Daniel J. Curtin, Jr. Fellowship

Award Amount
Application deadline
Awarded By:

American Planning Association

Number of Awards & Eligibility: One award offered annually.
In order to qualify, students must meet the following criteria:
  1. This award is for U.S. students.
  2. Must be a U.S. citizen.
  3. Must be enrolled in the third or fourth year of an eligible undergraduate program, OR be enrolled in the first or second year of a graduate planning program, OR be enrolled in the first or second year of a three-year law program (or the first, second, or third year of a four-year law program). Please note: Law students entering their final year of law school may not apply due to conflicts between bar exam studies and the ability to complete the fellowship.
  4. Must be enrolled in a planning program accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board (PAB) OR be enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school program. Students must intend to work as practicing planners or legal practitioners in the public or private sector.

In order to qualify, students must meet the following criteria:

Description: This fellowship is open to U.S. student who are in their third or fourth year of an undergraduate planning program, or in their first or second year of a graduate planning program, or their first or second year of a law school program. The recipient will participate in a 10-month fellowship program that requires approximately 100 to 200 hours of work; fellowship work is conducted remotely.

Application requirements for the Daniel J. Curtin, Jr. Fellowship are:

  • Application form
  • Personal statement
  • Recommendation letter
  • Official Transcript
  • Resume
  • Enrollment verif./Accept. letter
  • Interview (if requested)
Additional Information: The purpose of the Daniel J. Curtin, Jr. Fellowship Program is to foster increased interest in the study of land use planning and its interrelationship with the law at the advanced undergraduate, graduate, and law school levels. The term of the fellowship is approximately 10 months (the typical length of two semesters or three quarters), from mid-October to mid-August, and will include approximately 100 to 200 total hours of work. The fellow will conduct his/her fellowship duties remotely, i.e., from where they live or attend school. The PLD Fellowship Committee, appointed by the PLD Chair, will review applications and determine the award winner. Applications will be judged using the following criteria, listed in order of importance: commitment to planning and the law as reflected in personal statement and resume; academic achievement and/or improvement during previous two years; letter of recommendation; and professional presentation. As part of the selection process and at the sole option of the PLD Fellowship Committee, the top five applicants may be required to participate in a telephone interview with members of the PLD Fellowship Committee. If required by the PLD Fellowship Committee, the applicant's performance in the telephone interview will serve as an additional criterion for determination of the award. The PLD Fellowship Committee meets in September to review applications and identify and award a fellowship recipient. The PLD Fellowship Program Administrator will announce the name of the award recipient by Oct. 15. The award recipient is required to provide a written acceptance of the award to the PLD Chair within 10 days of receiving an award notification letter.

Award Amount: The monetary award consists of a $1,500 stipend. The first $500 of the award will be paid to the student by PLD upon receipt of award acceptance documents. The next $500 of the award will be paid to the student at the beginning of the spring semester (or at the mid-point of the winter quarter, if the student is on the quarter system), contingent upon the student maintaining a satisfactory level of work in the Fellowship Program, as determined by the PLD Chair. The remaining balance of the award ($500) will be paid in the last month of the fellowship term, contingent upon (a) receipt by the PLD Chair of a written report from the school stating that the student is still enrolled, and (b) the student maintaining a satisfactory level of work in the Fellowship Program, as determined by the PLD Chair. The student will also receive a $1,000 APA membership and a stipend for the Annual Conference.  The total dollars awarded for this scholarship is $1,500.

Deadline Information:

Deadline for this scholarship is Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Deadline Information:

Deadline for this scholarship is Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Applications are available on the American Planning Association (APA) Planning and Law Division (PLD) website. In addition to a completed application, the student must submit the following documents: a personal statement of no more than 1,000 words describing his/her interest in a career in planning and the law and describing what impact he/she wants to make in the planning and law field; one letter of recommendation in support of his/her application and career goals; official transcripts of his/her current course of study (must be requested with adequate time for receipt by the deadline date); a resume of work experience and background; and verification of enrollment (for current students) or a copy of his/her acceptance letter (for incoming students). Applications must be received online by the deadline date. Transcripts must be mailed to the address provided and be received by the deadline date. Please note: Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the PLD Committee. The student may email a request to the email address provided for verification of the status of his/her application.
About American Planning Association:
Contact Information: Evan J. Seeman, Esq., Secretary/Treasurer, APA-PLD
Address: Robinson+Cole 280 Trumbull St. Hartford, Connecticut 06103

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