Through the Congressional Fellowship Program, students in the Bagley College of Engineering are given an opportunity to work on Capitol Hill for a Mississippi Senator or Representative and gain insight into the workings of government. This experience will be beneficial to any engineering student but those interested in careers in government, law or public policy will find the program of particular value. Engineering students will gain vital workplace skills and open doors to new opportunities.
The Congressional Fellowship will allow engineering students to:
Experience gained while serving as a Congressional Fellow will prove beneficial when applying for employment or for graduate schools. The knowledge gained will benefit students both personally and professionally. The networking opportunities are extensive and include meeting public officials, captains of industry and fellow students participating in similar programs from schools across the nation.
Congressional Fellows have been represented by different majors. A listing of past Congressional Fellows and the offices in which they served can be found here.
Duties may vary depending on the needs of the senator or representative, but typically will include:
In the fall of 1999 Dorman Blaine, a 1961 civil engineering graduate, made a generous gift to the Bagley College of Engineering to establish and support the Congressional Fellowship Program. Earnings from Blaine’s endowment pay for partial support of the Fellow’s expenses and additional funds are provided from other donors and gifts to the Bagley College. These funds cover:
Fellows are also provided with a monthly stipend from the Senator’s or Representative’s office which generally covers meals and other living expenses. The objective of the college is to ensure that students can participate in this experience with little to no out-of-pocket costs.
Fellows must be currently enrolled engineering undergraduates in good academic standing at Mississippi State University who are citizens of the United States.
Successful applicants will have:
To be competitive for selection as a Congressional Fellow, a student should have completed a minimum of 60 hours of college coursework, 30 of which should have been at Mississippi State, and have a GPA of no less than 2.50. Although exceptions are sometimes made, ideal candidates will have at least one or two semesters of coursework remaining following the completion of their fellowship.
Interested students should download and complete the Congressional Fellowship application. In addition to the application, students must submit a current resume that includes at a minimum their work experience, student organization involvement, extracurricular activities and community involvement. They are also required to submit a two-page essay detailing why they wish to receive this fellowship. Fellowships are limited and the process is competitive. A committee will review the applications and periodically schedule interviews for strong candidates.