The Maddy Institute at Fresno State announced the Wonderful Public Service Fellowship program will fund two $56,000 fellowships for San Joaquin Valley students who are accepted at nationally-ranked graduate programs in public policy/public administration, urban planning, social welfare or business by fall 2015 and will pursue public service as a career. Applications for the two fellowships are now being accepted.

The aim of the Wonderful Public Service Fellowship is to foster the next generation of leaders in the Central Valley. The students who are awarded these graduate fellowships are expected to return to the Valley to apply their knowledge and skills, helping to define future policies and contribute to ongoing progress. Upon graduation, they will work for a local government entity, social service agency or nonprofit for at least two years.

This fellowship was made possible by a gift from Lynda and Stewart Resnick through the Resnick Foundation. The Resnicks own Paramount Agricultural Companies, the world’s largest grower and processor of almonds and pistachios.

 “We are looking to help the best San Joaquin Valley students obtain their graduate degree from a top graduate program and return to apply what they’ve learned to make the Valley a better place,” said Mark Keppler, director of the Maddy Institute. “We appreciate the Resnicks’ support of this initiative and recognize their visionary leadership in the Valley.”

According to Larry Martin, board chairman of the Maddy Institute, “Senator Maddy wanted the institute to focus on preparing the next generation of Valley leaders and problem-solvers. As a result, this program may end up being the most impactful project we have ever worked on at the Maddy Institute.”

Each $56,000 Wonderful Public Service Fellowship will cover tuition and books ($25,000 per year) plus a summer stipend ($6,000). The fellows will be expected to support service projects in the Central Valley during summer break. Maddy Institute legislative interns and residents from Kern and Kings counties will be given special consideration.

The Fellowship deadlines are:

  • March 20: applications due
  • April 3: selection decision announced

Since 2001, the Maddy Institute has awarded more than 300 legislative intern scholarships to students. Maddy Institute legislative interns have worked in over 20 federal and state legislative offices. Maddy Institute alumni now work in a variety of political offices, businesses and nonprofit organizations throughout the Valley, in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C.

The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute was established by a unanimous vote of the California Legislature in 1999 to honor the late Senator Maddy, whose 28 years of public service demonstrated the successful application of personal integrity, legislative know-how and bipartisanship to the governance of the State of California.

In addition to the Maddy Institute’s Legislative Scholar Intern Programs, other programs include:

– The Maddy Report, a weekly public affairs program that airs on ValleyPBS, KSEE24

and statewide on The California Channel.

– El Informe Maddy, a weekly public affairs program in Spanish that airs on Univision’s Fresno affiliate.

– The Maddy Report – Valley Views Edition, a weekly public affairs program broadcast on Newstalk 580, KMJ.

– Maddy Daily, a daily public affairs e-newsletter with more than 12,000 subscribers that

chronicles public policy and politics in the San Joaquin Valley.

– Maddy Associate Speaker Series. Past speakers include U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein,

Gov. Jerry Brown, Gov. Kenny Guinn (former Governor of Nevada), Alice Rivlin (former

head of the OMB and Brookings Institution), David Walker (Comptroller General of the

U.S.), Alison Fraser (Heritage Foundation) and David Zeeve (Concord Coalition).

For more information about the Maddy Institute, call 559.278.1133 or mkeppler@csufresno.edu.

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