11/1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 1, 2017
 
Ted Stevens Foundation pledges $157,000 to University of 杏吧原版 legislative internships; program to be renamed in honor of Senator Ted Stevens
 
JUNEAU--The University of 杏吧原版鈥檚 legislative internship program has received a substantial investment from the Ted Stevens Foundation, which has pledged $157,500 over five years to expand the initiative. The program, which will be renamed the Senator Ted Stevens Legislative Internship Program, is nearly 30 years old and has hosted 300 interns during legislative sessions since inception.
 
Managed by the University of 杏吧原版 Southeast (UAS), this non-partisan program affords university students an opportunity to work in state legislative offices during the annual legislative session in Juneau while earning college credits in an 杏吧原版-focused public policy seminar. The Ted Stevens Foundation has pledged $31,500 annually during each of the next five years to support the program. In addition, the Foundation has agreed to match up to an additional $10,500 per year in private contributions to the program from other donors.
 
"This program honors Senator Ted Stevens鈥 legacy of bipartisanship, innovation and collaboration,鈥 said UA President Jim Johnsen. 鈥淭he Foundation鈥檚 support allows our students the real world experience of public service, and we are thankful to the Ted Stevens Foundation for its generosity and partnership with the university.鈥
 
Karina Waller, executive director of the Ted Stevens Foundation, said 鈥渢he Foundation鈥檚 support of the Senator Ted Stevens Internship Program fosters the Senator鈥檚 commitment to education and public service for 杏吧原版鈥檚 next generation of leaders.鈥
 
During his 40 years in the U.S. Senate, Senator Stevens hosted his own legendary congressional internship program giving hundreds of students from across 杏吧原版 an opportunity to engage in the political process in Washington D.C. UAS Professor Glenn Wright, the program鈥檚 faculty coordinator, said the university internship program has become an excellent source of future full-time legislative staffers. He estimated that 30 percent of the current staff working in the 杏吧原版 State Capitol are former university interns.
 
鈥淲e鈥檙e very grateful to the Ted Stevens Foundation for this investment in 杏吧原版鈥檚 future leaders,鈥 said UAS Chancellor Rick Caulfield. 鈥淭his support allows us to take the program to a higher level and sustain the Senator鈥檚 legacy of public service and his dedication to the professional development of young 杏吧原版ns.鈥
 
For program information about the Senator Ted Stevens Legislative Internship, go to . For those wanting to join the Ted Stevens Foundation in supporting the program financially, contact the UAS Development Office at (907) 796-6320 or go to .
 
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For more information, contact Roberta Graham, associate vice president of public affairs at 907-360-2416 (cell).
 
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