Washington Summer Fellowship

Live, work, and learn in the Nation's Capital!

The Washington Summer Fellowship is an intensive 10-week residential program that prepares students for leadership and service in the tradition of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. This program gives motivated students the opportunity to secure internships in the Washington, D.C. area while learning about key policy issues and how the government operates. Through weekly seminars, field visits, and career coaching, fellows gain a deep understanding of the institutions, relationships, and leadership skills necessary for public service and policymaking.

The Fellowship Experience

• Roundtables: Weekly evening sessions with experts on major policy areas, including the economy, foreign policy, defense, trade, labor, national security, technology, crime, health care, civil rights, education, and social issues.
• Field Visits: On select Fridays, students visit locations of academic, historical, or cultural significance, including museums, historic sites, communities, and notable organizations. These visits provide immersive experiences that contextualize learning and introduce students to the city.
• Dates will be provided in advance so that students can coordinate with their internship employers and take the necessary time off to attend.
• Housing: Fellows live in residential housing managed by the Lutheran College Washington Semester for the 10-week program. The Eisenhower Institute arranges and covers the cost of these accommodations.
• Fellows share a room with a roommate and an apartment with other college students.
• If a student’s internship extends beyond the fellowship's dates, LCWS offers the option to extend housing at a discounted rate, well below typical costs for the area. Students must coordinate any extended housing directly with LCWS and cover the associated costs themselves.

Internships

• Placement: Internship placement is a collaborative process. Each student will be assigned an Eisenhower Institute staff advisor to guide them in their search and provide access to professional and alumni networks. The Institute staff will also connect students to our partners with open internship positions. Students are expected to demonstrate that they are a strong fit for these internships, highlighting how their experience aligns with the role and presenting themselves with professionalism and engagement.
• Applications: Students must take ownership of the application process—independently identifying opportunities, following up with potential employers, meeting deadlines, and ensuring that their internship meets the fellowship’s requirements. Institute staff provide guidance, advice, and interview preparation to support students throughout the process.
• Requirement for Participation: Students must secure a D.C.-based internship to participate in the fellowship. Confirmation of placement is due to the Institute by May 1.
• The Future Leaders Program: For the Summer 2026 program, the Eisenhower Institute is partnering with the Partnership for Public Service’s Future Leaders in Public Service Program to strengthen our efforts to place fellows in D.C.-area internships. Representatives from the Partnership will join us on October 23 as part of the Washington Summer Fellows information session to explain this collaboration in greater detail.

  The funded internships available through this partnership are open ONLY to students accepted into the Washington Summer Fellowship. If you are selected as a Summer Fellow and meet the eligibility criteria for the Future Leaders Program, you will be required to submit your Future Leaders application by Friday, December 5, at 11:59 p.m. Please do NOT apply to the Future Leaders Program before being accepted into the Washington Summer Fellowship—additional details and application instructions will be provided to accepted Fellows.

Associated Costs

• Fellows will be required to submit a $300 housing deposit to LCWS by April 30. Deposits are fully refundable, pending acceptable condition of housing at move-out.
• Students are responsible for transportation to Washington, D.C. at the beginning and end of the program. Fellows are encouraged to coordinate carpool/group travel.
• During the fellowship, students are responsible for personal expenses such as groceries, local transportation, and toiletries. Stipends may be available to help offset living expenses for students with unpaid internships.

Students facing financial hardships should contact the Eisenhower Institute to discuss options. Financial concerns should NOT prevent students from applying to the program.

Expectations

Fellows are required to attend ALL roundtables, field visits, and career coaching sessions. Requests for exceptions must be submitted at least three days in advance. Fellows are also required to meet with their Eisenhower Institute staff advisor weekly throughout the internship search process. Failure to meet program expectations may result in a requirement to reimburse the Institute for housing costs and any other expenses incurred on the student’s behalf.

Eligibility

Current Gettysburg College sophomores, juniors, and seniors who will be returning for the Fall 2026 semester are eligible for the fellowship. For Summer 2026, applications open October 20 and close November 2, with decisions announced by November 30.

Program Dates

Students accepted into the program are required to attend a virtual orientation on January 7th from 12pm- 1:30pm EST and a full-day in-person orientation in Washington, D.C. on March 28. The Eisenhower Institute will provide transportation to and from Gettysburg for the in-person orientation in Washington.

The fellowship runs May 22–July 31, 2026.