Being a scholar
Monthly check-ins with a mentor and an advisor, leadership development sessions, a public presentation, follow-up surveys, and a year as a program ambassador.
During the award period, Community Investment Scholars work as a team with at least one community partner outside UW and stay actively engaged with both the project and their mentor, meeting with that mentor at least once a month. They also check in with a Mary Gates Endowment advisor monthly and take part in at least two leadership-development sessions offered by the CELE Center or the Endowment over the course of the award.
Each scholar presents their work at an Endowment or CELE event — the Spring CELEbration, the Endowment's annual reception, or a Mary Gates Scholars quarterly meeting — and completes brief surveys afterward to help the Endowment understand the project's impact and improve the program. Finally, scholars commit to serving as program ambassadors for at least a year after their award ends, staying connected to the Community Investment community and helping future applicants and scholars.