Financial Support

Do you need help traveling to and from your Nashville internship, research, or student teaching opportunity? The Career Center is now offering rideshare assistance through Lyft!

To qualify for the program, students must have a Lyft account (and users must have payment on file). Another factor to consider is any ride taken that meets the established parameters will pull from the user’s Program funds even if the ride is not for their approved internship. The user has 24 hours after the ride to update the funding source to the appropriate account (credit card or another Lyft Program). It is your responsibility to ensure the funds are used appropriately. You are solely responsible for updating rides to correctly charge the appropriate funding source. 

Details of Award:

• Students will be awarded up to $500 in rideshare credits.
• Students must have a Lyft account.
• Rides must be between 5 am and 7 pm. 
• If selected, students will: attend a financial literacy workshop, visit the Professional Headshot Photo Booth located in the SLC, 2nd floor, and take a pre and post-internship survey. 
• Students will be eligible to receive rideshare support once per academic year.

Eligibility Criteria:

• A full-time Vanderbilt student in good academic standing
• Secured an internship, research, or student teaching opportunity for the semester the Lyft Pass is awarded. Applicants must submit an offer and/or acceptance letter.
• Internship or research is within 20 miles of Vanderbilt. Students will submit the internship location on their application. 

Disqualifiers:

• Student traching internship or research outside of the Nashville metro area.
• Have an on-campus internship/research position

Fall Award Cycle/Timeline:

• Application Opens: December 2nd to January 9th
• Review Period Starts: January 10th
• Award Notifications by: January 16th

How to Apply: 

Submit a full application by January 9th on the Award-a-Dore platform. Search “Lyft” under the “Search Scholarships” Tab for more information and the application.

You will need to submit the following key materials and essay questions with your application (please upload any documents in a PDF format): 

• Resume 
• Essay Question: Brief description of internship/research experience and why the internship will be helpful to your career empowerment journey (300 word count max). 
• Confirmation/Offer letter of internship

Grading Rubric Criteria: 

• Strength of Resume 
• Strength of Statement for Essay Question  
• Internship/Research/Student Teaching Confirmation  
• Career Center Engagement 

Description 

The Levy Internship Fund provides eligible Students with up to $6000 for un(der) paid summer internships. Eligible applicants can apply for summer internship funds during either the fall or spring semesters. Funding can be used for housing costs, meals, transportation costs (to/from internship, commuter travel, etc.), professional attire, and any necessary expenses to complete their internship.  

The Levy Internship Fund encompasses the following funds: Allen Family Internship Endowment, Career Advancement & Exploration Internship Endowment, Dinerstein Family Internship Endowment, Grier Family Internship Endowment, Joel S. Pizzuti Internship Endowment, Kroman Wermuth Family Internship, Kuei-Shen and Bo-Jang Tu Internship Endowment, Lovinger Family Award, and the Wilf Family Vanderbilt Internship Endowment
 
The eligibility requirements listed below are relevant for all applicants. Additionally, a few of the funds have additional requirements: 

• The Career Advancement & Exploration Internship Endowment, Pizzuti Internship Endowment, and the Grier Family Internship Endowment are designated for students studying Human and Organizational Development.
• The Lovinger Family Award gives preference to students pursuing internships in media and entertainment.

Eligibility Criteria 

• VU Students who have demonstrated financial need.  

• VU Undergraduate: First-year students through juniors are eligible to apply.  

• Secured Eligible Summer Internship  

• Eligible internships include a minimum of 8-week unpaid or underpaid summer internship experiences.  

• Internship vs. Research Opportunities: The Levy Internship Fund requires that your summer experience must be classified as an internship opportunity by the issuing employer. If your research opportunity does not meet this classification, you won't be eligible for funding 

Disqualifiers 

• VU Undergraduates may only receive the Levy Internship Fund once. 

• Any opportunity that is not a minimum of eight weeks is not a qualifying summer internship.   

AY 24-25 Award Cycle/Timeline: 

New this year! We will open one application from late fall through mid-spring.  

