Photo by Mark DiOrio
During the summer of 2018, Tristan Niskanen ’20, an English major with a creative writing emphasis, wrote for Colorado’s Westword newspaper, reviewing regional music and film. Emma Orndahl ’21, a biology major, studied the DNA barcoding of Hawaiian sponges. Shannon Pawlak ’19, a political science major, worked with the McCain Institute to study the implementation of new anti-human trafficking procedures in prosecutors’ offices across America.
These are just three of the numerous opportunities funded last year by Colgate University’s Summer Funding program — an initiative that has supported hundreds of Colgate students exploring careers and developing real-world expertise through unpaid and underpaid internships.
Since the initiative was founded in 2013, Colgate students have utilized more than $3 million in pursuit of various summer programs worldwide, including entrepreneurial efforts and independent research of their own design.
“Our Summer Funding program encapsulates the best aspects of Colgate,” said Teresa Olsen, assistant vice president of institutional advancement and director of career services. “Colgate alumni and parents provide 100 percent of the financial support for this program. As students return to campus from these experiences, they infuse new perspectives into classes, student organizations, and peer interactions.”
Although students do need to have their résumés or curriculum vitae certified by career services to apply for summer funding, they do not need an internship offer in-hand. Career services provides a variety of opportunities to help applicants hone their applications; the office’s last application strategy session takes place this Thursday, February 21. The funding application form can be accessed here. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST, February 27, 2019.