Janice and James Lacy established a fund to assist undergraduate students participating in USC’s Dornsife School of International Relations study abroad programs. This fund provides travel awards to support students’ international experiences. To be eligible, internships or projects must receive academic approval, underscoring the fund’s commitment to educational rigor.

The Lacy fund represents the Lacy’s dedication to fostering global perspectives and making international experiences more accessible. It not only eases financial burdens but also enriches the educational journeys of USC students. Through this initiative, Janice and James Lacy contribute significantly to promoting cross-cultural understanding and shaping the future of USC’s International Relations and Political Science scholars.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • The internship or research must be completed before the student graduates from USC Dornsife.
  • Recipients must be registered for the Fall 2025 term.
  • Must be either an INCO, IR, POSC IRGB, or IRGE major.
  • Must have completed IR 210, and at least one other IR 200-level methods course.(If a IR major)
  • Based on merit

Application Procedure:

Accepting Applications from: February 7, 2025
Deadline: March 28, 2025

To apply, please submit a completed
Application Form
to Akeya Harmon-Collins at
akeyahar@usc.edu.

Ensure that your application includes:

  • Student’s major
  • Current GPA
  • Expected graduation date

Required Components of the Application:

  1. Resume or CV: Ensure it is up to date and relevant to this internship application, not a generic version.
  2. Research or Internship Proposal: (Note if you have applied to other funding resources.)
    • Internship Proposal: Identify the sponsoring organization, its mission, address, the name and
      contact information of the intern’s supervisor, the nature of the intern’s work, the number of weeks and hours per week,
      and explain why this internship would be valuable.
    • Research Proposal: Identify the research question and methods used, detail how you will use the
      funding to complete your research, include the number of weeks and hours per week, and explain why funding your
      research would be valuable.
  3. Simple Budget: Show living expenses for the internship period and travel to and from the site.
  4. Submit your STARS Report.
  5. Recommendation Document: Ask a USC faculty member to submit a

    Recommendation Document
    .

For students applying for internship support:

In order to disburse the award, the School will require a letter from the organization offering the internship
to the student for the specified period. This letter should also agree to provide the School with a simple report
on the student’s work at the end of the internship.

You may submit an application that contains all elements except this letter and provide the letter if the grant
is approved and you decide to accept it.