The Center for the Study of Democracy at St. Mary’s College invites applications for the 2015 Thomas Penfield Jackson Award for Civic Responsibility and Democratic Citizenship. This award is intended to recognize and support St. Mary’s College students who endeavor to pursue careers in public service or the law, international relations or other activities that promote civil society in the country.

The competition is open to third and fourth year St. Mary’s College students who demonstrate excellence in scholarship and leadership. The award provides a $1,000 stipend to enable students to take internships or to support other early career options that strengthen our democracy or help build civil society. The scope of possible activities supported by the award is broad, and would include such things as participation in international or national service organizations (Peace Corps, VISTA, Teach for America) as well as academic programs that help build civil society or advance public policy or the study of law.

Qualifications: Current St. Mary’s College junior or senior; GPA must be at least 3.0; must apply to career programs or internships prior to submitting award application. Faculty associated with the Center for the Study of Democracy’s Advisory Board will administer the award.

Application Deadlines: A completed written application is due by Wednesday, March 25. Submissions should be emailed to Adrienne Dozier at amdozier@smcm.edu or dropped off at KH 103. Oral interviews will follow as appropriate. The announcement of the final award will be made in April.

Download Flyer

Apply Now!

Judge Thomas Penfield

Jackson served our nation, our state and the St. Mary’s community with distinction for more than a half century. After serving in the U.S. Navy, Jackson earned his law degree from Harvard in 1964. As an attorney in his father’s law firm, he was known as a fearsome litigator. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Thomas Penfield Jackson to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Jackson presided over many nationally important cases, including the 1997 case involving the constitutionality of the presidential line-item veto and the Microsoft anti-trust case.

Thomas Penfield Jackson was appointed to the St. Mary’s College Board of Trustees in 2001 and in 2002 became a member of the Center’s Advisory Board. Throughout his career at St. Mary’s, he provided frequent guest lectures on law and history. He also provided strong support for the mission of the Center for the Study of Democracy, emphasizing the importance of the Center in building responsible citizens.

As a lasting tribute to his many contributions to the College and the nation, the Thomas Penfield Jackson Award for Civic Responsibility and Democratic Citizenship honors his lifetime of service to our country and his commitment to the Center for the Study of Democracy at St. Mary’s College of Maryland.