Does spending your summer working for the New York Giants, networking with major New York power players, attending dinners with leadership coaches, and making $12,000 sound like a dream come true?
For 2007 Steamboat Foundation Scholar Kosi Egbuta, CSOM '08, it became a reality.
"My Steamboat summer was the best summer of my life," Egbuta said. "Working for the Giants gave me the opportunity to establish a relationship with a great network of people who were willing to do whatever it took to round out my internship experience."
Egbuta said he wouldn't have even known about the Steamboat Foundation if it hadn't been for Chike Ibeabuchi, BC '06, who raved about his summer 2005 experience with the Giants and "demanded" Egbuta apply.
BC's Steamboat Scholar is always placed in one of three Giants departments - public relations, community relations, or marketing - based on interest. After acing his final-round interview at Giants Stadium, Egbuta was selected to work under the umbrellas of Corporate Sponsorship, Client Services, Marketing Services, and Event Initiatives.
As an intern, he was mentored by New York Giants Director of Marketing Services and Youth Programs Beth Roche, with whom he still keeps in touch.
The brainchild of hedge fund executives Andrew Walter and Peer Pedersen, the Steamboat Foundation funds 10-week summer internships at major organizations for students who have just completed their junior year of college. The 10 participating colleges and universities each have their own grant sponsor - Boston College's being the New York Giants, which is headed by CEO John Mara, BC '76.
"The partners that we choose to work with are uniquely engaged in the growth of our scholars," said Steamboat Foundation executive director Eden Werring. "They are such great people at the Giants, and they really have taken Steamboat and the scholars under their wing."
The networking - not to mention financial - benefits of being a Steamboat Scholar are obvious, but both Egbuta and Werring said the friendships that were formed are the most valuable takeaways.
"The highlight of my summer was being able to live in New York City with Steamboat Scholars that I know I will call friends for life," Egbuta said. "It was great knowing that after work and on weekends, I could relate with someone that was sharing that once-in-a-lifetime experience we knew as Steamboat."
Werring, Egbuta, and Ibeabuchi will be on campus on Dec. 5, between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. for a special Steamboat Scholars Information Session in Gasson 306.
All juniors are welcome to attend. For more information and to access the Steamboat application online, visit http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/events/xtra02.html.
Shawna Gallagher Vega is a contributing columnist for The Heights. She welcomes comments at features@bcheights.
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