• Application period: November 15, 2024 - March 16th 2025 

• Application review starts: March 17th  

• Internship Acceptance Letter Submission: March 23rd 

• If you did not submit an offer letter with your Award-a-Dore application, please send it to ccfinancialsupport@vanderbilt.edu - Subject line "Semester YR - Levy Offer Letter" by March 23rd. 

• If you submitted your offer letter with your application, there is no need to send it to the email above unless you change your summer internship plans. In that case, we will need the new offer letter for review. 

• Award notification by: Week of March 31st - April 4th  

• Fund Disbursement: Funds are disbursed at the beginning of May to early June for summer internships. 

Pre-Requisite Workshops & Required Post-Survey:  

Students receiving a Levy Internship Fund award will be required to participate in a pre/post-workshop session to maximize their internship experience.  

Levy Pre-Requisite Workshop Offerings (must only attend one):  

• Tuesday, April 15th | 12-12:45 pm CST 

• Wednesday, April 16th | 12-12:45 pm CST 

• Thursday, April 17th | 3-3:45 pm CST 

Post-Internship Survey  :

• In late August, after your internship, you will be required to complete a post-survey to share details about your summer experience.  

How to Apply:   
Please submit a completed application through Award-a-Dore. You will need to submit the following key materials and essay questions with your application (please upload any documents in a PDF format): 

• Resume 

• Essay Question: Brief description of internship experience and why the internship will be helpful to your career empowerment journey (500 word count max).  

• Budget of how funds will be used. You can find a budget template here for your reference: Budget Sample Template. 

• Confirmation/Offer letter of internship (Pending availability):  

• While it's not mandatory to have an offer letter confirmation when submitting your application, it is beneficial.  If you do not include an internship confirmation with your application, you must send your summer internship confirmation to ccfinancialsupport@vanderbilt.edu by March 23rd. 

Grading Rubric Criteria: 

In order to maximize your application, review the criteria listed below, as these will be the focal points for assessment by the review committee: 

1. Strength of Resume 
2. Strength of Budget: Comprehensive and Thorough 
3. Strength of Statement: Answered the What and Why 

We will also include two bonus criteria that will be an added point each: 

• Proactive Internship Search - Started steps to obtain internship (shown proactivity – i.e. Submitted applications, started/completed interview process, secured internship, etc.) 

• Career Center Engagement - The applicant has interacted with the Career Center in some capacity (coaching appointments, drop-ins, career fair, events, etc.) 

Resources: 

• Levy Internship Fund Informational Webinar  

• Budget Template 

• Big Interview - ResumeAI Support 

Description:
The Arts & Media Internship Fund provides eligible undergraduate students interested in media-related careers for a stipend of up to $5000 for un(der) paid summer internships. Eligible applicants can apply for summer internship funds during the spring semester. Funding can be used for housing costs, meals, transportation costs (to/from internship, commuter travel, etc.), and professional attire.

Eligibility Criteria:  

• VU Students who have demonstrated financial need. 

• VU Undergraduates: First-year students through juniors are eligible to apply. 

• Secured Eligible Summer Internship 

• Eligible internships include a minimum of 8-week unpaid or underpaid summer internship experiences in the arts & media industry.

Disqualifiers: 

• Internships secured through a private internship program or broker (ex: City Internships) 

• Students working on a political campaign are not eligible 

• Internships that are arts & media adjacent—meaning the roles and responsibilities for the internship are related to another industry but are hosted by an arts, media, or entertainment company. This fund is intended to support students pursuing direct arts, media, and entertainment experiences rather than adjacent roles in these industries. 

Award Cycle/Timeline:  

• Application period: March 10th- April 6th 
• Application review starts: April 7th - 11th 
• Award notification by: Week of April 14th -18th 
• Internship Offer Letter Submission: April 16th 
  • If you submit an application before receiving your internship placement, you must send your offer letter with a brief description of your internship to ccfinancialsupport@vanderbilt.edu by April 16, 2025, or before.
• Fund Distribution: Funds are disbursed at the beginning of May to early June for summer internships. 

