Today the wider world is more connected, divisive and more complicated than ever, and deeply in need of leaders with a global perspective and a sense of responsibility for advancing society and the world. William students are eager to lead. Through our 50th Reunion class gift, we have the opportunity to invest now to support students who wish to pursue opportunities in government on the federal, state, and local level and in not-for-profit organizations in the hope that these experiences will provide inspiration for careers in public service.
An introduction to public service can take many forms. A student could apply for support to take a non-paying position in a governmental organization (e.g. representative’s office, court, agency) or to take a position in a not for profit organization dealing with the myriad public issues faced in this country and the world (e.g. food security, disease prevention, penal reform, habitat protection).
We also hope that the opportunities provided by this fund will help some students in their studies and preparation for honors thesis, to better understand how our democratic institutions operate and to spur consideration of how those institutions might be improved.
Many Williams students are already imaging lives in public service through the ’68 Center for Career Exploration – specifically, its Careers with Social Impact (CSI) initiative. An appropriate class gift to endow a fund to encourage the pursuit of careers in public service within the CSI initiative will transform the scale and quality of the opportunities Williams Students will be able to pursue through and beyond Williams. To that end this Fund will have three major objectives: (1) support eight students pursuing summer internships, (2) support ten students pursuing winter study internships, and (3) provide funding for the ’68 Center’s annual Career Trek Program. In addition this Fund will support the CSI Program by providing funds to sponsor career events on campus (e.g. workshops, alumni panel discussions, networking events).
Our goal is to raise $1,000,000 to permanently endow the three main objectives identified above and $250,000 to support the College’s CSI initiative over the next five (5) years.
In making this gift, we will help elevate public service at Williams for generations of Ephs with the skill, energy, communication tools, and vision to sustain and improve their communities, our country and the world.
Nicholas J. Tortorello