DESCRIPTION
Thanks to generous donations from alumni, parents and friends, the Owl Edge Summer Experience Fund has empowered students to pursue their ideal summer opportunity since 2016. This funding is distributed to rising sophomores, juniors and seniors who secure unpaid or low (less than minimum wage) paid summer experience(s) in order to help defray living expenses for an intern. While many internships and research experiences are paid, industries such as government, non-profit and entertainment remain areas for unpaid summer opportunities. These opportunities are crucial for students pursuing these fields to gain necessary experience and determine whether or not to move forward on that same path.
In addition to money, recipients of this particular fund will participate in online career development activities that include: preparing for a summer experience, establishing professional connections, goal setting and donor appreciation. These students must go through a rigorous application process to articulate how the unpaid or low paid summer experience could help shape their career exploration and job search process. They also identify specific skills they plan to build through the experience based on the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career competencies. This fund is competitive as only ~30% of applicants will be selected to receive funding. The Owl Edge Summer Experience Fund allows students to pursue summer opportunities of interest without financial limitations.
If you are interested in discussing how you can make an impact on the Owl Edge Summer Experience Fund through your current or long-term philanthropy, or to make a gift through appreciated securities, wire transfer, Donor Advised Fund (DAF), IRA Charitable Rollover, or through a deferred gift vehicle such as a bequest, please contact Sara Rice Shafer at (713) 348-5848 or sarar@rice.edu.
WHAT IS THE 24-HOUR CHALLENGE?
The 24-Hour Challenge is Rice University’s annual day of giving! On April 4, 2023, the Rice community will unite once again for a shared purpose — to put their support behind the extraordinary young Owls who strive for excellence, the teachers who inspire and one brilliant community that seeks to build a better world. Gifts can be directed to a school, residential college, research initiative, student club or any area on campus that means the most to you.
WHAT IS THE GOAL?
To bolster our effort, David Courtwright Ph.D. ’79 and Shelby Miller, former Rice art librarian, have generously offered a supporting challenge: When 4,400 donors make a gift of any size on April 4, they will donate $300,000 toward need-based scholarships.