$200K gift from Craig Newmark Philanthropies expands pipeline to public service for veterans
Generous philanthropy from Craig Newmark will continue to eliminate tuition expenses for veterans and military-connected students at Georgetown University to pursue careers in the public sector.
Since 2021, Newmark has donated $575,000 to the McCourt School and played a direct and crucial role in the lives of dozens of talented veterans and military-connected students. His generous gifts established the Craig Newmark Veterans Scholarship Fund , providing select McCourt students with a world-class Georgetown education, reducing their financial burden and supporting their pursuit of careers in public service after graduation. In his annual conversations with the Newmark Scholars and McCourt community, Newmark also offers valuable advice and counsel to students, drawing on his decades-long career in business and philanthropy.
Craig’s leadership as a founding advisory board member and his generous support of the Newmark Veterans Scholarship Fund has had a profound and lasting impact on the McCourt School and its veteran students.
Meredith Hanley, senior director of development at the McCourt School
Craig Newmark Philanthropies’ most recent $200,000 gift will provide tuition assistance for new and returning Newmark Scholars for the 2024-2025 academic year, many of whom are active members of the student body, offering a unique perspective, inside and outside of the classroom, and sharing their experiences and expertise with the entire McCourt community.
Among the Craig Newmark Veterans Scholarship Fund recipients to date, nearly all have pursued careers in the public sector, including Thor Manson (MIDP‘23), a geospatial engineering warrant officer for the U.S. Army National Guard, Gabrielle Topacio (MPP’23), an acquisitions officer for the U.S. Space Force, and Samuel (Sully) Grantz (MIDP‘23), a Presidential Management Fellowship finalist.
While earning their graduate degrees, many Newmark Scholars also balance fellowships or full-time positions at the federal, state and local levels, including Alekhya Chaparala (MPP‘24), who recently completed a fellowship at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Aging & Disability Unit), and Alexandra Dutch (MPM‘24), who works full-time as a program manager in the Federal Reserve’s National Stress Testing Program.
“This fund empowers veterans to pursue careers in public policy and make meaningful contributions to shaping policies that affect us all. Craig’s philanthropy has also inspired others to support scholarships for veterans at Georgetown, and his commitment to connecting the people doing good in this nation has expanded the Newmark Scholars network in service of greater impact,” said Meredith Hanley, senior director of development at the McCourt School.
“Craig’s gifts have brought us that much closer to realizing Dean Cancian’s aspiration for the McCourt School , creating the most inclusive public policy school in the nation and empowering future leaders to have greater impact across the nation and around the world,” she said.
Learn more about the Craig Newmark Veterans Scholarship Fund here.