Paschen Pairs Fellowship | princetonreachout

The ReachOut Herbert C. Paschen, Jr. ’56 (“Paschen Pair”) Fellowship

Description:
Candidates for the ReachOut Herbert C. Paschen, Jr. ’56 Fellowship must, as two-person pairs (“Paschen Pairs”), find a suitable public interest organization that agrees in advance to make a position available, and then work with the organization to devise a significant project or function. The organization can be located in either the United States or overseas. The project should be public service-oriented and should not be primarily a research project.

The Paschen Fellowship was funded by a bequest from Herbert C. Paschen, Jr. ’56 and was awarded for the first time in 2023. The $60,000 that will be granted annually, beginning in 2023, to each “Paschen Pair” will allow each pair to perform a project with an organization that otherwise would be unable to sponsor a pair of Princeton graduates.

The merits of the project and the sponsoring organization will be considered in the granting of the “Paschen Pair” fellowships.

Criteria for Selection:
The principal (although not exclusive) criteria for selection are:

the applicants’ demonstrated commitment to volunteerism and public interest - the significance and lasting impact of the proposed project or function
the mission and effectiveness of the sponsoring organization
academic performance and other personal qualifications
likelihood that the pair will work well together

ReachOut Herbert C. Paschen, Jr. ’56 (“Paschen Pair”) Fellowship

Advisors:
Ms. Tracy Pogue ’81, pogue.tracy@gmail.com, (646) 228-2699

Ms. Jean Telljohann '81, jtelljohann@gmail.com, (609) 921-1850

Application Procedure:

Princeton Seniors may apply (as a pair) online using the Princeton University Global Programs System (GPS) site.

Applications are due on January 9, 2024.

Any pairs of students who are interested in applying for a “Paschen Pair” fellowship are encouraged to e-mail one of the advisors listed above as early as possible with a description of their potential project and with any questions they have about crafting a viable proposal. The board of ReachOut will work closely with interested pairs of students to provide feedback. Any proposal drafts submitted by January 2, 2024 to any of the advisers listed above will be reviewed promptly and returned with comments. Applications submitted without previous correspondence or discussion with a ReachOut adviser will be at a significant disadvantage.

Please follow the format outlined below for submitting your application. It consists of three parts. Please mark each section clearly. Please contact a ReachOut adviser with any questions.

Interview date: Tuesday, January 30, 2024 (and Wednesday, January 31, if necessary).

I. Cover Sheet
The cover sheet should be no more than one page and should include the following sections:

1. Applicants’ names and respective concentrations at Princeton. Include any certificates that each applicant expects to receive at graduation.

2. Title of Proposed Project. The title of the project should be brief and should easily allow a reader to understand the nature of your proposal.

3. Affiliations. Name of organization(s) with which you propose to affiliate, together with the name, title , contact information of the person(s) with whom you have spoken or corresponded, and website, if applicable.

4. Abstract. A 50-100 word concise abstract of your project.

II. Proposal Narrative
Provide a detailed narrative in the range of 5-8 pages explaining your project and how the team members will divide the project’s work. Please include the following sections marked accordingly.

1. Project. How did you identify the particular project you are proposing? Why is it worth doing? What are the relevant skills and experiences of each member of the pair? Please include a brief breakdown of the various phases of the project, if appropriate; that is, explain how you plan to use your time.

2. Lasting Impact. Will your project have lasting, positive outcomes after you have finished your year? What do you see them as being? How will the organization continue the work you have initiated?

3. Affiliations. Explain why you hope to affiliate with any organization(s) in the course of pursuing your project. How did you identify the organization(s)? What can they offer your project? Detail any contacts you have had with the organization.

4. Teamwork. Explain why you believe that you, as a two-person team, will work well together.

5. Feasibility. Can your project be accomplished within the timeframe and budget allowed by the fellowship. What challenges or obstacles do you foresee interfering with your success? How do you plan to overcome these?

III. Budget
Provide a budget for your fellowship (housing and other living expenses, airfare or other travel expenses, and/or any direct project expenses). Please note that ReachOut neither provides health insurance nor pays for a elbow’s medical expenses. Therefore, please remember also to include amounts for both health insurance and for other medical expenses in your budget.

IV. Other Application Requirements
Both applicants in the pair must submit the following materials with the proposal via the GPS system no later than January 9, 2024.

Resume
Academic transcript (certified original)
At least two letters of recommendation for each member of the team
Letter of endorsement from the sponsoring organization

For each member of the pair, one letter of recommendation should be from a member of the Princeton faculty who knows the applicant well enough to assess his or her ability to complete the proposed project successfully. In cases where an applicant’s thesis topic is relevant the project, a letter from the thesis adviser should be included. If a candidate has been actively engaged in community involvement as an undergraduate, a letter from someone who has supervised or observed the applicant’s work would be welcome.

The letter of endorsement from the sponsoring organization must address the following set of questions:

- Name of Organization:

- Organization Size

How many paid staff positions?

How many volunteer staff positions?

Annual Budget?

- Organization Mission Statement?

- ReachOut Fellow’s Project:

- Name, title, and contact information of supervisor who would be the liaison for ReachOut fellowship project:

- What guidance and resources will the fellow receive from your organization?

- Will there be regular meetings or other contact with the fellow?

- Please summarize your understanding of the ReachOut fellow’s proposed project:

- How will the proposed ReachOut project further your organization’s mission?

- Please rate how important this project is for your organization’s success, using a scale of 1-10 with 1 being “Absolutely Essential” and 10 being “Nice But Not Really Necessary”)

- Did your organization perceive this need prior to contact with the fellowship applicant? Why had the organization not addressed it before?

- If not for the ReachOut fellowship, would it be possible for the organization to accomplish the proposed project in some other way?

- How will the work product of the fellow be used?

- Will their project somehow continue at the end of the year, or is it a “one-and-done” project?

- If the project will continue, how will that effort be sustained after the fellow’s departure?

- If the fellow you would be sponsoring is chosen to receive a ReachOut fellowship, would you welcome questions about the project from a fellowship committee member over the course of the year?

- Are there any questions, concerns or reservations you have about this project now?

Letters of recommendation and the letter of endorsement may be submitted to the Office of Fellowship Advising electronically via the GPS system.

Candidates will be interviewed (as a pair) by a committee on January 30, 2024 (and, if necessary, January 31, 2024).

Additional Information

ReachOut 56-81-06 will provide each pair of fellows with one or more supportive mentors from the ranks of pass fellowship recipients or from the Classes of 1956, 1981 or 2006. Progress reports are expected, and upon completion of the project, the pair of fellows will be asked to submit a written report to ReachOut 56-81-06, as well as to meet with the ReachOut 56-81-06 Board of Directors to discuss the experience. There will be an Advisory Council, consisting of past fellows, to help with the selection of future candidates and projects and to otherwise improve the program.