The Hodson Trust Internship Program, made possible through a generous grant from the Hodson Trust, provides funding for summer internships for undergraduate students. Students can apply for funding for otherwise unfunded internships, or design their own projects, working directly with mentors in their field.
This program gives students an opportunity to acquire professional experience during their college years. Students can expand the range of their skills, explore their talents, and learn about the realities of fields in which they think they might like to work.
The Career Development Office assists students throughout the process of finding and applying for internships, whether or not they plan to compete for Hodson funding.
If you are interested in learning more about the Hodson Trust Internship, contact Kathleen Cady in the Career Development Office and view more information here.
Internships by Discipline: A Complete History 2000–23
2023 Hodson Internship Report
2022 Hodson Internship Report
The Hodson Trust, settled in 1920 by the family of Beneficial Corporation founder Colonel Clarence Hodson, benefits four Maryland educational institutions: Hood College of Frederick, St. John’s College of Annapolis, The Johns Hopkins University of Baltimore, and Washington College of Chestertown. For over 100 years the Hodson Trust has awarded funding totaling more than $300 million to support higher education in the State of Maryland. As a beneficiary of the Hodson Trust’s generosity, St. John’s College established endowment funds that will carry the Hodson name in perpetuity through financial aid scholarships and internship stipends.
The Hodson Trust Internship Program is open to all undergraduate students on campus regardless of financial need. A selection committee consisting of faculty and staff members reviews each student’s application. Generally, the required hours of work range from 20-40 per week. Depending on the length of the internship stipends vary but do not exceed $5,100. To receive a stipend of $5,100 you must complete a full-time internship which is a minimum of 320 hours.
In today’s competitive environment internships have become important experiences for many students. This program gives students an opportunity to acquire professional experience during the summers of their college years. Students can expand their skills, explore their talents, and learn about the realities of fields in which they think they might like to work. Internships have been granted in the fine arts, computer science, culinary arts, teaching, finance, government, law, landscaping, library science, medicine, publishing, and scientific research, among other areas.
APPLY HERE FOR THE HODSON TRUST INTERNSHIP PROGRAM 2024
An internship is, above all, a “learn by doing” experience that allows a student to:
The Career Development Office has a variety of information about established internships that may help you in your internship search. We strongly recommend that students interested in developing an internship consult with the Career Development Office in the early stages of their planning.
Mentors have a crucial role in Hodson Internships; they enhance the value of the internship experience by providing close supervision and guidance. It is essential that mentors understand their responsibilities, and students who develop their own internships are largely responsible for ensuring that they do.
There are two ways to approach the Hodson application process:
Letter of Interest (copy and paste to application question #10)
When composing your letter, it is important to describe clearly the impact that this internship will have on your personal and professional goals. If you are applying to more than one internship, they must share a common purpose. Your letter should address the following points:
If you are applying for a subsequent internship, it should be clearly distinguished from the first. Subsequent internships that build on previous ones in significant ways, or that diverge from previous internships, will be considered. Subsequent internships that would substantially repeat the kind and level of work of earlier internships are unlikely to be granted.
Resume (upload as a PDF to application question #11)
Internship Description(s) & Organization Information (copy and paste to application question #12)
For an established internship(s):
For a personalized internship designed with your mentor:
Mentor’s Letter (upload as a PDF to application question #13)
Recommendations
FERPA Waiver Details for your Reference
FERPA stands for the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, a law that governs access to your personal educational records. Because letters of recommendation are considered part of your educational record, the law permits you to view letters of recommendation submitted to others and does not permit the recommender to restrict this access. ▪ If you DO NOT waive your FERPA rights, you WILL be permitted to view your recommendations. ▪ If you DO waive your FERPA rights, you WILL NOT be permitted to view your recommendations. If your recommenders are concerned about your request to view letters of recommendation, they may ask to have a conversation with you prior to submitting.
Tips for Requesting Letters of Recommendation
Unofficial College Transcript (upload as a PDF to application question #16)
Additional Forms
These forms may follow if you have not yet been accepted into your program:
You are encouraged to contact Career Development if you have any questions or concerns. A completed application consists of the application components described above and must be submitted by the link provided below no later than Friday, March 8, 2024, by 11:59 pm (ET) - late submissions will not be accepted.
Intern Responsibilities & Requirements (if awarded)
Yes! You’re eligible to apply for funding each of your four years at St. John’s.
Yes! You may apply for an internship in the U.S., your home country, or any other countries with a safe travel recommendation. If you apply for an internship in the U.S., you will also need to apply for OPT through the Registrar’s Office.
Yes! U.S. and international students may apply in any country that has a safe travel recommendation.
You may apply for multiple internships in a single career field each year, however you may apply in a different career field in subsequent years.
No. You should include all of your internship options in your application by the deadline as you will not be able to add additional options past the deadline.
Mentors are an important part of your internship experience and are required.
You may not intern with a family member, but we encourage you to network with family (and others) when looking for internship options.
You do not need to be accepted by your internship site before the deadline if you are applying to existing internships. If you are creating an internship directly with a mentor or organization, you need to have secured it by the deadline and provide all details at that time.
Please visit the Career Development Office early in your process for advice and guidance.
You may apply for supplemental funding from the Hodson program if your stipend is less than $5,100 and is full-time (320 hours). For example, if the stipend offered was $2,000, we would provide an additional $3,100.
The maximum amount of the Hodson award is $5,100. It’s important to take into account what your expenses will be when considering your internship site.
No new applications or additions to an application are accepted after the deadline.
The award for a full-time internship, based on a minimum of 320 hours, is $5,100. Internships that are less than full-time are calculated at $16/hour time the number of hours of your internship.
Award decisions should be available in early April.
Your award payments are in May and June, with a third payment available in August after your report, photo, and final evaluation are received.
Taxes are not deducted from your stipend for U.S. citizens. International students may have some taxes withheld based on the tax agreement between your home country and the U.S.
If you are not a graduating senior, you will be expected to attend the Summer Experience Fair in late September and be available for a Hodson Information session.
Kathleen Cady
410-626-2501
kathleen.cady(at)sjc.edu
Read more about past Hodson internships Johnnies have undertaken.
Students
See what this year's Hodson Interns were up to this summer.
Anne Freeman (A20) completed an internship at David M. Schwarz Architects in the summer of 2018.
Heather Boning (A18) worked at the Maryland State Archives as part of a summer internship funded by the Hodson Trust.
When Catherine Baldwin interned at the NASA History Program Office as part of the Hodson program, it provided her with a connection to the hit movie “Hidden Figures.”
Dahye Kim (A19) completed a Hodson Internship this summer at an art institution in South Korea.