How to Apply:  

Please submit a completed application through Award-a-Dore by searching “Arts & Media” under the Scholarships tab. You will need to submit the following key materials and essay questions with your application (please upload any documents in a PDF format):

1. Resume
2. Essay Question: Brief description of the internship experience and what you hope to learn through the internship experience, relating to how it will be helpful to your career empowerment journey (600-word count max). 
3. Budget of how funds will be used. You can find an example budget template here: Budget Template
4. Confirmation/Offer letter of internship 

Grading Rubric Criteria:  

In order to maximize your application, review the criteria listed below, as these will be the focal points for assessment by the review committee:

• Strength of Resume
• Strength of Statement: Internship description & what you hope to learn through this experience  
• Strength of Budget: Comprehensive & Thorough  

We will also include two bonus criteria that will be an added point each:

1. Career Center Engagement - The applicant has interacted with the Career Center in some capacity (coaching appointments, drop-ins, career fairs, events, etc.)
2. Proactive Internship Search - Started steps to obtain internship (no point awarded for an idea or connection, but rather if the applicant has shown proactivity – i.e. Submitted applications, started/completed interview process, etc.)

Description of Award:  

Undergraduate students who have been accepted into the Vandy in Hollywood Summer Internship Program are encouraged to apply for a stipend through the Vandy in Hollywood Internship Fund.  

Recipients will be awarded up to $3,000 to help offset the costs of low or no-pay internships. Award amounts are determined by several factors, including financial need, location, hours per week, and anticipated graduation date. Funding can be used for housing costs, meals, transportation costs (to/from internship, commuter travel, etc.), and professional attire.

Applicants may apply prior to receiving an internship offer but must have secured an offer in writing by April 30th before awards will be processed. 

Eligibility Criteria:  

• VU Undergraduate students who have demonstrated financial need. 
• Have been accepted into the Vandy in Hollywood Summer Internship Program 
• Students returning full-time for at least one undergraduate semester in the fall after their internship or program. 
• Secured Eligible Summer Internship 

• Eligible internships include a minimum of 6-week unpaid or underpaid summer internship experiences. 

Disqualifiers: 

• If you apply before your program acceptance has been announced and are not accepted into the program, your application will not be considered. 
• High-paying internships 
• Internships secured through a private internship program or broker (ex: City Internships) 
• Students working on a political campaign are not eligible 

Award Cycle/Timeline:  

• Application period: March 10th- April 6th 
• Application review starts: April 7th - 11th 
• Award notification by: Week of April 14th –18th 
• Internship Offer Letter Submission: April 30th 
• If you submit an application before receiving your internship placement, you must send your offer letter with a brief description of your internship to ccfinancialsupport@vanderbilt.edu by April 30, 2025, or before. 
• Fund Distribution: Funds are disbursed at the beginning of May to early June for summer internships. 

How to Apply:  

Please submit a completed application through Award-a-Dore by searching “Hollywood” under the Scholarships Tab. You will need to submit the following key materials and essay questions with your application (please upload any documents in a PDF format):

1. Resume
2. Essay Questions (300 Words Max) - Brief Description of:  
   • Internship Description & What you hope to learn through this experience.
   • Why the Vandy in Hollywood Program will be helpful to your career empowerment journey.
3. Budget of how funds will be used. You can find an example budget template here: Budget Template
4. Confirmation/Offer letter of internship 

Grading Rubric Criteria:  

In order to maximize your application, review the criteria listed below, as these will be the focal points for assessment by the review committee:

• Strength of Resume
• Strength of Description: Answered the What and Why 
• Strength of Budget: Comprehensive & Thorough  

We will also include one bonus criteria that will be an added point each:

1. Career Center Engagement - The applicant has interacted with the Career Center in some capacity (coaching appointments, drop-ins, career fair, event, etc.)