Foundation fellowship applicants invited

Pike, Sussex, western Orange students are eligible Milford — The Ingeborg A. Biondo Memorial Foundation invites potential interns to submit applications for its second annual fellowship program. The Biondo Foundation established the fellowship to foster and encourage those with educational and career interests in working with people with disabilities. High school or college students interested in experiencing firsthand their potential career choice working with specially challenged individuals now have an opportunity to do so through the Ingeborg Biondo Foundation Fellowship. The 2008 recipient of the Biondo Foundation’s first award was Lauren Dean of Milford. Now studying special education and elementary education at West Chester University, the college freshman spent part of the past summer at five regional camps supported by the Foundation, working with children with special needs. Through the program, Dean experienced a variety of activities ranging from working one-on-one with diabetic children at Camp Nejeda in Stillwater, N.J., to helping children interact with the assortment of animals at Country Ark Farm and GAIT in Milford. “It was a great experience,” enthused Dean, who feels even more certain about her career choice now. “It pushed me to want to work with kids with special needs after seeing how much they really appreciate that you’re there. They might not be able to say it, but they show it.” Fellowship interns work under the direction of the Foundation Board. The internship includes at least one mentoring or shadowing experience in which the intern works side by side with a practicing professional in their field of interest, such as a nurse therapist, social worker, camp counselor or support personnel. While gaining expertise through real-life learning opportunities, the intern will also receive a stipend of $2,500. The Biondo Foundation also established a scholarship program and has awarded over $20,000 in 2008 to students pursuing careers in special education. The scholarships provide financial support to those who will one day deliver skilled care, education and other services. The foundation’s scholarship committee oversees the awarding of the fellowship, with the goal of encouraging talented young people to choose careers in one of the fields providing service to individuals with special needs. The Fellowship occurs during the summer months, and interns are eligible for consideration as scholarship recipients. Students residing in Pike County, Sussex County, N.J. or Western Orange County, N.Y., who are juniors or seniors in high school or enrolled in college, are welcome to apply. Applications must be received by the foundation no later than April 1. Call Maria Crawford at 570-686-2402 for additional information or to receive an application. Learn more about the foundation’s rewarding work at www.biondofoundation.org.