In memory of Gerald W. Halmo (UW Geography B.A., 1960), this program provides financial support to undergraduate geography majors to support their research, volunteering, or other projects that benefit a community and further their development as a geographer. The recipients of this award will complete a research internship with one of two Department of Geography Research Labs in the spring or summer quarters:
- Anti-Eviction Lab: This lab brings together spatial, racial, and technological justice collective projects with student researchers. Housed at University of Washington and led by Erin McElroy, it prioritizes collaborative knowledge making with groups such as the Anti-Eviction Mapping Project. One of its current focuses is Landlord Tech Watch aimed at producing scholarship and popular education materials related to the property technology industry.
- Humanistic GIS Lab: This lab is committed to exploring the Digital Earth as the home of humankind. Driven by this common interest, a group of UW scholars and student researchers have been working together (1) to explore innovative methodologies to improve geospatial technologies with the consideration of human experience, (2) to reflect upon the social implications of maps, geovisualization, and other geospatial technologies, and (3) to geo-narrate a variety of geographic phenomena, especially those related to vulnerable populations.
We encourage applications from geography undergraduate students who wish to deepen their research skills and professional development through community-engaged learning in the department labs.
Further, we embrace applications from majors who are members of underrepresented groups, first generation, of any citizenship status, and those experiencing financial barriers that would otherwise prevent them from being able to participate in an internship, community-based research or other similar opportunities.
Deadline for applications is Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. (Selected applicants will be invited for an interview during the week of February 10-14, and award recipients will be notified by mid-March 2025.)
Information Session
Join us on Thursday, November 7, 3:30 PM on Zoom! In this information session, we will explain the eligibility requirements, financial details and application instructions. We will also discuss how to find or create internships, research opportunities or other community projects. Visit the calendar for more information and to access the Zoom.
Learning Goals
By the end of the research internship, participating students will learn how to do the following:
- Apply their study of geography to research with real-world impacts, challenging assumptions and systemic inequities across myriad spaces.
- Develop, practice and improve career readiness competencies such as career & self-development, communication, critical thinking, professionalism, teamwork and technology.
- Articulate a unique perspective on the significance of the research topic to their academic and professional pathway.
Eligibility
- Students must be declared geography majors who have completed at least one geography (GEOG) course. Students must be enrolled during the quarter of the award.
- The objective of these awards is to provide financial support for a community oriented project relationship that is not paid. Students may not receive Halmo Award funds for activities that are already being compensated from other sources (e.g. a paid internship).
- The award is for work completed as a research intern for one of the two geography research labs during Spring or Summer Quarter 2025:
- Priority to students who are not also receiving a Mary Gates Research Scholarship or other university funding specifically for the same research/service/internship opportunity.
- Students can only receive a Halmo Award once.
Financial Details
This award provides $2,000 to the student for 100 hours of work by them for the group or individual(s) who are providing community benefits.
- Half of the stipend is disbursed at the beginning of the quarter of the project, half at the end after the award recipient submits 300 words to the Geography Advising Office describing highlights of what they learned, how the project affected their thinking, and how the project has benefited their professional development as a geographer.
- Please be aware that this funding may count towards financial aid eligibility and could disrupt a current financial aid package. If you have concerns regarding financial aid implications, please talk with department advising staff and UW Office of Student Financial Aid.
Application Information
Students must submit the following in the online application form:
- Select the research internship position(s) you are interested in and provide a brief statement about your interest in the research internship(s) you have selected.
- List your top 3 skills relevant to the internship(s) you selected. Provide at least one STAR story to describe an experience in which you demonstrated one or more of these skills. To compose your STAR story, include 1 sentence for each of the following prompts:
- Situation: the context (work place, project, paper, research, event)
- Task: the goals/objectives (what you were supposed to do)
- Action: how you used your strengths to achieve those tasks/goals (in detail, specifically)
- Result: the outcomes (tangible & intangible). If result wasn’t entirely positive say what you learned or would do differently next time.
- Upload your resume or CV targeted to the internship you are applying for.
- Note your available times for a 30-minute interview during the week of February 10-14, 2025.
Questions/Contact
If you have any questions, please contact Nell Gross, Director of Academic Services, at ngross@uw.edu
Visit Internships & Experiential Learning for resources to support your search for opportunities. Additional professional development resources are available in the College to Career main menu.
Past Award Recipients