"Dr. Cortez was a great teacher. He had rare talents. The best students in the University flocked to his classes. His ability to attract those with the greatest capacity to learn was rivaled only by his power to inspire them." - Speaker of the House Carl Albert
The Ewing Public Service Fellowship Program sponsors summer internships in Washington, D.C. for outstanding OU undergraduates. The program is open to students from across the university. Ewing Fellows are selected through merit-based application and interview process. Nearly 250 Ewing Fellows have served in internships in Congress, the White House, cabinet departments, government agencies, interest groups, and think tanks.
The Ewing Fellowship Program is named in honor of Cortez A.M. Ewing, a distinguished and beloved professor of political science at OU. After his death in 1962 a group of his former students led by Washington attorney Marcus Cohn, U.S. House Majority Leader Carl Albert, Dean Wooldridge of TRW, and John Fisher editor of Harpers Monthly, established and endowed the Cortez Ewing Foundation Fund in the University of Oklahoma Foundation. During the late 1960s, the Ewing Foundation sponsored lectures and conferences on public issues. Beginning in 1971, the Foundation’s focus shifted to the Ewing Fellowship Program.
Ewing Fellow alumni have pursued distinguished careers in law, government, medicine, business, public service, and many other fields. Their success is a testimony to the excellence of the Ewing Fellowship Program and its contribution to their personal and career development.
Sophomores and Juniors from any academic major are eligible to apply. Students must be available for 8-10 weeks during the summer months. Internships typically begin in early June and end in late July / early August. Preference will be given to those students who have not had a similar experience. The student is expected to have an interest in working in a congressional office, government agency or department, interest group, or think tank in Washington, D.C. Selected students must return to OU after the summer internship experience for the following fall and spring semesters. Students with diverse academic and career interests are encouraged to apply.
The student is required, as part of the application for an Ewing Fellowship, to submit an essay and to obtain two recommendations, at least one of which must be from a faculty member. Applicants should also submit the application documents below, a resume, and an unofficial transcript. Applications will be evaluated by a committee consisting of faculty members and undergraduate student representatives. The committee may interview candidates after consideration of the materials that are submitted. The Awards Committee will work with students selected for fellowships to find placement in a DC internship. Students use the fellowship award to fund their travel and living expenses. Four fellowships are awarded each summer.
The fellowship provides a $5,500 Foundation grant for travel and living expenses in Washington, D.C. The Ewing program is committed to providing this opportunity to all deserving students, regardless of their economic circumstances. Additional scholarship assistance based on financial need is available so please inform the Ewing Director of any special financial need that might affect your ability to participate. Three hours of academic credit are available to students interested in receiving credit for their experience.
Applications are due Wednesday, October 4, 2023. Submit completed applications to Professor Tyler Johnson at tylerjohnson@ou.edu.
Search for Ewing Fellow Alumni from 1970 to present using the pdf below.
For more information about the fellowships, please call the Department of Political Science at (405) 325-2061 or contact Professor Tyler Johnson at tylerjohnson@ou.edu. Regular updates on the Fellowship and past winners can be found at facebook.com/ewingfellows.
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