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Carnegie Mellon University Announces 2006 Friedman Fellowship Winners

Thirteen Carnegie Mellon University undergraduate students are spending their summer interning in Washington, D.C., as part of the university's Milton and Cynthia Friedman Fellowship Program. Grants of up to $2,000 were awarded to the students to support unpaid and underpaid policy-related internships in the nation's capital.

The Milton and Cynthia Friedman fellowships, available to students in all majors, were endowed in 1999 by Carnegie Mellon Trustee Cynthia Friedman in memory of her husband, Milton (E'47, '49). They are designed to foster significant work experiences that complement students' academic work and assist them as they make career and graduate education decisions.

"I think it is important in today's global world and economy that the best and brightest young people, such as Carnegie Mellon students, have the opportunity to develop a solid understanding of the political process," Friedman said. "These fellowships give them a chance to see Washington from the inside and cultivate the skills and connections they will need to have a real impact when they go out into the world."

While students are in the nation's capital, the university's Government Relations Washington, D.C., office plans events, both social and substantive, to enhance their summer experience.

"Washington, D.C., is the pulse-point of our nation, and the opportunities afforded to the Friedman fellows through their internships this summer will not only be an invaluable experience to take back to their individual course of study, but also something they can use as a touchstone for their future careers," said Maureen McFalls Young, director of Carnegie Mellon's Office of Government Relations. Some of the events planned for the fellows include a tour of the State Department, a behind-the-scenes look at National Public Radio and briefings at various D.C.-based think tanks, as well as social activities.

This year's Friedman fellows include:

  • Gerrit Betz, a junior from Pittsburgh majoring in environmental health and public policy, is interning at NARAL Pro-Choice America;

  • Ashley Brown, a sophomore political science major from Falls Church, Va., is spending her summer at the Women's Leadership Forum;

  • Jennifer LaCoste, a sophomore political science major from Seattle, is interning with the Democratic National Committee;

  • Oliver Lim, a junior political science major from Oakland, Calif., is interning at Sen. John Kerry's office;

  • Max Martinelli, a junior history and policy major from New York City, is working in Sen. Hillary Clinton's office;

  • Elizabeth Mullen, a junior policy and management decision science major from Springfield, Ore., is interning at Sen. John Kerry's office;

  • Aditya Nagarajan, a junior history and policy major from Fremont, Calif., is working in Sen. Dianne Feinstein's office;

  • Jonathan Perry, a junior decision sciences major from New Orleans, is spending his summer at the Futures Group;

  • Adam Schloss, a sophomore physics major from Rockville, Md., is interning at the National Jewish Democratic Council;

  • Karl Sjogren, a junior decision sciences major from Fremont, Calif., is interning at the Democratic Governor's Association;

  • Stacy Steinberger, a junior material and visual culture major from Akron, Ohio, is spending her summer at the Archives of American Art;

  • Rashi Venkataraman, a sophomore biological sciences and ethics, history and public policy major from Murrysville, Pa., is interning at the National Women's Health Network;

  • Asa Watten, a junior political science major from Bloomfield Twp, Mich., is working for Sen. Debbie Stabenow.

The fellowship program began June 1 and runs for 10 weeks. Students have already attended a meet-and-greet luncheon and secured housing, either on campus at George Washington University or in private apartments. Upon returning to campus in the fall, students will be required to complete an evaluation of their internship and the program. They will also present a report of their summer experiences to the fellowship committee.

For more on this year's fellows, contact Stacy Pane at 202-488-3984 or spane@andrew.cmu.edu.

Stacy Pane
July 6, 2006



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