PI-Gov Raises Record Amount for Summer Fellowships

January 29, 2009

The Public Interest and Government Law Fellowship Program (PI-Gov) held its annual auction to raise funds for law students working in public interest and government positions during the summer. The 2009 auction brought in a record-breaking $8,700. This is $1,100 more than raised in the 2008 auction.

This year’s fundraiser added a live auction event. In a silent auction that ran Jan. 21 - 24, students had the opportunity to bid on items such as Bar/Bri and Kaplan PMBR bar review materials, the chance to serve as Law School Dean for one day, reserved parking spaces, free passes to the Columbus Zoo, dinner with Capital law professors and much more.

On the evening of Sat., Jan. 24, the live auction brought together supporters to vie for selected items not available during the silent auction. Professor Susan Gilles served as emcee and auctioneer at the evening‘s event. Laura Austen, 2L and Adoption Law Fellow, donated her catering service.

Items at the live auction included a diamond necklace kept in a glass case. Keys to the glass case were sold for $5 each – but only one key would unlock the beautiful necklace. Becky Nienaber won the diamond necklace and donated the cost of the necklace back to the auction.

Andrew Oser, 1L, who donated a package for the live auction, won the 50/50 raffle, then donated the funds to PI-Gov.

Major sponsors included the Bar/Bri Bar Review and Kaplan PMBR. In addition to the items donated by faculty, staff and students, the Student Bar Association contributed two items to the auction, helped sponsor the food for the live auction and donated $500 to support a fellow of the program.

“This year’s auction was a tremendous success,” said Mary Nienaber, 3L and PI-Gov auction char. “We’re thankful to everyone who donated. We raised more money than ever and it all will financially support students who serve the public.”

Students interested in summer scholarships for their public service work, should contact Sherri Wilmoth, assistant director for Annual Giving, at (614) 236-6602, or via e-mail at swilmoth@law.capital.edu.