Scholarships

Applicants

Full scholarships for current partnered programs are available to students aged 17-22 from low-income families who have achieved their high school diploma or GED, and are able to gain acceptance to Portland State University. Students applying for our programs should be interested in learning more than the traditional classroom can provide.

Life experiences will vary, but we expect each applicant to have a rich understanding of what they seek to gain from the program, and how they plan to use their experience to give back to their community and the world.

There are three phases. In the first phase students will start in the fall of every year starting in 2012 by attending Portland State University with a focus on writing and international studies/development. There will also be a weekly cohort class to keep the students connected as statistics have shown cohorts to be more successful in completing programs than individuals. During this period, we will have an ICDF staff member work with mentors and the cohort instructor to develop lasting bonds with the students for their continued success to what will be undoubtedly a new style of education.

The second of three phases will be in preparation for, and actually attending, an educational semester overseas. The themes while overseas will be on environmental sustainability, social development Currently this is limited to below-cost participation in a Carpe Diem Education program. On this phase students will have distance-support via email and blogging by their mentors and staff.

The third of the phases will be a return to Portland for a part-time internship at Mercy Corps. During this summer three-month segment, students will be working on projects at Mercy Corps, meeting with their cohort once per week for three hours, and working towards their closing project: developing a proposal for what could be an Americorps position utilizing the international development theory, practice, and themes they've learned and experienced to benefit their local Portland community.

Preference will be given to applicants from the Porltand, Oregon metropolitan area.

"I am just so excited that both my children had the courage to venture further than their own front door and test themselves by going out 'there'."
Christine, mom of Carpe Diem graduates

Click here to download the current ICDF Scholarship Application.

International Carpe Diem Foundation

A 501 (c)(3) non-profit scholarship organization established in 2008, working with students from low-income families within the Portland, Oregon metropolitan region. ICDF provides scholarships for these students to participate in accredited academic study abroad programs, and to provide opportunities for higher education.