New Robertson foundation will actually fulfill its purpose

Remember that lawsuit two years ago involving the Robertson family and the Woodrow Wilson School's $900 million endowment? (You know, Robertson like Robertson Hall?) In 1961, Charles and Marie Robertson donated $35 million to Princeton, with the purpose of supporting the Wilson School in preparing students for careers in government. In 2002, the Robertson family sued Princeton...basically, because they realized that Woody Woo majors were really just going into banking and consulting, not public service. The case ended with a $100 million settlement.Eight months ago, the Robertson family used that money to start the Robertson Foundation for Government, a non-profit "dedicated to helping government meet its talent needs by identifying, educating and motivating top U.S. graduate students to pursue federal government careers." This year it funded the education of 11 fellows at four graduate schools (UC San Diego, Syracuse, University of Maryland and Tufts)--who do seem to actually really want to go into public service.OK, not that they really have a choice anymore. According to Sign On San Diego, students have to perform three years of government service within five years... "or they must repay the funds." (The total scholarship is about $70,000 over two years.) Looks like the Robertson Family learned their lesson the first time around.The foundation hopes that the fellowship will encourage students to choose the State Department over Wall Street, says executive director Bo Kemper.

Kemper said the family members behind the foundation are concerned that many qualified international relations graduates who might otherwise work for the U.S. State Department or other agencies instead join investment banking firms or hedge funds because paying off student loans on government salaries seems too daunting.“Some of the top minds, just out of necessity, have to go into the private sector rather than pursue their dreams,” he said. “This way, they can protect and be of service to their country — and do it without any debt load.”

Let this be a lesson to you, Woody Woo majors, as the hedge funds come calling.

“It’s really huge, the difference it makes in my life,” Donovan said of her fellowship. “Most people I know never even think about government service, but since high school, I knew I wanted to make my life be about something other than making myself or other people rich.”

Doesn't that just make it all sound so evil?