Congratulations! The email that started it all...

Date: Thu, March 11, 2010 6:38 pm

Dear Christina:

Congratulations! On behalf of the selection committee, I am delighted to offer you a John Gardner Fellowship for Public Service for 2010-11.

We were deeply impressed by your outstanding academic credentials and extraordinary record of public service. In a highly competitive year for the fellowship, you stood out from other candidates for your intellect, commitment to service, and potential for future leadership. It is our hope that the fellowship will help you to begin a career helping the neediest among us, following many other distinguished fellows before you.

I'd like to arrange a time for you to stop by tomorrow to pick up a letter with more details about the fellowship and to answer any questions you may have. In addition, I ask that you let me know whether you will be accepting the fellowship by next Wednesday, March 17.

One of the benefits of the Gardner fellowship is that you will be joining the John Gardner "family" of fellows, past and present. They form a network of accomplished people who can help you as you consider the next steps in your career. In the days to come, you may hear from current fellows and alumni who wish to offer their congratulations.

Congratulations again. I think you have an extraordinary career ahead
of you.

All the best,

AND SO IT BEGINS...