The Wayne Morse Center for Law and Politics is now accepting applications from UO sophomores and juniors for its Wayne Morse Scholars program, which brings together undergraduate students from across disciplines and majors to take on big questions about citizenship and democracy.
“We are excited see who applies this year. We love to receive applications from students who bring a unique set of experiences and perspectives to our Wayne Morse Scholar community,” said Thea Chroman, assistant director of the program. “Our aim is to provide a comfortable space to explore our range of worldviews and to help students develop into thoughtful leaders who know how to bridge differences.”
In the scholars program, students meet monthly over lunch to discuss current events, develop practical skills and participate in conversations with prominent scholars, community organizers, activists and policymakers. They also attend a special seminar, participate in leadership workshops, and engage in supervised internships and service learning.
"This program provides great opportunities for students interested in service and public affairs and want to make a difference for their communities,” said Dan Tichenor, Philip H. Knight Chair of Social Science and director of the Wayne Morse Scholars program. “We have scholars from more than 20 different majors learning about policy and democracy, meeting with leading thinkers and activists in the field, participating in leadership workshops, and doing impressive internships and research.”
Wayne Morse Scholars alumni and current participants have pursued a diversity of interests as part of the program, including interning with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, conducting research on climate change for the Congressional Research Service, serving as a county coordinator with the immigrant rights group Causa, and working on communications for a Republican lawmaker in Salem.
Each year, 20-25 students are selected as scholars. The application deadline for 2016-17 is Oct. 20, and the recipients will be announced Nov. 1. To find out more and apply, visit waynemorsecenter.uoregon.edu/scholars/