{"id":10938,"date":"2016-06-14T09:23:27","date_gmt":"2016-06-14T09:23:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fiualumni.com\/?p=10938"},"modified":"2018-05-08T20:49:38","modified_gmt":"2018-05-08T20:49:38","slug":"historic-week-in-washington-fiu-in-dc-opens-critical-funds-raised-for-student-internship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fiualumni.com\/stay-connected\/alumni-news\/newsroom\/index.php\/2016\/06\/14\/historic-week-in-washington-fiu-in-dc-opens-critical-funds-raised-for-student-internship\/","title":{"rendered":"Historic week in Washington: FIU in DC Opens, Critical funds raised for Student Internship"},"content":{"rendered":"

From June 6-10, FIU inaugurated its dynamic new hub in the nation\u2019s capital with a series of thematic panels and receptions with alumni, friends and federal partners. Thanks to two very special donors, over $65,000 were committed for student internship stipends while University leadership visited the White House and signed an employment agreement with the Veterans Administration.<\/em><\/p>\n

FIU officially opened doors to its dynamic hub last week launching a revamped presence in the nation\u2019s capital to further advance faculty research and establish a point of convergence for students, alumni, and corporate\/governmental partners on Capitol Hill. Over the course of five days and 12\u00a0events, hundreds of alumni, friends and national partners experienced the dynamic nature of FIU in DC.<\/p>\n

“Democracy and education are forever intertwined,” said FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg. “That is what makes our presence here\u00a0so critical \u2013\u00a0not just to the future of Miami,\u00a0but the future of our nation.\u00a0 The good that will be done for our students and our community with this new initiative is unimaginable.\u00a0But I can imagine a whole generation of students who will be better off because of what we have set forth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"DCweek1\"This hub is envisioned as a resource for FIU alumni and faculty all across the United States that might be visiting or doing business in Washington, D.C.\u00a0 It will also serve as a center for over 100 students visiting Washington for student internships or conferences a year.<\/p>\n

Emphasizing the importance of student internships, alumni and friends raised over $50,000 in commitments for student internships, after a challenge was delivered by the University\u2019s beloved Ruth Hamilton, executive director emerita of the Graham University Center, herself making a $30,000 challenge match for the Make A Difference Fund DC.<\/p>\n

Other key partnerships announced included those with donor Maria Elena Tora\u00f1o, who will be launching a women\u2019s leadership initiative; SCI Hispana who committed to fund a paid internship at the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and the US Veterans Administration, aimed at recruiting more diverse candidates from FIU.<\/p>\n

\"DCweek2\"\u201cThrough my partnership with FIU I am keeping my commitment to be a part of the development of the next generation of leaders among our youth,\u201d Tora\u00f1o said. \u201cI commend President Rosenberg and FIU for providing a national forum for the university to share its multiple accomplishments.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the panel, FIU alumna Liliam Folgueira, representing SCI Hispana, accepted\u00a0Tora\u00f1o’s challenge to sponsor internships for students by announcing a fall internship with the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n

Capping off the week was an electric series of events on June 9 with a rooftop breakfast attended by most of our South Florida Congressional delegation. The day concluded with an evening reception,\u00a0FIU in D.C.: “It’s So Miami!”<\/strong>,\u00a0sponsored by the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, featuring\u00a0dancing and speeches from FIU in D.C.’s key leaders\u2014including Tora\u00f1o, Rosenberg and FIU Board of Trustees Vice Chair Jorge Arrizurieta, among others.<\/p>\n

\"DCweek4\"“FIU’s presence in D.C. is a reflection of a truly proactive community of diverse students, faculty, and staff dedicated to creating positive change for not only our own communities, but for the nation as a whole,” said Galina Abdelaziz, student at the FIU Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs. “Through the connections, space, and opportunities the D.C. office will offer, there’s no doubt in my mind we’ll be nothing short of extraordinary.”<\/p>\n

If you missed the #FIUDCLaunch live, catch up on all the action via\u00a0Storify<\/a> or the webcast archive. To see photos from the event, click here<\/a>. To learn more about FIU in D.C., visit\u00a0washingtondc.fiu.edu<\/a>, or follow on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To donate to the Make A Difference Fund DC,\u00a0click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The curated calendar of\u00a0FIU in D.C. launch week events<\/a>\u00a0featured panels and briefings on many of the university\u2019s areas of research strengths\u2014from sea level rise to the STEM Education. Here is a glance of all of the briefings and links to the\u00a0webcast archive<\/a>:<\/p>\n