Benefits & Requirements
The ASCENSO Hispanic Fellowship benefits all participants — students, their mentors and our partner organizations — while also supporting our communities and the university's mission.
For Students
Benefits
- $5,000 fellowship award
- Professional mentorship
- Engagement with community leaders
- $500 research stipend (plus a stipend for your faculty mentor)
- Build your communication, advocacy, research and leadership skills
- Gain experience addressing complex, real-world challenges
- Connect with community leaders and expand your network
Requirements
There are two paths through the fellowship:
- Conduct directed research on a subject related to one of the partner organizations with mentorship of a Cal Lutheran faculty member. You will need to get commitment from your faculty mentor before applying to the program.
- Become a research intern for a partner organization and support them in their investigation with mentorship by the ASCENSO program director, Lorena Munoz.
Your fellowship will require full-time participation for eight weeks in the summer, during which you will also participate in workshops and co-curricular activities, including an off-campus field trip.
Once you complete your research project or internship, you will recap your experience with a presentation at the ASCENSO Gala in November. (You may also choose to submit your work for the Student Research Symposium in October and Festival of Scholars in April.)
For Faculty Mentors
Benefits
- $1,500 stipend
Requirements
- Provide a Commitment Letter (50-150 words) to your mentee for their application vouching for your commitment to advise them and the partner organization during the program.
- Provide mentorship for the student researcher, including advising the partner organization, as needed.
For Partner Organizations
Benefits
The ASCENSO fellows are well-qualified students selected for their academic achievement, educational background and experience, who have demonstrated their commitment to social justice, education and community building. They will bring their talents, curiosity and drive to your organization. They will also bring the support of their faculty mentors to guide them and help facilitate a strong relationship with your team and alignment with your mission.
Requirements
The ASCENSO program team will help design the fellow’s role in supporting your organization’s mission, either through their research or their internship role.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to become a partner organization, please contact lmunoz@CalLutheran.edu.
For Communities
Cal Lutheran’s goal with the ASCENSO program is to help raise awareness about the issues that lead to ongoing inequality faced by Hispanic students, families and communities. The fellows and partner organizations are also exploring tangible solutions to these issues. And through research and communication with community members, community leaders and mentors, the fellows are also becoming leaders with experience serving Hispanic communities, bringing them closer to the fulfillment of our mission.