Micah Fellows is a four year, service-oriented honors program grounded in the wisdom of Micah 6:8: “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” As part of an inspired community called to serve others, Micah Fellows devote their minds and talents to making Birmingham, and the world beyond, a better place. Through innovative course work, high-impact community development and service abroad, the Micah Fellows program will provide an intentional university experience connected to the world around you.
What Is the Micah Fellows Experience?
- rewarding internship placements with Birmingham service organizations
- an exclusive Micah Fellows spring break service trip
- a service abroad scholarship
- priority registration
- innovative coursework and discussion cadres
- senior year cohort capstone project
Year One: The Call to Justice
Micah Fellows will take innovative courses and small discussion cadres that explore classical and Christian concepts of justice. During an alternative spring break trip, you will put your learning into action through service. In past years, Micah Fellows have traveled together to Mobile, AL to serve the local community alongside L'Arche Mobile. The Call to Justice is an opportunity to think deeply about what it means to live the good life through the active practice of virtue.
Year Two: The Call to Mercy
The cornerstone of the Micah experience is service to Birmingham neighborhoods. While your discussion cadres focus on what it means to be merciful, you will also learn about and form a partnership with a service organization that matches your personality and goals for service with the needs of a specific Birmingham community. This will give you the chance to develop significant relationships with the people who live and work in the community you share.
Year Three: The Call to Humility
During your junior year, you will spend one semester studying humility and another preparing for your international service-learning experience. At the end of junior year, all Micah Fellows will receive a service abroad scholarship that will help defray the cost of this trip. During this year, you will also continue serving the Birmingham community, but the service abroad experience will give you a more expansive view of what it means to live with humility.
Year Four: The Micah Foundation
As a senior, you will have the opportunity to work toward lasting positive change for your service partner in Birmingham through a capstone project. When you graduate, you'll also leave Samford with a lasting education in Christian service and community engagement with the knowledge that you have made Birmingham a better place.
Meet our Current Micah Fellows
Where Will You Serve?
Our current Micah Fellows are serving throughout Birmingham meeting a variety of needs. You can also see where our students are currently serving in the "List of Community Partners" drawer. To see which students are serving at these organizations, look at our Current Micah Fellows bios.
How Do I Become a Micah Fellow?
Click on the "Apply Today" icon to the right of this page. You will be asked to complete an application form, upload a comprehensive resume, answer an essay prompt and upload a recommendation letter. To apply, prospective students must have a minimum ACT score of 26 or corresponding SAT score.
Our application deadline is December 1, 2019 for the Class of 2024. Selected students will be invited to interview for the Micah Fellows program. After an Interview Day in February 2020, 12-15 students will be selected as the Micah Fellows Class of 2024.
If you have any questions about Micah Fellows, the application process or scheduling a visit please contact Caroline Janeway at (205) 726-2841 or cmwilli3@samford.edu.
How Can My Organization Become a Community Partner?
Requirements for community partners:
- 6-8 hours of on-site service available for students per week
- Regular supervision for students
- A commitment to meaningful and lasting relationships with students
If you are interested in hosting a Micah Fellow at your service organization, please contact Caroline Janeway at (205) 726-2841 or cmwilli3@samford.edu . We would love to meet with you to discuss our common goals.
List of Community Partners
Below is a list of organizations where Micah Fellows are currently serving. This list is not exhaustive and we are always open to new partnerships.
Birmingham Children’s Theatre
The Birmingham Education Foundation
Birmingham Urban Young Life - Woodlawn
Boys and Girls Club of Central Alabama
Cahaba Valley Health Care
Christian Service Mission
Christ Health Center
Church of the Advent Outreach
Civitan International
Cornerstone Schools of Alabama
Desert Island Supply Co.
The Exceptional Foundation
Forge Breast Cancer Survivor Center
The Foundry
Girls, Inc. of Central Alabama
Girls on the Run - Birmingham Metro
Greater Birmingham Human Society
Growing Kings
Hope Health Center
Impact America
Jefferson County Family Court
Lifeline Children’s Services
Magic Moments
M-Power Ministries
Oak Tree Ministries
Prescott House Child Advocacy Center
Restoration Academy
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama
Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve
United Ability
