Marjorie K. Berger, the “matriarch” of Princeton AlumniCorps (formerly Princeton Project 55) died Thursday, July 29, 2010 at the University Medical Center at Princeton. Born in Queens, NY, Marge attended Queens College and was a graduate of the Katharine Gibbs School in New York City. She was a member of the Kingston Presbyterian Church, Princeton Friends of the Opera, Princeton Public Library and the Auxiliary of the University Medical Center of Princeton. Marge was predeceased by her beloved husband, Ronald C. Berger. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Deborah B. and Thomas E. Liwosz of Pennington, son and daughter-in-law Gregory R. and Rosanne D. Berger of South Brunswick, grandchildren Christopher T.R. Liwosz, Timothy W. Liwosz, Matthew C. Liwosz, Kyle Berger and Allyson Berger. A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 am Saturday, August 21, 2010 at Kingston Presbyterian Church, 4561 State Highway 27, Kingston. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Princeton AlumniCorps (formerly Princeton Project 55), 12 Stockton St., Princeton, NJ 08540 (609-921-8808). Arrangements are under the direction of The Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.

In the Project 55 Founders Book, Marge wrote of her experience:

Joining Princeton Project 55 in 1990, as the first employee, was a turning point in my life. After the death of my husband, I was looking for a new direction. Although leaving the security of The Hun School of Princeton after 10 years was somewhat of a gamble, my instincts told me it was the right thing to do. I did not see these vital members of the Class of 1955 failing in anything they undertook, and of course they have proved me right beyond all imagination. My life has been enriched immeasurably by my association with this unique Class, with the unusually talented, devoted, idealistic young people who come through our doors every year as applicants, and with the crème de la crème from Princeton University―and more recently from other colleges―who are employed as dedicated staff members. It has been an exhilarating experience for me.
I have seen the start-up organization grow from the one whose fledgling Public Interest Program placed 23 interns and fellows in 1990. By 2006 it had flourished and expanded to support 59 fellowships, while Princeton’s Class of 1969 had assumed responsibility for the internships and filled 69 places in that year. Several additional successful programs were initiated after the PIP, among them the Tuberculosis Initiative, the Civic Values Initiative, and The Alumni Network, all of which have impacted thousands.
Many new friendships have developed as a result of my tenure at PP55, which have enriched my life tremendously.
The Board of PP55’s foresighted decision to recruit members of younger classes to serve on its Board has proven to be fortuitous. There are currently 14 directors from the classes of 1966 through 2002―yet another example of the pragmatic, visionary leadership of this unique Board.
It has been my pleasure to work with this dynamic group.

To honor Marge’s 20th Anniversary at Princeton AlumniCorps, the Board and Staff presented her with the following tribute:

Dear Marge,
Just twenty years ago you signed in as the first full-time employee of a fledgling venture whose future was yet to be clearly defined. It was a bold move for a woman who had recently experienced deep personal loss, and who might have been expected to take comfort in the familiarity of a long-standing job. But no, you are a lady who realized that nothing noble is done without risk, and that risk can be part of the daily bread of a well-lived life. And so you joined PP55, moving among us ever since with elegant grace.
Marge, you have it all – style, a sense of fun, patience, thoroughness, and a tenacious memory. This last has proved invaluable to an institution marked by planned turnover of directors and a young staff.
Drum roll, please! Did someone bring the twenty year commemorative bronze Fig Newtons with the gold leaf cluster?
But wait! Let’s scratch a bit below the surface. PP55 is hardly your standard issue organization. The Board is highly active in matters of policy and execution, working in tandem with a brilliant young staff unafflicted by bashful reticence. Talk is the coin of the realm; indeed Board meetings are exercises in facing problems with both an open mind and an open mouth. At the end of each meeting board members, much like doting grandparents, head for home, leaving the staff to clean up and sharpen the details of tactical plans.
Further, because of its venture nature, PP55 has been home to both clear triumphs and lost causes. You and the rest of the staff have had an important, if insufficiently acknowledged role in smoothing the way on a sometimes seemingly impassible road.
Marge, you have the longest inside view of all of this. You have demonstrated patience when it was needed, a steady professionalism, and a hope-filled humor that has always brightened the landscape.
What seems eminently important about your years with us is your role in the continuing PP55 drama as a truly “class act,” an exemplar for the many young staff members who have passed our way. As a mother and grandmother, so as a mentor, you have combined practical competence with generosity of affection. Perhaps it’s what the Duke in Measure for Measure had in mind when he said, “Love talks with better knowledge, and knowledge with clearer love.”
Thanks, Marge, thanks for everything, and thanks for the memories. Happy 20th Anniversary at Princeton Project 55.

