Undergraduate Funding

Call for Applications for Summer 2027

The Weiner Family Summer Fellowship, established in honor of Gelek Rimpoche, will award two undergraduate students with up to $5,000 each in pursuit of the academic study of Buddhism. The award may be used for travel, accommodation, research materials, living expenses, coursework fees, and more. In the past, most students have used the award to travel to and live in Asia during the summer months, but projects based outside of Asia (i.e. working with Buddhist diaspora communities, intensive language study, museum work) will also be considered. The fellowships are meant to afford students the opportunity to enrich their understanding of any aspect of the far-ranging world of Buddhist studies. Preference will be given to students with strong coursework in religious studies and Asian religions.

Fellowships are contingent on Cornell approval of travel. Per Global Cornell Travel Policies: all students must register their international travel plans on the Cornell Travel Registry. If traveling to an elevated-risk destination and required to do so, you must complete the International Travel Advisory and Response Team (ITART) petition. For more information visit Cornell's International Travel page. 

Application deadline is November 15, 2026

To apply, students must submit:

1. A short project proposal (maximum 500-600 words, roughly 2 pages, double spaced) outlining summer plans. Proposals should also include how the project is related to previous coursework and/or research.
2. A brief budget breaking down how funds will be used.
3. An academic transcript (unofficial is fine).

Materials must be submitted by November 15 to religiousstudies@cornell.edu with the subject line “Weiner Family Fellowship.” The winners will be selected by committee and announced on December 10. Students on financial aid should not refrain from applying because Cornell will compensate the expectations for summer earnings. Recipients of the fellowship will submit a 300 - word summary of their experience by September 15 to religiousst@cornell.edu. The summary should include a corresponding image showing how the funds were used, ideally featuring you. 

For any questions, please reach out to the Director of Religious Studies, Prof. Seema Golestaneh (sg2327@cornell.edu).

Memorial Prizes for undergraduate essays on religion and politics/society

Detailed instructions can be found at https://societyhumanities.as.cornell.edu/connolly-prize 

Eligibility: Cornell undergraduates from all colleges are eligible to apply.

Throughout history and across the contemporary global sphere, religious practice and ideology interweave themselves in the political and social fabric of human life. The Joseph E. Connolly ’72 Memorial Prizes are awarded to undergraduates who have demonstrated exceptional scholarship at the intersection of religion and politics or society. The Connolly Prizes seek to support, recognize, and inspire imaginative, wide-ranging undergraduate research that addresses these themes in any area of the humanities, and relating to religion(s), religious beliefs, and religious practices in the broadest sense.

Up to two prizes of $500 each will be awarded for essays by students at the freshman, sophomore, or junior levels. In addition, up to two prizes of $1500 each will be awarded to seniors for a senior honors thesis or capstone project.