Our Crowdfunding Groups
Alumni & Friends:
I am so proud of this group of supporters. I write to you with just 2 days left in the 2021 WAIP Crowdfunding Campaign. As I write this, we are just over $7,000 away from our goal. I believe we can get there before the campaign closes this Sunday.
If you haven't given this year, I invite you to participate by visiting our website. If you've already given, thank you for supporting us through the most difficult and unpredictable year. As I write this, our spring students are in breakout rooms with alumni who work in political campaigns/elections. Next week they will hear from alumni in the field of journalism. All are interning virtually and gaining important skillsets that will make them marketable when they graduate in May. Sometimes, through the endless Zooms, they laugh and have fun. Thank you for making this possible- it means the world to them to continue WAIP with your support, even if it is through a screen.
After class today, I will respond to emails from eager summer students, who are all applying to internships daily, despite the limited options available. I share this to say- our students remain eager to enter the field of public service, and we are grateful to you for helping us keep WAIP accessible.
I wish you a peaceful and restful weekend.
Warmly,
Katy, Sydney & The WAIP Team
Alumni & Friends-
Wow- we are more than 2/3 of the way to our 2021 Campaign Goal! With just 4 more days left, I am excited to see our 6th annual WAIP crowdfunding campaign finish strong.
Big thanks to those of you that have given, shared your WAIP story with friends and continued to support this program year after year. I hope you had a chance to see the video created by alumni telling their stories of giving- it's incredibly moving! If you have yet to give this year, please take a moment to visit this year's page. The campaign ends this Sunday.
I am lucky to work with such a supportive community. Thank you for your continued support!
Warmly,
Katy, Sydney and the WAIP Team
Alumni & Friends:
Despite a global pandemic, the Glenn College’s Washington Academic Internship Program (WAIP) has continued to attract and train a remarkable group of students this past year, thanks to your support.
Like many of you, plans for the spring came to an abrupt stop in March because of the rapid spread of COVID-19. We had to send our spring Glenn Fellows home to complete their internships virtually and then made the painful decision to cancel the summer cohort - a first for the program. When it became increasingly clear that the pandemic would not allow for a safe return to an in-person program in the fall, we rolled up our sleeves to convert WAIP to a fully online program.
If you had asked me a year ago if WAIP could be successfully offered online, I would have firmly said ‘no.’ We feared we wouldn’t meet the core objectives of the program – quality internships, professional development, networking in DC – and that students wouldn’t take the chance on a virtual program. Much to our surprise, it did work, and it worked really well. 11 students adapted quickly to virtual learning. They received quality work experience through virtual internships. And their exposure to Washington, DC, was achieved through the engagement and experiences of over 80 alumni during fall semester! If you watch the video featuring our fall cohort, you will hear the positivity and hope in their voices.
You played a large role in making this happen. Funds raised from last year’s campaign enabled us to offer every student in the fall cohort a $1,500 scholarship to make their participation possible. Because of you, students were able to take unpaid internships, set-up home offices or secure a professional wardrobe. Our spring students also received this $1,500 scholarship, continuing to make the program accessible through a global pandemic.
While much uncertainty lies ahead, one thing is clear: the need for scholarships is greater than ever. The pandemic has increased the financial need of students. For Glenn Fellows, the challenges include less income to fund their participation in WAIP due to job losses, both for them and their parents, as well as fewer internship opportunities, most of which are unpaid. Students still need your support- whether for housing scholarships when the program comes back in-person, or to be able to take a full-time, unpaid internship in the virtual format.
We at WAIP remain committed to offering the program. We believe our mission to train the next generation of public servants is more important than ever. We hope to bring the program back to the in-person format soon, but until then, we will still be welcoming students to DC, even if only through a screen.
Today I ask that you join me in ensuring WAIP is prepared to offer the DC internship experience to students as we head into the next year. Your generosity positioned us to weather the storm last year- if you watch the video, you know that your investment in WAIP ensured the pandemic will not disrupt the future sustainability of the program, or the success of our students.
Please help us kick-off our 6th Annual WAIP Crowdfunding Campaign!
I look forward to updating you, and as always, am moved beyond words by this community, who year after year, shows up for this program to honor Senator Glenn’s legacy.
Warmly,
Katy
Alumni and Friends-
I write to you with great excitement- we have successfully funded three full scholarships! Thank you so very much for your continued support of WAIP and this year’s campaign.
The work is not over yet- we are still one full scholarship away from our goal of sending at least four students to DC this summer without the burden of housing.
To make things fun, the Dean of the Glenn College, Trevor Brown, and Director of Student Services, Chris Adams, have agreed to pie each other in the face if we get 100 $7 donations by next Thursday, February 20th, the anniversary of John Glenn’s Friendship 7. Can you help us with this Friendship 7 challenge and get your friends to give just $7 today? Every dollar counts.
We are so excited about our 5th annual crowdfunding campaign and 20 years of WAIP. Thank you for being part of this important program.
Warmly,
-Katy & the WAIP Team
Alumni & Friends,
Our 5th annual WAIP crowdfunding campaign launched just over a week ago, and what a first week it was!
To recap:
We are currently sitting just over $600 away from funding our third full scholarship! Can you help us get there?
To make things fun, our Dean and Director of Student Services have agreed to pie each other in the face if we get 100 $7 donations by the anniversary of Friendship 7 on February 20th. See a special video message from our Dean on the WAIP Instagram. Can you join in the fun and give $7 today?
Again, thank you for making this year’s campaign so successful already. WAIP changes lives, and scholarships make the program more accessible. Thank you for being our greatest cheerleaders.
Enjoy some photos from the 20th anniversary below!
Warmly,
Katy & the WAIP Team
On February 20, 1962, NASA astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth in his Mercury capsule Friendship 7.
Senator John Glenn served Ohio for 25 years in the U.S. Senate.
Covers annual dues to be a Sustaining Member of The Ohio State University Alumni Association
Senator Glenn returned to space on the space shuttle Discovery in '98 at the age of 77.
This year on February 17th, Annie Glenn turned 100 years old!
John Glenn's Friendship 7 was in flight for 4 hours and 56 minutes, or 296 total minutes.
Approximately 905 students have participated in the Washington Academic Internship Program (WAIP) since the program started 20 years ago.
