The Flory-Freiert FellowshipDepartment of Classics

Description: The Flory-Freiert Fellowship Fund was established in 2010 with the generous support of friends of Gustavus Classics. Named in honor of Marleen and Stewart Flory and Patricia and William Freiert, the four distinguished classicists who built the Classics department over the course of more than 120 years of combined service, the Flory-Freiert Fellowship offers Gustavus students the opportunity to pursue their interests in the ancient Greek and Roman world by funding a project of their own design through an award of up to $2,000. The awarding of the Fellowship began in 2013 and will initially occur in alternate years, switching to an annual basis when additional funds become available. The Selection Committee reserves the right not to award the Fellowship in years in which no proposal meets the caliber of successful awards.

Eligibility: Applicants must be Gustavus students in their freshman, sophomore, or junior year at the time of application, with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The Fellowship is not restricted to department majors; however, the proposed project should demonstrate a substantial connection to the field of Classics broadly defined. Research conducted in the course of writing an honors thesis is not normally eligible for funding unless it necessitates extraordinary expenditure (e.g. through travel costs). Similarly, the regular costs of a J-term course or a semester abroad are not normally eligible for funding; however, a specific project that undertaken in conjunction with such study could be eligible.

Application process: Applicants should submit to the following materials to the Chair of the Department:

1. A narrative statement of no more than 1500 words. The statement should describe in detail the proposed project, addressing the following questions:
   1. What is the project and what are its intended learning outcomes? That is, what do you hope to learn through the proposed project, and how will it enrich your life or the lives of others?
   2. What led to your interest in the project and/or the field of study that it represents?
   3. How have you prepared yourself for the proposed project, and what qualifications do you have that will help you undertake it?
   4. What practical steps have you already taken to prepare for this project? Supply documentation as appropriate. For example, if you plan to participate in an archaeological field school, you might supply your letter of acceptance.
   Please note: applicants are welcome (indeed encouraged) to consult with department faculty as they prepare their application.

2. The names and contact emails of two referees who are familiar with the proposed project and whose permission to serve as referees you have secured; at least one of them should be a faculty member. The selection committee may contact these referees as part of the selection process.

   Applicants who make the shortlist for the Fellowship may be interviewed as part of the selection process; they may also be asked for supplementary materials. For example, an applicant who proposes to create a classically-inspired sculpture might be asked to supply photographs of previous works; an applicant proposing a research project might be asked to supply a bibliography.

   Selection criteria: In awarding the Fellowship the Selection Committee will take into account the following criteria:

   1. The appropriateness of the project to the intent of the Fellowship and the quality of the application materials.
   2. The viability of the project and the degree to which the applicant has laid the groundwork to prepare for its success.
   3. A demonstrated track record of intellectual curiosity on the part of the applicant.
   4. The projects of sophomores and juniors will take precedence over those of freshmen should they achieve parity on other criteria.

   Timeline: Application deadline: December 10.
    Applicants will be notified of the status of their application at the end of the second week of February. The successful applicant must indicate acceptance in the first week of March. Funded projects cannot be substantively changed without prior approval by the Chair of the Classics Department. If the funds are taken as a stipend rather than for expenses, then they will be disbursed in installments, with the final installment coming after completion and presentation of the project. The project must be completed by the end of the first week of May, and report, thank you notes and documentation of expenses (see below) must be turned into the Chair of the Classics Department by May 15 in order to receive funds.

   Fellow’s responsibilities: Acceptance of the Fellowship carries the following obligations:

   1. a report on the project for publication in the Classics Department’s annual newsletter and on the Department’s website;
   2. thank you notes written to three donors (names will be supplied);
   3. documentation of expenses for reimbursement, including receipts.