4/10/03--Boston College Law School is pleased to announce that four current students have been awarded a fellowship through the Rappaport Honors Program in Law and Public Policy. Stacey Baron, Beth Grotto, Christian Rivera and Silvia Shin received the fellowship, out of a total of twelve student recipients from an applicant pool that included students from Boston College Law School, Boston University Law School, Harvard University Law School, New England School of Law, Northeastern University School of Law, and Suffolk University Law School.

"I am so pleased that four of our students received this prestigious award this year," said BC Law Associate Director of Public Interest Programs Freda Fishman. "It serves to recognize the importance that BC Law puts on public service and serving our community. The Rappaport Program provides students with a wonderful chance to learn through doing, in a number of interesting and challenging settings. We're very appreciative of the Foundation and this opportunity."

The Rappaport Honors Program seeks highly-qualified law students from local law schools who have excellent academic records, strong commitment to public service as shown by past paid and volunteer work experiences, and demonstrate capacity for leadership. The Jerome Lyle Rappaport Foundation serves as a primary philanthropic vehicle for the family of Jerome Rappaport, a prominent Boston lawyer, real estate developer, and civic leader. The Rappaport Foundation has made significant charitable activities in the Greater Boston area.

As Rappaport Fellows, Baron, Grotto, Rivera, and Shin will be provided with a unique, year-long program including paid summer internships, educational activities, and mentoring opportunities designed to enhance their professional development and their understanding of public service and the civic responsibilities of lawyers. The activities involved in the Fellowship include: (1) working in paid summer public or nonprofit sector legal internships that place special emphasis on urban issues in the Greater Boston region; (2) participating in an ongoing, year-long educational program designed to engage then in issues concerning public law and public services; and, (3) participating in an individually matched mentoring program with accomplished lawyers, government officials, and civic leaders in areas of their interest.

The program, in conjunction with the career services offices at participating schools, will assist Fellows in identifying and securing their internships. The summer internship stipend will be $7,000.