Love,
The PP55 Board and Staff

Please leave a response below to share your memories of Marge.

Please leave a response below to share your memories of Marge.

Attendees of the DC Area Committee Meetings at the CityBridge Offices at the Watergate. From left former Fellow Brittany Stanley, Charity Fesler, Arthur McKee, Lindsay Warner, Ari Altman, Caitlin Sullivan, Area Committee Coordinator Kate Lewis-LaMonica, Kathleen McCleery, Lori Mihalich-Levin and Kenly Webster.

Earlier this month, I spent two meeting-filled days in Washington, DC. Two days during which it was 102 degrees, and the heat was so intense that the air quality was code red, the buses ran for free and I tried to avoid arriving at my various meetings looking like I had just been playing in a sprinkler. Now that you’re picturing the lovely weather, I’d like to share with you a bit about my experience with Princeton AlumniCorps’ Project 55 Fellowship Program in our nation’s capital on one of my meeting-filled days.

My first day began in Georgetown where I met Lori Mihalich-Levin ‘01, one of DC’s mentor coordinators. Thankfully, it was perhaps the only time I have witnessed a Starbucks nearly empty at 8:15 a.m. on a workday. We immediately spotted each other and easily found a table in the back. We spoke about how we each became involved with AlumniCorps and the influential role of mentors in the fellowship year.

My next appointment was at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School. E. L. Haynes mission includes ensuring every student attains high levels of academic achievement and succeeds at the college of his or her choice regardless of race, gender, home language and socioeconomics. It was my first organization visit, and the first day for new fellow Sam Page ‘10 as well. After a brief tour, I met with Sam and his supervisor and listened as they spoke about the year to come.

For lunch, I met with Kate Lewis-LaMonica ‘08, Washington DC’s dynamic area coordinator, under whose leadership the number of fellowship placements has nearly doubled. She was wearing an orange dress (for Princeton, of course) and radiated enthusiasm as she shared her thoughts regarding DC’s continuing opportunities for growth.

After lunch, I was off to Tryst Coffeehouse in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of DC. Tryst is one of those coffee shops that prides itself on its individuality and serves animal crackers with its lattes or smoothies. There, I met Liz Rosen ’10 who was a few days away from beginning her fellowship at Partnership for Public Service. We discussed topics varying from moving in to blogging and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

The next meeting on my agenda was the impetus for my visit, the Washington, DC Area Committee Strategy Session. It was informative to be around the committee members as they brainstormed for the year ahead. The committee was welcoming, thoughtful and had a great sense of humor. Lest I forget, we certainly covered the new name ”Princeton AlumniCorps, AlumniCorps being one word, capital A, capital C, no space, no e, and never abbreviated”.

My last meeting of the night was with four of the new DC fellows. We met at Café Citron- renowned for its atmosphere, fried plantains and mojitos- and got to know each other a bit. We discussed apartment-hunting adventures, the past weekend’s 4th of July plans, and first days at fellowships.  I must say, meeting our new fellows was likely the highlight of a wonderful trip! I know they will a have successful year positively contributing to their organizations, and sharing their experiences in the PP55 fellows blog!

Sara Gordon joined the Princeton AlumniCorps staff as Project 55 Fellowship Program Manager in June 2010. She works closely with local volunteers, fellows, and nonprofit partners to help support and sustain our fellowship program.

Princeton AlumniCorps is seeking a dynamic individual to guide, support, and facilitate the raising of funds for our organization. Title and salary will be determined based on previous experience.

Princeton AlumniCorps Development Position Announcement

Position Overview and Responsibilities
Princeton AlumniCorps is seeking a dynamic individual to guide, support, and facilitate the raising of funds for our organization. Title and salary will be determined based on previous experience.

