A Summer Program with the Denver Publishing Institute

Although I decided a long time ago that publishing was the career I wanted to pursue, I had no idea how to actually get started. The publishing industry seemed nebulous to me—something intangible, locked away in New York skyscrapers and far away from home.

When I discovered the Denver Publishing Institute (DPI), a four-week summer program at the University of Denver, it changed my whole world. When I got accepted into the program, I knew I needed to make it work as the first real step in my future publishing career. And thanks to Sigma Tau Delta’s Summer Program Scholarship, I was able to afford it.

DPI was grossly intimidating and unfamiliar at first. I showed up on the first day to an auditorium full of strangers who all seemed much more put together than myself. But I quickly learned that we were all in the same boat, regardless of our backgrounds or experience levels: people who love books and literature enough to build our entire careers around that. From there, it became much easier to get into the flow of things alongside so many brilliant colleagues.

We spent every day of the program meeting new speakers from across the publishing industry—small and large houses, editors and publicists and bookstore workers and many more. Each speaker put together their own presentation about the work they do, providing the DPI class with a comprehensive guide to the endless opportunities we could pursue to start our careers. We even took a field trip to the Hachette Book Group office in Boulder, CO, where the staff gave us a tour and talked to us about their day-to-day responsibilities. Publishing suddenly felt less elusive and much more attainable.

This program had even more to offer than just meeting people and attending lectures. DPI presented us with several interactive activities to gain experience and feedback from those same publishing professionals. Our homework before the program even started involved reading an unpublished manuscript and writing a reader’s report to evaluate it for publication. We also practiced developmental, copy, and line editing for fiction and nonfiction; creating a marketing campaign and press release; and finally, writing and pitching an original nonfiction book proposal to an actual independent publisher.

Undoubtedly, though, the most valuable part of DPI was the amazing and inspiring connections I built with the speakers, program organizers, and other attendees. Already having such a strong, interconnected network at the start of my career has been so reassuring for me moving forward, as I know we will all continue to help each other out in this whirlwind of an industry.

I am endlessly grateful for the scholarship I received from Sigma Tau Delta, because without it I would not have met my amazing cohort that I will continue to work with throughout my career. The Denver Publishing Institute was a revolutionary experience for me that I will never forget.

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Summer Program Scholarships (up to $2,000)

Summer Program Scholarships are for active undergraduate members, including seniors who are about to graduate at the time of application. The scholarship provides up to $2,000 for the purpose of attending a special summer program in the student’s home country that furthers the applicant’s engagement with Sigma Tau Delta’s mission. Qualifying summer programs must be at least three weeks in length and no longer than three months. 

Note: This scholarship cannot be used toward a regular summer session at the student’s home institution. Students attending summer programs outside their home countries should apply for the Short-Term Study Abroad Scholarship.

How to Apply

Applications for Scholarships are accepted through the AwardSpring Application platform during the Winter Awards Cycle—January 12 – February 2, 2026, by 4 p.m. CT.

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Sigma Tau Delta

Sigma Tau Delta, International English Honor Society, was founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University. The Society strives to

• Confer distinction for high achievement in English language and literature in undergraduate, graduate, and professional studies;
• Provide, through its local chapters, cultural stimulation on college campuses and promote interest in literature and the English language in surrounding communities;
• Foster all aspects of the discipline of English, including literature, language, and writing;
• Promote exemplary character and good fellowship among its members;
• Exhibit high standards of academic excellence; and
• Serve society by fostering literacy.

With over 900 active chapters located in the United States and abroad, there are more than 1,000 Faculty Advisors, and approximately 9,000 members inducted annually.

Sigma Tau Delta also recognizes the accomplishments of professional writers who have contributed to the fields of language and literature.