CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va – The University of Virginia Center for Politics in partnership with the Miller Center, Weldon Cooper Center/Sorensen Institute, Democracy Initiative, and the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy have selected 50 students for the second annual 22nd Century Scholars scholarship program set to launch July 1 and continue through Aug. 6.

The 22nd Century Scholars (open to rising second, third, and fourth-year students at UVA and UVA Wise) were selected by application and will participate in a multi-faceted summer internship with the participating partners. The program is designed to be an immersive learning opportunity where students gain public-sector work experience; participate in public event planning; generate political and historical research; assist with television documentary production; and receive personalized career counseling through the UVA Career Center. In addition, and new to the program this year, all Scholars will participate in the Center for Politics’ Global Perspectives on Democracy program and engage in real time, real world international diplomacy by serving as “host peers” for a U.S. Department of State-sponsored delegation of students in Iraq during the final two weeks of the program.

Each Scholar will receive a $2,000 stipend as part of the program, and will work individually and collectively on some of the biggest public-sector issues facing the country and the world today. At the start of the program, each student will also be paired with University alumni, including CBS News Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan, broadcaster and former UVA and NFL football player Tiki Barber, former Director of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Chris Krebs, and many others, who will serve as career mentors to the students throughout the five-week internship and then monthly for the coming year. 

“The challenges our next generation of public servants will face are incredibly daunting — the rise of autocracy around the globe, extremism, climate change, technology risks, and resource scarcity. I’m excited to work with the future leaders that will step up to face these challenges and protect our democracy,” said Krebs.

Roark Corson, a 22nd Century Scholar from last summer, has been mentored by Erik Hirsch, the vice chairman of Hamilton Lane and an expert in the private equity industry. “After the internship, I have kept up with my mentor, and he has been an incredible asset. He’s helped me with my resume, cover letters, interview skills, and other job-related areas. We share an interest in politics, and our discussions about world events are always fascinating and enjoyable. The mentorship aspect of the 22nd Century Scholar Program is absolutely invaluable,” Corson said. Corson has joined the U.S. Department of State to intern at the Wuhan Consulate in China this summer.

Students selected for this year’s 22nd Century Scholars program are: