Each George Washington senior who receives a Presidential Administrative Fellowship (PAF) gets free tuition, a housing allowance and monthly compensation. The catch? They must commit to two additional years at GW, pursuing a master’s degree and working part time in a university administrative office.
So you can understand why senior Darnell Cadette couldn’t wait to get home to find out if he earned one of the coveted 2010-12 fellowships.
“I ripped open the envelope in the stairwell of Rice Hall and nervously read over the first few lines of the letter,” he says. “I was surprised and humbled to be selected and also excited to find out who the other fellows were and what our future impact on the university would be.”
Mr. Cadette is one of eight GW seniors—along with Shakir Cannon-Moye, Brian Engel, Brian Hawthorne, Kalie Kelman, Meaghan Smith, Kelley Stokes and Tura Woods— to be honored along with graduating PAFs at the Presidential Administrative Fellowship Commencement Weekend Reception May 14 in the Marvin Center’s Continental Ballroom.
“I continue to be impressed by the Presidential Administrative Fellows’ unyielding commitment to George Washington, especially as they balance their studies, their work and their ambassadorial role,” says President Steven Knapp. “I wish the graduating fellows much success in their future endeavors, and I look forward to working with the incoming class over the next two years as they make their mark on campus.”
Created in 1989, the fellowship offers graduating GW seniors administrative experience within university offices for up to 30 hours a week while they pursue a master’s degree. The fellows are asked to serve as ambassadors for the university through their academic, professional and personal involvement. The highly selective application process includes letters of reference, proof of application to a GW graduate school, an essay and two rounds of interviews. Fellows are selected by an advisory committee comprised of current fellows, GW administrators and academic community representatives.
“When I learned that I was selected, I was extremely excited. I kept rereading my acceptance letter to be sure that I had read it correctly,” says Ms. Woods. “My parents were the first people that I shared the news with, and they were so happy and proud of me. It was a great feeling.”
Ms. Woods, who will pursue a master’s degree in organizational sciences, says she applied for the PAF program because it offered a “very unique opportunity to make a direct impact on the GW and D.C. communities.”
“Service is very important to me, and as a PAF, I would like to continue to work on university-wide service projects that benefit the D.C. community,” she adds.
Mr. Engel, who will be working in GW’s Homeland Security Policy Institute while he earns a master’s degree in Middle East studies, says the opportunity to continue his education and develop professionally was the “major factor” in his decision to apply for a fellowship. “[As a PAF] I’d like to do what I can to help improve the university, its services and the students’ experience,” he says, “but at the same time build the professional skills I’ll need once I graduate.”
“At the end of the day, being a PAF is a learning opportunity,” says Mr. Cadette, who will earn a master’s degree in public policy. “I can further myself academically while simultaneously extending and expanding my capacity to serve an institution that has meant and continues to mean a lot to me.”