Benefits of Becoming a Graham Fellows Program Candidate

Students who elect to pursue a Graham Fellowship, upon graduation, will benefit from a variety of activities designed to develop leadership skills. Students will receive guidance and training on interviewing skills, résumé preparation, professional presence, dining etiquette, and networking. They will be exposed to local and national leaders from a wide array of disciplines through the Graham Speaker Series, and they will be encouraged to demonstrate their networking skills during the Corporate Partners Dinner. Many students will also be able to take advantage of internship opportunities with companies and organizations in the York region.

The program is available to students in all majors.

Outside the Classroom Experiences

Students will participate in corporate partner networking/meet-and-greet opportunities and guest speaker events offered throughout the year on campus. In the past, students had the opportunity to attend events with Penn State alumni entrepreneurs Gary Eberle, Robert Choi, Matt Woods, Madris Tomes, John Polli, and Kristina Groff. Opportunities such as these will help students hone the skills they learn in the program, and may also help them make connections that could prove to be beneficial to their futures.

Additionally, the chance for networking is not limited to on-campus events. Students participating in internships are often able to travel with their corporate partners to conferences and meetings which take place out of the office.

How to become a Graham Fellows Program Candidate

Students can enter the program in two ways: referral/recommendation by faculty in their chosen discipline or through self-identification. Both avenues require the program application and supporting documents to be presented to the Graham Fellows Program. Students must be active at the York campus to apply to the Graham Fellows Program. They may continue at another Penn State campus and continue in the program.

A student must submit the following to complete their application to the Graham Fellows Program, as well as maintain a 3.0 overall grade-point average (GPA) while in the program:

  • Résumé
  • Two academic and/or professional references
  • Writing sample stating perspective on meaning of entrepreneurial leadership
Application to Become a Graham Fellow94.35 KB

For more information and any questions contact your faculty adviser or one of the Graham Fellows Program Leadership Committee members.

Student Responsibilities

The Graham Fellows Program for Entrepreneurial Leadership at Penn State York is an opportunity for students to enhance their entrepreneurial and leadership skills through participation in planned activities and potential internship experiences. These activities are designed to prepare students for future opportunities in a chosen career.

Responsibilities

  • Submit a completed application package (available on the Penn State York website or at the Graham Fellows Program office, located in the Bradley Building). Once the application package has been processed, the student must meet with the director of Advising and Career Development and then meet with the director of the Graham Fellows Program. Upon successful completion of these steps, the student will now be accepted into the Graham Fellows Program as a Graham Fellows Program Candidate.
  • Participate in activities offered to candidates. These include:
    • Graham Fellows Program Orientation
    • Dining Etiquette session
    • Corporate Partners Dinner
    • Professional Presence session
    • Emotional Intelligence session
    • and a minimum of three events from the Graham Speakers Series
  • Maintain a 3.0 overall grade-point average (GPA).
  • Complete the following curriculum requirements while an undergraduate student at Penn State:
    1. One of the following management courses:
      MGMT 215 – Entrepreneurial Mindset
      ENGR 310 - Entrepreneurial Leadership
    2. One of the following economics courses:
      ECON 102 - Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy
      ECON 104 - Introductory Macroeconomic Analysis and Policy
      IET 333 - Engineering Economics for Technologists
    3. One of the following ethics courses based on your major:
      BA 243 - Social, Legal, and Ethical Environment of Business
      STS 233 (PHIL 233) - Ethics and the Design of Technology
      PHIL 103 - Introduction to Ethics
      PHIL 106 - Introduction to Business Ethics
      PHIL 119 - Ethical Leadership
      HDFS 301 - Values and Ethics in Health and Human Development Professions

Advising and Career Development

The Penn State York Advising and Career Development office is available to provide support to students accepted to the Graham Fellows Program and to assure they are prepared to compete for internships and job opportunities. As part of the process of applying to the Graham Fellows Program, a student must complete a résumé review and mock interview with the director of Advising and Career Development.

The Graham Fellows Program

The Graham Fellows Program, located in the Bradley Building, is the hub of entrepreneurial leadership activities on campus where students can:

  • Gather and share ideas
  • Schedule time with the Graham Fellows Program director, executive-in-residence, or the administrative assistant
  • Access news and reference materials

The Graham Fellows Program Internship Process

The Graham Fellows Program for Entrepreneurial Leadership can identify internship opportunities with a number of corporate partners. Students electing to apply for internships must understand the process used to place eligible interns.

Internship Process Summary

  1. Corporate partners provide a job description that includes the responsibilities of the internship. Students interested in applying for any posted internship should contact their Graham Fellows Program faculty representative or the Graham Fellows Program. Faculty representatives identify Penn State York students participating in the Graham Fellows Program who should be considered for the internship.
  2. The Graham Fellows Program submits application packets to the corporate partners for each student being considered for an internship.
  3. Corporate partner schedules interviews with all eligible candidates and selects a candidate.
  4. Corporate partner extends an offer to the student that would include:
    • Length of Internship
    • Rate of Compensation
    • Name of the Mentor Assigned
    • Focus of the Internship
  5. Faculty representative meets with the mentor from the corporate partner to establish observation and evaluation schedule.
  6. Internship begins.
  7. Specific evaluation of the intern is dually completed by the mentor at the Graham Fellows Program.
  8. Results of the evaluation are shared with the student, the faculty representative, and the Graham Fellows Program executive in residence.

Specific Responsibilities of Student Interns

An internship is an opportunity for Penn State York students to participate in and contribute to the daily operation of a company or organization. This provides the student with an understanding of the processes that are necessary for successful business experiences.

Student interns must be punctual and regularly present for the internship. It is expected that any absences from the assignment must be cleared in advance through the mentor assigned to the student.

Student interns are expected to dress appropriately for the internship. Proper attire may vary by organization. It is the responsibility of the student to understand and respect the organization’s definition of proper attire.

Student interns will follow all of the policies and procedures that guide all other employees in the organization.

Student interns understand that an evaluation will be completed by the assigned mentor and the Penn State faculty representative.

Student interns may be required to participate in activities and events planned by the Corporate Partner.