Langenberg Legacy Grant Program
The University System of Maryland (USM) has long been a champion of civic education and civic engagement. The Langenberg Legacy offers students the opportunity to launch projects related to civic engagement, enabling students to bring together their unique vision related to four civic engagement imperatives: news literacy, inequality, climate justice, and engagement with the democratic process.
Applications are due by Wednesday, March 19th, at 5:00 p.m.
Questions? Email Kamrie Risku at kjrisku@umd.edu.
The Langenberg Legacy is a grant program through the University System of Maryland (USM) designed to fund student-led projects focused on civic education and/or civic engagement. Student projects are intended to be micro-level endeavors that speak to macro issues that threaten justice, human well-being, and the health of our environment. The existential threats of our time include wealth inequality, the climate crisis, voter suppression, and widespread disinformation campaigns, among others. Students should consider how their project can combat such threats on a small scale, localized to the university community. Required project criteria are listed below:
- Projects must take place on campus or within the campus community.
- Projects are action-oriented. Students are welcome to include a research component to their project, but all projects must include an action-oriented component (e.g., event, lecture, panel discussion, volunteering, etc.).
- Projects must involve a faculty or staff sponsor. Students are responsible for identifying a sponsor and requesting their participation. Faculty/staff sponsors assist students in project implementation.
- Final report on the project, which includes a brief description of the project and a personal reflection on how the project impacted the community and the fellow (1,000 words maximum).
Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply. Students must be enrolled at the time of nomination and at the completion of the project (April 2026).
Faculty/Staff Sponsor: To support successful projects, Langenberg Legacy Fellows are required to have a faculty or staff sponsor. They may be more involved with advising the Fellow throughout implementation of the project as appropriate, but the project is to be conducted and completed by the student Fellow. Faculty/staff sponsors will be invited to Langenberg Legacy community building events (to be scheduled in 2025 and 2026), including the presentation of student projects and celebration, to be held in May 2026. Sponsors will receive $500 in the spring semester of 2026, following student submission of the final project report to USM. The sponsor’s responsibilities include the items listed below:
- Providing a letter of recommendation for the student to include as part of their application.
- Reviewing student’s project proposal to ensure that student projects are appropriate and reasonable.
- Connecting the student to campus resources, as appropriate.
- Monthly meetings with the student fellow.
Langenberg Legacy, students will receive a total of $1,500
- $500 stipend after the Fall Meet & Greet
- $500 stipend after December check-in
- $500 stipend upon submission of final report.
- Invitation to participate in Langenberg Legacy community building events(e.g., webinars, recognition events, meet and greet).
Through the Langenberg Legacy, faculty/staff sponsors will receive:
- $500 at the end of the project;
- Invitation to participate in Langenberg Legacy community building events(e.g., webinars, recognition events, meet and greet).
Each USM institution is able to nominate one student from their campus. UMD's student nominee will need to:
- Prepare a 500 words or less description of what civic engagement means to them
- Prepare a 500 words or less description of their proposed project
- Submit a one-page resume that speaks to your previous experience relevant to the proposal
- Submit a letter of recommendation from a faculty/staff sponsor that speaks to your strengths