A Public Service Challenge--BPIP Internship Fund

Started in 2004, Bucknell's Public Interest Program (BPIP) Internship Fund is supported by alumni and parents and provides $2500 stipends to underclassmen who have obtained unpaid summer internships with a nonprofit, public interest or government offices. This fund offers financial support for students who might not be otherwise able to work at an unpaid internship without the help of the fund.

Q&A with Le'Andra LeSeur, 2008 BPIP Internship Fund Recipient
Student Bio:
Class: 2010
Hometown: Lilburn, GA
Major: Business Management, Art and Art History
Activities: Member of the Woman’s Basketball Team and Scholars in Service
Intern at Atlanta Contemporary Art Center

Q: Tell me a little about your internship.

A: I found my internship through researching on the internet. I worked at The Atlanta Contemporary Art Center. While I was there, I was placed into a bigger role than expected because of the small staff at the Contemporary. It was a very comfortable environment to work in though and my supervisor helped me become acquainted with the different programs they used. I enjoyed my experience overall and would have to say that it helped me solidify my career plans for the future.

Q: How did you find out about the Bucknell Public Interest Program Internship Fund?

A: I found out about the BPIP through the campus emails and figured I would go to an information session to find out more about it. After going to the information session, I knew the BPIP would be a great opportunity for me to be able to work at a not-for- profit organization in the arts without worrying about it being a paid internship.

Q: What was the application process like?

A:  I think the hardest part about the application process was securing my internship within the time frame. Once I secured my internship and was able to get all of my paperwork in, the application process went a lot smoother. The BPIP Internship Fund helped me in a lot of ways. I was able to dedicate all of my time and energy to my internship without having to worry about getting a second job to help with finances.

Q: What do you think are some misconceptions that Bucknell students have about BPIP Internship Fund?

A: I think a lot of students feel like a lot of fields they are interested in are not related to non-profit but in all reality; there are a lot of non-profit organizations representing different fields of study. I know when I was looking into applying for the BPIP Internship Fund, I was nervous that I would have no chance of getting the fund but after talking to Emily Dietrich (BPIP Program Director), I realized that there is a big chance to get the fund since the amount of recipients has increased almost every year that it has been around.

For more information about the BPIP Internship Fund, contact Marilyn Shull at 570-577-1012 or mshull@bucknell.edu