Fellowship on the High Seas

The Fellowship on the High Seas was established to provide a unique and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students from all majors to experience travel on a traditional wooden tall sailing ship.

Selected fellows will embark on a one-week sea voyage adventure launching out of Sausalito in the San Francisco Bay and sailing to Monterey, during which they will learn about the Northern California coastal ecosystem. On the return trip, fellows will get an opportunity to participate and learn about the intricacies of operating this sailing ship marvel.  

Following the one-week voyage, fellows will incorporate the knowledge and experience they gained from the trip into a project of their own design. Therefore, applicants must submit a project proposal as part of their application.

Eligibility Criteria

• First-year, sophomores, or juniors in good academic standing; Seniors eligible if graduating the following Fall semester.
• Open to students of any major or academic program
• A minimum 2.7 GPA
• Availability to travel on the one-week sea voyage from June 1 - June 6

Selection Criteria

• The ability to conduct and complete a self-designed project that aligns with the applicant’s career goals.
• Must be willing to live on a wooden sailing ship for 7 days, participating in the shared activities and responsibilities with shipmates and crew. 

Program Benefits

• A stipend of $500 to cover the round-trip cost to and from San Francisco/Oakland, CA.
• A stipend of $1,500 that can be used for tuition or student loans. 
• Fully paid one-week voyage on a traditional wooden tall sailing ship.

Applying to the Program

The application will be due on March 4, 2023. Use this guide to gather your application documents. Please request these items two weeks prior to the fellowship deadline.

A complete application consists of:

• Unofficial academic transcripts.
• A Course Progress Report for each course (3-4 courses only) you are currently enrolled in.
• Signed sample Student Contract.
• A written recommendation letter from a faculty member in your major.
• A reference contact from someone outside your major and project’s area of focus. This can be a faculty member or when applicable to the project a personal reference (e.g., employer, internship supervisor, volunteer coordinator).
• A 500-word Project Proposal explaining the type of project you would like to conduct (e.g., traditional academic report, studio art project, creative writing piece, etc.) related to your experience in this fellowship. Please explain how your participation in the Fellowship on the High Seas (learning about and experiencing the Northern California Coast ecosystem aboard a wooden sailing ship, and learning and experiencing the functioning of a wooden sailing ship) will inform your project, why this is important to you, and how this might be relevant to other individuals. 
• A 1,000-word Personal Essay describing how your participation in the Fellowship on the High Seas will increase your skills and/or personal growth in a manner that will enhance your ability to pursue your career goals. Provide examples of the steps you have taken outside of applying for this fellowship to pursue this career goal. 
• Selected semi-finalists may be interviewed.

Fellowship Advisor

Elizabeth Sanchez
esanche1@whittier.edu