The Martin A. Dale '53 Summer Awards provide financial support to enable a small number of Princeton University sophomores to pursue worthy projects that provide important opportunities for personal growth, foster independence, creativity, and leadership skills, and broaden or deepen some area of special interest.  It is required that the project will take eight weeks or more of the summer.   

Past projects have included:

            --     Special programs or projects in the creative arts such as film making and creative writing

            --     Community service projects

            --     Programs of study that DON'T satisfy academic requirements at Princeton or independent study projects

            --     International travel* and exploration designed to fulfill a goal           

Proposals for participation in formal “structured” programs generally receive less consideration.  

In accordance with the travel rules regarding university funds, all award recipients will be required  to register all overnight travel in the online university travel database at http://www.princeton.edu/travel/.  Failure to adhere to this regulation will result in forfeiture of the award.  *Travel should not be to destinations listed on the State Department’s Travel Warning list (see the same website).

ELIGIBILITY

All current sophomores at Princeton University who wish to pursue a summer project are eligible to apply. Applicants' academic records, while not of primary importance, will be considered together with those extracurricular activities which reflect personal initiative and commitment. Selections will be based on the worthiness of the project and its particular value to the individual. The award is intended to allow students the freedom to pursue areas of personal interest that they might otherwise be unable or unlikely to explore further.

AWARDS

The Martin A. Dale '53 awards carry a stipend of $4,000.  Students receiving Princeton grant aid who win the award will have their expected summer earnings replaced. (Please note: The $4,000 stipend is treated as taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service.)

APPLICATION MATERIALS AND PROCEDURES

 Applications will be available at the information meeting held in the residential colleges.  You can also download the application form (.doc) on-line. Completed applications must be returned to the applicant's residential college office by Wednesday, February 13, 2013 (by 5 pm). Applications are reviewed by faculty and staff selection committees in each college, and the most competitive candidates are invited to an interview. Each college designates one award winner from among its applicants and nominates a second student for consideration in a central pool.  The selection from the central pool is made by the Dean of the College Office. Each college designates one award winner from among its applicants and nominates a second student for consideration in a central pool.  The selection from the central pool is made by the Dean of the College Office.  The number of award winners selected from the central pool depends upon available funds.  Students are notified of the results of the competition around March 13, 2013.

For further information, please contact Patrick Caddeau (caddeau@princeton.edu), director of studies, Forbes College. An information session on the Dale will be held in the Forbes lounge on WED, 12/12 at 6:30 pm. If you have additional questions you can call 8-6094 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Caddeau.