Class of 2009 Legacy Offers Internship Opportunities to Future Students

By Patrick Lattin

      Each graduating class leaves its own unique mark on NYU, and the Class of 2009 will be no different. Many members of the class have banded together to make a Senior Class Legacy Gift, a final farewell and an immediate gift back to the school that for the last four years has provided opportunities for growth.
      Justin Cohen, a College of Arts and Science senior studying history and politics, heads a committee of 11 seniors who are helping to raise the funds for the 2009 legacy gift, which will be a contribution to the Wasserman Center’s funded internship awards, providing grants of up to $1,000 to future NYU students who are completing unpaid internships with non-profit organizations.
      “The goal of the legacy is both short-term and long-term,” says Cohen. “The short-term goal is our gift. That will have our name as a class attached to it. The more long-term goal is to build a generation of alumni who donate. It’s definitely one of our goals to convince people that you can make a difference for later generations.”
      The committee researched past proposed projects and the needs of the University before narrowing the gift options to three. The entire senior class then voted to help fund students with unpaid internships. Cohen said the decision was reached after recognizing both the need for professional experience through internships and the hardship that often accompanies working with no compensation.
      Michelle Knopf, associate director of the Wasserman Center for Career Development, notes that the fund allows students to gain invaluable professional experience and alleviates some of the financial stress of working in an unpaid position.
      “For a lot of students, it allows them to do the internship, as they would usually need a job,” Knopf says.
      Since deciding on the funded internship award, the committee has begun fundraising through advertisements, e-mails, work with student councils, and even a grassroots campaign to encourage seniors to get involved. Cohen said the goal for senior fundraising, which would then be matched by President John Sexton, has been set at $25,000.