Stroum Center opportunity grants of up to $2,500 are offered to support current UW undergraduate and graduate student experiences with language study, research, and conference travel related to Jewish studies, or for continued study for Jewish Studies students.

Grants are offered in two cycles: grants for experiences in winter/spring, and grants for experiences in summer/autumn. Students are welcome to apply for opportunity grant funding multiple times.

In the 2024-2025 academic year, the application deadlines are:

• Applications for winter/spring experiences: November 15, 2024
• Applications for summer/fall experiences: April 15, 2025

For UW undergraduate students, the primary goal of the Stroum Center opportunity grants is to support undergraduate experiences with Jewish studies through UW-approved study abroad experiences. Priority is given to candidates studying a language of historical or contemporary importance to Jewish studies.

Accredited academic opportunities in the United States, particularly around language learning, will also be considered (e.g., Middlebury Language Schools). Students may also apply funding towards MODHEB 105: Intensive Elementary Modern Hebrew if it is being offered at the UW during the summer full-term.

For UW graduate students, Stroum Center opportunity grants help to support research, conference attendance, and further study in topics related to Jewish studies. This research and study can be done domestically or abroad.

Students from all departments, disciplines and backgrounds are encouraged to apply; candidates do not need to be Jewish studies majors or minors. Preference is given to students who intend to study a language related to the Jewish experience (e.g., Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino) and/or have pursued coursework in Jewish studies during their graduate or undergraduate careers at the University of Washington.

Any undergraduate or graduate student planning to be enrolled at the University of Washington for the current academic year is eligible to apply. Students do not need to be registered with the University during summertime experiences, as long as they will register for classes normally in the autumn. Preference is given for opportunities that take place during the application cycle for which the candidate applies.

If awarded funding, opportunity grant recipients will:

• Write a thank you note, as applicable, to grant funders.
• Attend or help to staff at least one Stroum Center for Jewish Studies event on campus in an upcoming quarter.
• Deliver a brief presentation about your experience, following its completion, to advisory board members, staff, and faculty, in person, at a quarterly meeting

It is also expected that all opportunity grant winners will serve as ambassadors for the grant and will be available to speak with other potential candidates.

How to apply for an opportunity grant

Applicants requesting funding should submit the following materials via this form:

• Basic information, including full name; campus mailing address; home mailing address; phone number; email address; UW Net ID; and UW student ID number.
• A current resume or CV.
• A University of Washington transcript (unofficial transcripts are accepted).
• A one-page essay briefly describing the experience the candidate will participate in (including a link to the program’s website) and indicating how the experience connects to Jewish studies and supports the candidate’s academic goals.
• A budget indicating the amount of funding requested (up to $2,500) and outlining relevant costs.
• Where applicable, proof of acceptance to any specific programs mentioned in the essay, i.e., proof of UW Study Abroad approval for experiences abroad; UW independent research approval from UW Study Abroad; or approval of planned experiences from your academic department.

Applications should be submitted electronically via the form linked to below.

Apply for an opportunity grant >

Applicants are encouraged to read writeups by previous award winners, who have studied in places ranging from Prague and Romania to Jordan and Israel.

Typical notification process:

• Candidates who apply for the summer/autumn cycle will be notified in May.
• Candidates who apply for the winter/spring cycle will be notified in December.
• Funds will be disbursed within 6-8 weeks of award notification.

Please direct any questions to jewishst@uw.edu.