During my time at Northern Michigan University (NMU), a professor recommended that I get an internship at the campus literary magazine Passages North. I was a sophomore and I was still learning and figuring out what I wanted to do with my degree. Over the course of my time at NMU I ended up taking a creative writing class with the Editor-in-Chief of Passages North, Jennifer Howard. Throughout the course, she really impacted my work as a creative writer and inspired me to set a goal of operating my own publishing house.
One of the first goals of mine was to try and get into the field. Howard even invited me to come work as an intern at Passages North; I took her up on the invitation as a submission queue reading intern as a junior. This past semester, in my final year, I was offered an expanded internship role. It helped me obtain a broader look at what a fully functional publisher looks like, and gave me the opportunity to take on a unique assistant managerial role. Even though I went to the same university the internship was hosted at, it just did not seem like I could make it work financially.
I am a full-time college student in my 20s, have a 40-minute commute one way, am renting my own place, buying my own groceries, paying my own bills, and have all the other responsibilities that come with being an adult. I was already working a full- and a part-time job to keep myself afloat. Trying to devote 8+ hours a week on top of my jobs and a 16-credit class schedule did not seem financially viable. However, the internship was a monumental opportunity for my career. One I thought I would miss.
Sigma Tau Delta made the internship a reality. Through the Internship Stipend, I was able to afford to work at Passages North in this expanded internship role. By doing so, I have been able to: get a top-down look at a working publisher, understand how a publisher makes money, know the managerial structure, understand the tools used by a publisher, and have learned a million other lessons. I have been busy reading across every submission category, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, hybrid, and short shorts. This opportunity has greatly improved my own writing and editing style.
Another big milestone with Passages North was my work relating to the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP). Passages North has attended the annual AWP conference, and one of the many projects when attending is to have Passages North writers to read at local venues. It was my duty to connect with Baltimore writers, establishments, and connect with other AWP conference goers to make this project successful.
The conference project helped me build a network and understand what it takes to operate a publishing agency. As the result of the Internship Stipend, I was even be able to attend the conference in March to further build on these skills. The internship at Passages North has built my skills in innumerable ways, and the Internship Stipend offered by Sigma Tau Delta made it possible.
Antonio Anderson
Internship Stipend Recipient, 2025
Eta Phi Chapter
Northern Michigan University, MI
Internship Stipend
Sigma Tau Delta offers funding for current undergraduate and graduate student members accepting internships for which their expenses exceed what they will be paid. Sigma Tau Delta will not cover expenses related to tuition and/or student fees. The Internship Stipend is a competitive program providing a limited number of stipends of up to $1,500 each.
The internship must involve working for an “organization” that has a positive impact on the community while being directed by a supervisor/mentor within that organization, and the intern’s duties must be consistent with the applicant’s level of education, area of study, and career goals. Financial need will be taken into consideration in addition to internship length. Applicants are responsible for obtaining and providing verification of the internship. Check out BestColleges’ Ultimate Guide to Internships for advice on finding and applying for internships.
The Internship Stipend does not apply to activities that are part of a student’s pre-professional degree requirements, such as student teaching or capstone internships in journalism/technical writing, and cannot be used to supplement a graduate assistantship. Students are eligible for the Internship Stipend award once per internship.
Eligibility
Applicants for a Internship Stipend must be:
- an active student member of Sigma Tau Delta;
- pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree; and
- enrolled part- or full-time in a degree-seeking program.
Applications for the Internship Stipend will be accepted through the AwardSpring portal June 22 – July 13, 2026, 4:00 p.m. CT.
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.
