Bergh Family Fellows Program

About the Bergh Family Fellows Program

In 2022 president and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. Chip Bergh ’79 H’22 and his wife, Juliet, contributed a $5.25 million gift to Lafayette to support internships, global engagement, and research experiences for 1,000 students across the next five years (200 students per year). 

Every year, hundreds of students engage in numerous research, internship, and study abroad opportunities at Lafayette. However, student participation in many of these experiences can often be limited by financial resources. The Bergh Family Fellows (BFF) program addresses this critical need by providing resources in the form of $5,000 fellowships for 200 students every year to pursue those opportunities. Lafayette is currently fundraising to endow this program in perpetuity. 

About Chip Bergh ’79 H’22

Bergh earned a B.A. in international affairs at Lafayette. He continues to maintain a close connection with his alma mater: In 2017, Bergh returned to the College’s campus to deliver a lecture on leadership. In 2019, he generously provided a gift that helped establish the Bradbury Dyer III ’64 Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s Bergh Startup Accelerator Program at the College, a 10-week program that provides students with the tools and resources they need to develop and launch their startup ventures. 

Are you interested in gaining valuable career experience through an internship?
Apply for a Bergh Family Fellowship today!

Bergh Family Fellows (BFF) Intern Scholar Program

The $5,000 Intern Scholar program is an outstanding opportunity to receive a stipend in support of a summer internship. This stipend is offered through a generous gift and as part of the Bergh Family Fellows.

This scholar program is open to students in any major or area of study.

  • Students do NOT need to have an internship secured at the time of application.
  • Special consideration will be given to those internships which are UNPAID.
  • Special consideration will be given to those students who have MED-HIGH financial need. 
  • Application must include TWO letters of recommendation.

  • Applicants must be enrolled as a Lafayette student in fall 2024.
  • The internship may not be part of an academic program abroad.
  • Internships secured through a fee-based, internship placement service are not eligible.
  • Applicants must be interning for an employer other than Lafayette College.
  • The internship must be at least 240 hours.
  • Applicants must be in good academic and social standing.
  • Applicants may be doing the internship for Department credit or for INT 200 credit. Contact the Registrar’s office or website for information.
  • International Students MUST contact Janine Block for information about academic credit & CPT authorization.
  • Students awarded funding through any summer internship funding programs cannot be the recipient of any other compensation from the College or another source associated with the College for their internship. Examples of this include:
    • Posse Summer Stipend (Not the Posse Scholarship)
    • EXCEL Scholars Program
    • Rotary Club Summer Internship Award
  • Certain Lafayette end-of-academic-year awards (List can be found here). Students cannot “double dip” by receiving our funding in addition to funding from a College department or award, therefore:
    • You can still apply for a stipend. However, if an academic award comes with funding attached, the award amount will be taken into consideration when determining stipends.
    • You are not eligible for stipend if your award includes funds that are specified for internship or experiential opportunities.

Please carefully read eligibility requirements, application instructions, and committee evaluation criteria and view our application process tutorial: Summer Funding Stipend Tutorial

2024 Chip Bergh ‘79/ 2023 Bergh Family Fellows Intern Scholar Application Packet

​All required application materials are submitted through the Internship Stipend Application.

Required Application Components:

  • Resume
  • Personal Statement (750 to 1000 words)
  • Budget Form
  • Internship Description
  • TWO Letters of Recommendation

DEADLINE: March 18, 2024 at 12pm NOON.

  • Applications are neither read nor considered until after the deadline; please use the application period to prepare quality documents!
  • Late applications will NOT be considered.
  • Students who are not chosen as a BFF Intern Scholar award recipient will automatically have their applications moved into the general Summer Stipend applicant pool.
  • Funds will be dispersed in full within two weeks after we receive the recipient’s signed agreement, as well as any additional documents specified during orientation.

For questions regarding this program, stop by the Gateway Career Center at 201 Hogg during office hours (8:45-5pm), or call 610-330-5115, or email careers@lafayette.edu.