Elizabethtown College student Jada Makar ’27 has recently been named a Finnegan Fellow. This prestigious designation, in recognition of Makar’s impressive academic merit and dedication to civic engagement, presents a unique opportunity to gain practical experience within the field of public service.
Makar, a Political Science major with minors in Communications and Business Administration, joins a cohort of 32 fellow Etown students since 1982 who have been named as Finnegan Fellows. The fellowship allows students to complete competitive internships and professional development programs within the Pennsylvania state government.
“As a first-generation college student, winning such a prestigious fellowship award is monumental in my academic career and professional pursuits,” Makar said. “This fellowship will allow me to increase my network across the Pennsylvania government and open doors to countless more opportunities. I am so excited to gain more hands-on experience in the fields I am most passionate about.”
The Finnegan Fellowship is administered by the James A. Finnegan Fellowship Foundation, honoring the legacy of former Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, James A. Finnegan. Fellows are presented with hands-on opportunities to engage with public policy and network with public service officials within the executive branch of the state government.
Makar is an active civic participant on Etown’s campus, serving as a Peace and Global Scholar, a student mentor within the Ubuntu Program, and Vice President of the Etown College Democrats student club. She is also actively involved with Etown’s Center for Global Understanding and Peacebuilding as a student coordinator.
She has also gained invaluable, hands-on professional experience as a current intern in the Office of Pennsylvania Senator James Malone, where she was commended by Senator Malone during a recent Pennsylvania Senate Session for her diligent public service.
About the Office of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships
Elizabethtown College’s Office of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships works with students to help them apply for competitive awards like the Finnegan Fellowship, as well as identify opportunities that align with their academic and professional goals. Etown students who are interested in opportunities available through the office are encouraged to contact Jean-Paul Benowitz, Director of Prestigious Scholarships and Fellowships and Public Heritage Studies (benowitzj@etown.edu / 717-361-1110) Myer Hall, Honors Center. Learn more at etown.edu.