Development
• Plan, organize, and implement an integrated and comprehensive annual development plan in collaboration with Executive Director and board of directors
• Develop cultivation/solicitation goals, strategies, and timelines; evaluating results and adjusting strategies on an on-going basis
• Write letters/proposals and develop supporting materials
• Work collaboratively with Executive Director, board, staff, and volunteers to support, foster, and leverage their involvement in fundraising efforts
• In conjunction with Board and Executive Director, establish long-range (3-5 year) development planning with interim objectives to aid in tracking progress
• Coordinate and grow foundation support, including identification and research, cultivation, grant writing, reporting, and tracking
• Oversee endowment fundraising efforts including individual gifts and encouraging planned giving.
• Oversee Raiser’s Edge and NetCommunity
• Staff the Development Steering Group (DSG), the Princeton AlumniCorps fundraising advisory group.
• Prepare progress reports for committee and board meetings

Outreach and Communications
• Serve on the Communications Committee to help develop a comprehensive communications plan that will support resource development and further Princeton AlumniCorps’ mission
• Work with program staff, Executive Director and local volunteers to organize local outreach and fundraising events
• Manage the creation of branded fundraising collateral pieces, including, but not limited to, appeals and supporting materials, annual report, newsletters, website, and other as needed
• Ensure that Princeton AlumniCorps’ brand and messaging are consistent across communications efforts
• Coordinate the production and distribution of Shared Effort, Princeton AlumniCorps’ quarterly newsletter
• Be a positive representative of Princeton AlumniCorps in the community and help create institutional visibility

Finance
• Maintain guidelines and policies for the acceptance, valuation, recording, acknowledgment, and stewardship of gifts
• Track gifts against pledges and challenge grants
• Manage and process stock gifts
• Run monthly reports for Executive Director, treasurer, and accountant
• Work with treasurer and accountant on reconciliation with bank accounts as needed

General
• Take on additional projects and responsibilities as requested
• Participate in general staff tasks
• Manage development intern

Skills and Qualifications
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Adept with building and maintaining relationships
• Strong attention to detail
• Flexibility
• Interest in marketing and communicating to diverse audiences
• Comfortable interacting with wide variety of constituents
• Sense of humor
• Steadiness under pressure
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and willingness to learn new technology
• Experience with Blackbaud software a plus
• Comfortable working in a small office environment
• Excitement for Princeton AlumniCorps mission and vision
• 1- 5 years of professional experience in the field of development and outreach
• Event planning experience a plus
• B.A./B.S.

Applicants should be willing to make a two-year commitment.

Salary
Starting salary will range from $40,000-$50,000 depending on previous experience, with potential for increase in subsequent years. Compensation includes medical and dental insurance, retirement benefits, 20 days of paid time off, and generous holidays.

Location
The position is located in the Princeton Project 55 office at 12 Stockton Street in Princeton, NJ.

Application Process
Interested individuals should email a resume and a letter of interest and qualifications, using subject line “AlumniCorps Development Position” by Tuesday, July 13, 2010 to Natasha Robinson, Development Officer at nrobinson@alumnicorps.org.
This will be an expedited interview and placement process. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, so please submit your materials as soon as possible. The projected start date is August 3, 2010.

Princeton Project 55 (soon to be Princeton AlumniCorps) held a successful 20^th Anniversary Gala on the evening of May 27, 2010, at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village in Princeton, NJ. Among the more than 350 people in attendance were several dignitaries and supporters on hand to honor the founding Princeton Class of 1955 and be inspired by keynote speaker, Cory A. Booker, Mayor of Newark. The atmosphere was electric. Click here to view photos of the event on our Facebook Page.

The Gala brought Princeton AlumniCorps Board members, Project 55 fellowship alumni, Princeton University President Emeritus Harold Shapiro, representatives from the Rita Allen Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, CityBridge Foundation, Public Health Solutions, and numerous other nonprofit partners, and Princeton University faculty and staff together for an evening dedicated to honoring the vast accomplishments of PP55 in the realm of alumni civic engagement.

This was the first gala ever to be held by Project 55 to raise both awareness and funds for the alumni-driven organization’s efforts to engage alumni of all ages and all backgrounds in the public interest.  Project 55 is grateful to our many sponsors and donors who contributed over $150,000 because they recognized the critical role these news dollars play in the success of and expansion of our work. Those in attendance clearly made evident their commitment to mobilizing Princetonians—and alumni of other universities—for the public good.
Although Project 55 began with the Class of 1955, it has expanded to involve alumni from other Princeton classes and other universities. More than two thirds of Gala guests were not affiliated with the Class of 1955. Anne-Marie Maman ‘84, former board member, chaired the event. Alumni of different ages, including Kenly Webster ’55, Kate McCleery ’75, Jim Gregoire ’69, Scott Welfel ’06,  Gordon Douglas ’55, Kathy Miller ’77, Arthur McKee ’90, Rishi Jaitly ’04, and William Leahy ’66, spoke of their growing commitment to service through their involvement with PP55.  They shared their excitement for the next 20 years of this great organization, under our new name, Princeton AlumniCorps.

