Daniella Odutola Memorial Internship Corps Fund
The Department of English is grateful for the generous commitment of Jeneva Williams-Blackwell ’20 to establish the Daniella Odutola Memorial Internship Corps Fund in English.
The Daniella Odutola Memorial Internship Corps Fund supports English majors at any stage in their career wishing to pursue an internship.
A stipend to support internship costs will be granted to the scholarship winners. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through June 15, 2025, with best consideration given to those received by June 1, 2025.
Qualifications
- You must be a declared English Language and Literature major. A double major is acceptable.
- The internship must require a minimum of 75 total hours to be completed between June 2, 2025 and August 22, 2025. Remote internships qualify. The internship may be paid or unpaid.
Application Instructions
- Log into umd.scholarshipuniverse.com to complete your application. The application will open on April 7, 2025.
- Students must complete the application by June 1, 2025 for best consideration, with applications accepted on a rolling basis through June 15, 2025.
- Scholarship recipients must enroll in the UNIV099 Internship Seminar through the University Career Center in Summer Term II, 2025 for a cost of $30. (Enrollment in UNIV099 is not necessary if you are enrolled in any of the following credit-bearing internship courses in Summer 2025: ARHU 286, ARHU 386, ARHU 489, or ENGL 388P.)
About Daniella Odutola
The Daniella Odutola Memorial Internship Corps Fund in English was established in August 2024 by Jeneva Williams-Blackwell '20 to honor the memory of her best friend and college roommate, Daniella Odutola '20. This fund continues Daniella’s legacy of passion for literature, education and social justice.
Daniella was the embodiment of warmth, kindness, and enthusiasm. With a bubbly, fun-loving spirit and a heart full of compassion, she made lasting connections with everyone she met. A proud Nigerian-American, Daniella was deeply committed to her heritage and her community. She was an active member of the Black Student Union, the NAACP, and many other advocacy-driven student organizations.
Her love for English was evident throughout her academic journey, where she majored in English Language and Literature. Daniella was not only a talented writer but also an avid reader, particularly in Black and women’s studies. She saw language as a powerful means of expression and connection, which led her to pursue a career in public relations, media and communications.
Through this fund, Daniella’s memory lives on, supporting students who share her commitment to learning and community engagement. It provides resources that empower students to pursue enrichment opportunities and engage in experiences that will shape their futures.