Dear Stanford in Government friends,
The SIG team has had a busy and fulfilling year! During fall quarter alone, SIG hosted 37 separate events for the Stanford campus and secured 44 fully funded summer fellowships. During winter quarter we saw a record 245 fellowship applications submitted for 44 opportunities; we hosted a film screening and discussion focused on bridging partisan divides; and we brought Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Jason Grumet to campus to discuss possibilities for pragmatic governance. We also welcomed President Obama to campus as he spoke at the White House Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection. This spring, we hosted Senator Mark Udall (D-CO), who spoke about surveillance; Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), who spoke about his work in the Great Lakes Region of Africa; awarded 31 stipends to undergraduates pursuing a summer in public policy or government; and continued to bond as a cohort of friends and leaders.
This year, SIG’s membership grew from about 40 students to almost 150. New members brought new ideas for leadership development and discussion, driving the success of SIG’s new Public Policy Forum (PPF) committee. As SIG embraces new members and innovation, we continue to appreciate old friends and supporters. On October 26, SIG’s Alumni Relations team worked with the Haas Center for Public Service to host an alumni reunion. Three decades of SIG members discussed the past and future of SIG. Thank you to the alumni who attended this event and shared your wisdom!
After completing and evaluating a three-year pilot, SIG has determined the Stipends Program is here to stay. We are developing a database for Stanford students to connect with organizations and find internships. This year, we received a record 98 applications and awarded 31 stipends, up from 62 applications and 20 stipends last year. We look forward to continuing to expand this program in the years to come. Click here to read our Stipends Program evaluation and strategic plan.
As a graduating senior whose time as SIG Chair is coming to a close, I want to thank you for your support. Now, I look forward to being involved with SIG as an alumnus. I am excited to announce our new chair, Robert Chun, for 2015-2016. Since his freshman year, Robert has dedicated himself to SIG programming, to expanding opportunities for engaging in public service on campus, and to improving SIG’s community. We are lucky to have Robert at the helm for the year ahead.
We look forward to engaging Stanford students in public policy for many years to come. Thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Stefan Norgaard, ’15
Chair, Stanford in Government 2014-2015