President Shirley Tilghman welcomed Gala attendees via a video message and expressed the intense pride that Princeton University feels for all who have been part of Project 55 over the last 20 years. She said  “An entire generation of Princeton graduates has been given the opportunity to pursue public service immediately upon graduation, and for some of those students, their lives have simply been transformed by that experience. It has led them to careers in public service that have continued to this day. For the rest, of course, they take away from their experience as Project 55 fellows a commitment to community service and understanding that voluntary service is going to be part of their lives, whatever their professional pursuits will be in the future.” President Tilghman closed her remarks by saying, “I hope those of you in the Class of ’55 and particularly those who were involved in the creation of this wonderful public service project enjoy that experience as much as all of us who admire what you have done so much enjoy hearing it. So, happy birthday, Project 55. Twenty years of extraordinary service to Princeton University, and to this nation.” Click here to view President Tilghman’s Video Message.

A highlight of the evening was the keynote address by a true model of civic leadership, the Honorable Cory A. Booker, Mayor of Newark, NJ. Mayor Booker spoke of the need to action, for positivity, and optimism, and the fight against “sedentary agitation” that plagues so many Americans today.  Stay tuned for video of Mayor Booker’s keynote address.

Princeton Project 55 will officially change our name and broaden our mission as Princeton AlumniCorps in Summer 2010. Be on the lookout for videos of the gala presentations and announcements of new programming in the coming months.

Interested in becoming an AlumniCorps member? Contact Kathleen Reilly, Executive Director, at kreilly@alumnicorps.org.

Sara has previously worked at the national non-profit for the UN Refugee Agency and she volunteers with Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer, both based in Washington, D.C. She has lived, studied and conducted primary research in South Africa. Sara holds a Bachelor of Arts Summa Cum Laude in government and Africana studies from Franklin & Marshall College.

We are confident that Sara will bring energy, innovation, and continued success to PP55!

Education: Rethinking the role of the teacher in raising student achievement levels

Economic Development: Focusing on small and medium-sized enterprise promotion as a means to fair and responsible growth

Health: Finding and funding innovations that show significant improvements in outcomes

Frank Moss ‘71, director of MIT’s Media Lab and Princeton trustee, will kick off the event with a glimpse into the future and the impact emerging technologies will have on our three topics of interest. He will be followed by three simultaneous breakout sessions, each led by a small group of experts in that field and designed to foster a thoughtful dialogue amongst all participants.

The event, kicking off in Friend Center 101 at 2:15 p.m. on Friday, May 28th, is organized by the Class of 2005, is co-sponsored by Princeton Project 55 and Princeton in Asia, and is held in conjunction with the Princeton Entrepreneurs’ Network Social Business Plan Competition.

The Honorable Cory A. Booker, Mayor of Newark, NJ

The Honorable Cory A. Booker, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, will be the keynote speaker for Princeton Project 55’s 20th Anniversary Gala on Thursday, May 27th, 2010!

Mayor Booker’s outstanding leadership of Newark, passion for justice and political change, commitment to education, and dedication to empowering individuals and families all commend him as a fitting speaker for the celebration of Project 55’s past 20 years.

“We are very pleased that the Honorable Cory Booker will be our keynote speaker for the Gala. The systemic changes he is implementing as the Mayor of Newark clearly resonate with the mission of our organization,” commented 20th Anniversary Committee Chair Anne-Marie Maman.

The Stanford University alum and Oxford Rhodes scholar earned his law degree from Yale before serving as Staff Attorney for the Urban Justice Center in Newark. Mayor Booker then rose to prominence as Newark’s Central Ward Councilman in 1998. As Councilman, he earned a reputation for his innovative and bold leadership; he introduced dozens of legislation and resolutions impacting housing, youth, safety, and jobs to create a better government.

