Dill Fund

THE DILL FUND

Established by a generous gift from G. Michael Dill, '71, the fund supports the educational mission of the College by enabling students to explore off-campus opportunities during the summer.

Through the generosity of the Dill family, Wabash is able to fund, in the form of a stipend, selected student internships, independent study, or educational opportunities not available at Wabash.

Eligible Summer Experiences

Proposals should expand or deepen an area of study in a way not available through Wabash’s traditional on-campus programs. Projects should be entirely student-generated, although students are encouraged to consult with faculty or staff as they plan their projects and prepare their proposals. Dill Fund will only support work/study/service experiences during the summer break. 

Eligible experiences may include:

• Unpaid internships with non-profit organizations.

• Student-generated study and research projects (domestic or abroad). This does not include on-campus research internships with Wabash faculty.

• Service or study programs (domestic or abroad). This includes organized study or service programs not normally available at the College. 

Student Eligibility

• Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors of all majors may apply.

• Students must plan to return to the College the following academic year.

• The student may only receive Dill Fund support one time during his Wabash career.

• Students may not accept or receive concurrent College awards during the summer. 

The Dill Fund Committee will take into account the quality of the project proposal in addition to previous study opportunities the applicant has had, such as off-campus study, immersion trips, or other college-funded internships. Dill funding is highly competitive. Students are highly encouraged to seek out information on other funding sources, such as those offered by academic departments relevant to the topic of the internship or research.

TIMELINE

How to Apply

All applications must be the original work of the student with only minimal assistance from others. Complete applications will consist of the following:

1. PROJECT NARRATIVE

Explains in detail the nature of the project and how it will enhance your educational experience or post-graduate plans. For internships, courses, or programs, you should include excerpts from the job, course, or program description. If you have already been accepted into a position, please include supporting documentation, such as an email offering you the internship. If you have applied, but not yet been accepted, please indicate the date you anticipate having an offer if possible.

2. A DETAILED BUDGET NARRATIVE

• Awards may range in amount, up to a maximum of $3600 (before taxes are taken out).
• Include all expected costs to participate in your proposed project or internship, even if totalling more than $3600, to provide a full picture of your personal expense to participate. The budget proposal is best submitted in a simple Excel file or table in a Word document. Examples of expenses to include are:
  • Meals
  • Transportation to and from the site of your experience (flight, train, mileage)
  • Daily transportation (public transportation pass, mileage)
  • Housing, rent, or room and board fees
  • Program or course fees
  • Supplies needed to conduct research or participate in the experience
  • Professional clothing or clothing appropriate for the experience

Download a Budget Worksheet with examples here to build your Budget Narrative.

3. RECOMMENDATIONS

• Request recommendations from two (2) Wabash faculty or staff members.

• Recommenders will be asked to comment on the suitability of the proposed project and your ability to successfully complete the work. You should have discussed the proposal with the recommenders in advance.

• You must notify your recommenders in advance to allow them time to complete the recommendations on your behalf. Missing recommendations will be considered an incomplete proposal.

• Be sure to share the recommendation submission deadline when asking for the recommendation. You can share this Recommender Info Sheet with all the pertinent information they will need.

Reporting Procedure

Students receiving Dill grants will be required to submit the following to the Professional Development Office: 

1. A signed agreement

2. A written thank you to the funder

3. A written report of the project

4. A blog posting to be shared on the Wabash website

5. Two photos of you during the experience or related to the experience

6. Grantees will also be expected to participate in an on-campus program to share their experience with the Wabash community.

It is important that the application process is started early. Applicants need to identify their recommenders early in the process, discuss their summer experience with them, and confirm their ability to provide a recommendation by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

The College reserves the right to remove funding for any experience/internship due to health concerns of students (such as those related to COVID-19), if the student is no longer able to participate, or the student does not follow through with his responsibilities required by the Dill