
-The DETAILED REPORT (7-10 pages for Public Affairs, 3-10 for Economics) will describe the tasks and projects, and other work you completed as part of the internship, what you have learned (this is the important part), and other benefits you have derived from the internship. This report will be reviewed by part of the Tonya Board.
2) Have your employer submit a letter of evaluation (or the evaluation report form from Career Services), detailing the work you have completed and the quality of your work.
3) If you are not a graduating senior, attend the Fall Tonya Board Lunch and be prepared to offer a brief oral report on your internship to the Tonya Board.
Please note: A portion of your final stipend will be withheld until your two reports and your supervisor’s evaluation have been received. A monetary penalty will be imposed for late reports.
What if my internship should turn out to be horrible?
Please contact an internship coordinator to discuss what is happening! It is Sewanee’s intent that you should have a GOOD experience, and Sewanee will work with you to help you make your situation a positive one.
I am going abroad and need money before I leave to handle airfare/etc. Is that
possible?
Yes, contact an internship coordinator in Career Services.
AFTER THE INTERNSHIP
How do I need to treat my Tonya stipend in terms of income taxes? Does it affect my
financial aid?
Your Tonya stipend should be considered earned income, and you should include it as income on your income tax return. The University does not report stipend funds for the Tonya program on either a W-2 or a 1099. The burden to report lies with the receiving student.
According to the Financial Aid department, the stipend should be reported as other untaxed earnings on the annual federal financial aid application. For information as to how it may impact your financial aid package, please contact Dave Gelinas, dgelinas@sewanee.edu, in Financial Aid.