Following his electoral sweep in 2006, Mayor Booker has made notable strides in achieving the Newark city mission to set a national standard for urban transformation. Since his election, Newark has seen a 40% reduction in crime, and affordable housing production has doubled. Mayor Booker has also committed to a $40 million transformation of the city’s parks and playgrounds through public and private partnerships.

Mayor Booker’s achievements have merited him recognition in numerous publications, including Time, New Jersey Monthly, and The New York Times Magazine. His membership on numerous boards and advisory committees –including Democrats for Education Reform, Columbia University Teachers College Board of Trustees and the Black Alliance for Educational Options – reflect Mayor Booker’s strong commitment to education.

In October 2009, Mayor Booker was asked to deliver the Toni Morrison Lectures at Princeton University.  His imaginative leadership and dedication to changing lives through civil leadership highly qualified him to give the lectures, which spotlight the new and exciting work of scholars and writers who demonstrate the expansive literary imagination, intellectual adventurousness and political insightfulness that characterize the writing of Toni Morrison.

Project 55’s mission to inspire, enable, and promote the creation of public interest initiatives is one truly reflected in Mayor Booker’s civic leadership. It is certainly an honor to have Mayor Cory Booker join Princeton Project 55 as we celebrate the milestones that mark our 20 years of success.

During the committee's deliberations more than 300 possible new names were proposed and considered.

The change in our name culminates a two-year process growing out of our strategic plan. “Our name of Princeton Project 55 served us well for 20 years,” said Board Chair Kenly Webster ’55. “It honors the legacy of our founders, as indeed it should. Now, looking forward to our next 20 years, we will be able to grow and broaden our impact with a name that both reaches out to Princetonians of all ages and compellingly characterizes what we do.”

The Board has discussed a possible name change many times over the past two decades, but the issue became more urgent when members recognized that Project 55 needed to reach out more vigorously to attract Princetonians of all ages and to communicate its actual mission more effectively to everyone. In June 2008 the Board asked its Communications Committee to research a potential naming strategy. Committee members conducted research on several fronts:

• How we communicate now and what our name should say about us
• The story of PP55, its founding and evolution
• The current mission and strategic priorities
• Board feedback and discussion at its quarterly    meetings
• Surveys and interviews with key constituents and peers, and eventually…
• A proposal for a new umbrella name

Between December 2008 and February 2010, Communications Chair Lanny Jones ’66 and his committee held in-person or teleconference meetings about once a month. Board Chair Kenly Webster ’55, President Bill Leahy ’66, and Executive Director Kathleen Reilly were also involved throughout the research process, as was trademark attorney Dick Woodbridge ’65, who donated his services pro bono. During the committee’s deliberations more than 300 possible new names were proposed and considered.

Criteria:

*Does it reflect our overarching mission of inspiring and building civic leadership among alumni across generations by engaging them in significant activities that influence and improve our society?
*Is it distinctive and legally available?
*Is it short (ideally 5 syllables or less)?
*Is it inclusive and expansive?

Guiding Principles:

*In order to preserve brand recognition and honor the history and heritage of our organization, the original name of Princeton Project 55, or the“55” numerals, need to be included somewhere in the naming platform – either in the unchanged overall name, the subtitle/tagline, or names of key programs

*Possible new names were tested for reactions from our key constituencies: the full Board, key founders and funders from the Class of ’55, alumni from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, PIP alumni, sponsoring organizations, the Alumni Council, and other campus groups

From the outset, the committee concluded that, while the “55” numerals in the present name were an obstacle to recruiting Princeton alumni from other classes, it was also important that the brand-recognition built up under the original name be preserved. The result was the recommendation, approved by the board in February, that our flagship Public Interest Program now be known as the Princeton Project 55 Fellowships Program.

As one Board member, Arthur McKee ’90, put it: “One of the reasons why I drive up to Princeton from Washington four times a year is because I have been able to get to know members of the Class of ’55, which otherwise I would never have done. And not only was I inspired, but I am currently and will be in the future inspired by what the Class of ’55 has done and what it still will do. We can and we will honor not just the legacy but the action and the lives of the members of the Class of ’55.”

“The committee and others kept coming back to the concept of a ‘corps,’” Jones said. “With the existence of the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Service Corps, and City Corps, the term has evolved to connote innovative service. ‘Corps’ also of course conjures the image of a volunteer or unified team. Hence Princeton AlumniCorps: a cadre of alumni, shoulder to shoulder, working together for systemic social change.”

