Senior Venture Prize
The Milstein Venture Prize ($7500 per award) supports two graduating seniors per year to travel (internationally or domestically) and learn something new in any field, in any form, and any place.
The Venture Prize celebrates experiential learning and growth. It premised on the idea that world-changing ideas can come from anywhere and anyone, and that interdisciplinary Milstein Scholars are uniquely poised to identify them, integrate them, and advocate for them.
What the awardees aim to learn is up to them: a new language, a pioneering approach to community organizing, an original artistic method, an innovation getting introduced to a community... Awardees must spend more than two weeks on location or traveling, but there is no upper boundary on the length of the trip.
The Venture Prize requires two steps: a nomination and an application. The entire Milstein Program (all years) will be asked to nominate seniors who have made a positive impact on the program, on campus, or beyond. Those who are nominated and who also meet the eligibility requirements described below will be invited to apply.
Up to two prizes of $7500 each will be awarded per year.
Venture Prize recipients will return to campus within a year of their trip to speak to current cohort about their experience.
Eligibility
Milstein Program graduating seniors who are nominated by their peers will be invited to apply. In order to qualify for an award, a nominee must have completed the following components of the Ithaca campus program:
☑ First Year Project (not required for sophomore admits)
☑ MStudio (with good attendance record)
☑ Junior Project
(Cornell Tech, as an optional experience, is not a requirement. Revision 4/3)
Nomination Process
Milstein students are asked to nominate a fellow Milstein scholar who demonstrates an investment in community-building or cohort engagement—a student who has inspired their fellow Milsteiners, students, or community members on campus and beyond.
Please submit your nominee via this link by April 6 (*DEADLINE EXTENDED*). Please submit up to two names for consideration. You cannot nominate yourself.
Application
Once nominated, a student will have until April 18 to complete a brief application for the prize.