The Civil War Institute Summer Conference at Gettysburg College is a five day program held annually in June. The conference includes lectures, battlefield tours, breakout sessions, and other special activities. The CWI has sponsored this summer conference since 1983.
Scholarships to attend the summer conference are available for high school students, who may apply to participate in our High School Student Scholarship Program. Scholarships are also available for public historians and K-12 teachers. Scholarship applications for Summer 2023 are due FEBRUARY 15.
A full scholarship covers an air-conditioned dorm room, meals for the duration of the conference, tours, and tuition fees. Transportation costs are NOT covered by scholarship funds.
High School Student Scholarships
The high school student scholarship program serves high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a demonstrated interest in the history of the Civil War Era. Download a brochure (PDF) about the High School Student Scholarship Program. (By the time of the June conference, applicants should be rising juniors, seniors, or recent high school graduates.) High school student scholarship recipients do not need to be accompanied by a chaperone if under the age of 18, as our student scholarship program directors will provide supervision. Students may apply for a scholarship by submitting the following materials:
- A completed application form (Microsoft Form)
- A letter of recommendation from your history teacher (including their contact information; letter can be emailed to the address below or mailed as a hard copy).
- An eligibility form completed by your guidance counselor (Microsoft Form).
- A 1-2 page cover letter describing your interest in the Civil War era and explaining what you hope to get out of the conference experience and why you believe you are a good candidate for participation in the HS Scholarship Program (can be uploaded to the application form)
Many scholarship program participants ultimately choose to attend Gettysburg College, and some return to the conference during their undergraduate years. Read about Emily Timberlake '19's experience as an incoming student or Erica Uszak '22's week at CWI.
Teacher recommendations may be e-mailed to civilwar@gettysburg.edu or mailed to the CWI office at 300 N. Washington Street, Box 435, Gettysburg, PA 17325. Please direct questions to civilwar@gettysburg.edu.
Applications for the High School Student Scholarship Program must be received by February 15.
Scott Hartwig Public History Fellows Scholarships
Applicants must be currently working in the field of public history (museums, historic sites, archives, libraries, historic preservation, historical consulting, etc.) or presently enrolled in or recently graduated from a public history graduate program. Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously participated in the CWI summer conference, although former CWI attendees are welcome to apply.
Interested applicants should send the following information to the Civil War Institute:
- A professional resume (with contact information)
- A cover letter describing how the CWI conference would contribute to your development as a public history professional
These scholarships include tuition, room, and board for the full length of the conference, and are valued at $1,025.00. They do not fully cover transportation, but recipients will be reimbursed travel expenses UP TO $200.00.
Scholarship applications for public historians may be mailed to the CWI office at 300 N. Washington Street, Box 435, Gettysburg, PA 17325, or e-mailed to civilwar@gettysburg.edu. Please direct questions to civilwar@gettysburg.edu. Applications must be received no later than February 15.
Robert J. Glass Teacher Scholarships
Teacher scholarships are available to educators working at the K-12 level, in both public and private schools. Homeschool instructors are also eligible to apply. Preference will be given to applicants who have not previously participated in the CWI summer conference (although veteran CWI attendees are welcome to apply) and those who are regularly called upon to teach the history, literature, culture, etc. of the 19th-century US.
Interested applicants should send the following information to the Civil War Institute:
- A professional resume (with contact information)
- A cover letter describing how participation in the CWI conference would contribute to your professional development as an educator and benefit your students
These scholarships include tuition, room, and board for the full length of the conference, and are valued at $1,025.00. They do not fully cover transportation, but recipients will be reimbursed travel expenses UP TO $200.00.
Veteran CWI attendees should be aware that these scholarships are primarily financial awards, and will not include special programming for recipients. Teacher scholarships are supported by endowment and internal funds.
Scholarship applications for teachers may be mailed to the CWI office at 300 N. Washington Street, Box 435, Gettysburg, PA 17325, or e-mailed to civilwar@gettysburg.edu. Please direct questions to civilwar@gettysburg.edu. Applications must be received no later than February 15.