The new name is just one piece of a larger strategic effort to engage, mobilize, and inspire alumni to be active citizens. Over the course of the next year we expect to announce new programs that will help us carry out our mission.

Communications Committee: Lanny Jones ‘66, Chair, Illa Brown ‘76, Jim Lynn ‘55, Anne-Marie Maman ‘84, Kathleen McCleery ‘75, Pete Milano ‘55, Kathy Miller ‘77, Natasha Robinson ‘04, Chet Safian ‘55, Tony Spaeth ‘55

NEW YORK

On March 3, 2010, guests gathered for a reception in New York City, one of many events taking place across the nation this year in celebration of Princeton Project 55’s 20th anniversary. The event, graciously hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation, was a tribute to all of the agencies – numbering more than 75 in total – that have partnered with Project 55  over two decades of its presence in New York.

A stunning 22 agencies were represented at the event, and all were honored with a Certificate of Appreciation recognizing their partnership. Five agencies in particular were highlighted during the evening’s program: Education Through Music, Heads Up! Pediatric Literacy Program at Weill Cornell Medical Center, New Alternatives for Children, the District Attorney’s Office of New York, and St. Mark’s the Evangelist School. Representatives from each of these agencies spoke passionately about the impact Project 55 fellows have had on their organizations.

Speaking of two former fellows and longtime employees of Education Through Music (ETM), Rainah Berlowitz and Katherine Canning, Executive Director Kathy Damkholer said: “I have the unique distinction of having two wonderful fellows who have made ETM their life work. You have been so wonderful, and we are who we are because of you.”

Adam Kaufmann said of fellows at the District Attorney’s Office of New York: “Project 55 fellows take on incredibly difficult, complex cases. We know that we can rely on the quality of the work that these astounding young people bring to the table.” These sentiments were echoed by all of the agencies who spoke at the event, a testament to the value of PP55’s work engaging alumni in varied public service fellowships that are often the starting point for lifelong careers in the public interest.

The evening was much enjoyed by all, and Project 55 community members in New York look forward to an equally stellar 20th anniversary bash in Princeton this May!

Click here to view videos of the New York and Chicago events on our YouTube Channel.

CHICAGO
By Kirsten O. Hull ’99, PP55 Chicago Volunteer

On March 18, 200 people gathered downtown to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Princeton  Project 55 in Chicago.  Present were current and former fellows and mentors, Chicago non-profit leaders, and the program’s many volunteers and friends.  Since 1989, PP55 has placed 388 fellows and interns with 113 local agencies, and it has inspired the launch of similar programs at Northwestern University and the University of Chicago.

The evening’s speakers included Jody Kretzmann ’66, Director, Asset Based Community Development Institute; Bill Leahy, Jr., M.D. ’66, President, Princeton Project 55;

Michelle Saddler ’82, Secretary, Illinois Department of Human Services; and John Horan, President, North Lawndale College Prep High Schools. A book of special memories from past fellows was presented to John Fish ’55.  Lead sponsors of the event were: Ariel  Invest- ments, the Princeton Club of Chicago, Harrison Steans ’57, and Robin Steans and Leonard Gail.  Thank you to all who participated in this celebration.

Click here to view more photos from the PP55 Chicago event on our facebook page.

PP55’s fellowship program received nearly 150 applications from graduating seniors (84% of applicants) and recent graduates interested in spending a year working in the public interest. As the variety of partner organizations eager to benefit from a PP55 fellow has expanded, we have seen the diversity and variety broaden within the applicant pool as well.   Applicants represent 28 different majors, with the greatest representation from the Politics Department, Anthropology Department, and the Woodrow Wilson School. Hard science majors and engineers make up 23% of applicants. Women comprise the majority of the applicant pool at 75%.

Applicants not only display their exceptional qualifications through their academic records, but also in their extracurricular activities and internships.

Applicants range from captains of varsity athletic teams to editors of the Daily Princetonian to founders of organizations both on and off campus. Some have spent summers advocating for disempowered populations and researching infectious diseases abroad, while others have taught ESL to immigrant children or interned for a state senator.

This year’s applicants have proved to be leaders ready and eager to work towards positive systemic change through PP55’s Fellowship Program. We are excited to have more than 40 fellows in our 2010-11 fellowship class!