New York, N.Y.— John Jay College of Criminal Justice student-athlete
Crystal Ferguson (Brooklyn, NY, Greater New York Academy) has just been given the opportunity of a lifetime as the two-sport student-athlete has been selected by the White House to be an intern for the Spring 2010 semester.
Ferguson, a member of the John Jay women’s basketball and cross country teams, went through a vigorous application process and beat out hundreds of applicants to earn the internship. The Deviant Behavior & Social Control major, had to submit a resume, complete two essays, do a phone interview with a White House representative and get three letters of recommendation as part of the application process.
Ferguson, whose internship at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. will be from Jan. 4 to May 7, will learn of her assignment in the coming weeks. She has listed the Office of Political Affairs as her first option because of her background in politics and career ambition to be an attorney.
“I’m very excited to get the internship at the White House. When I first found out I got the internship I was crying,” said Ferguson. “I hope to make as many connections as possible, learn as much as I can and represent myself and John Jay College to the best of my ability.”
Ferguson’s background and experience has set her up perfectly for the opportunity. During the fall 2007 she participated in All Stars Project, a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting human development through the use of an innovative performance based model. With All-Star Project she was a part of Development School for Youth, a leadership training program for young people between the ages of 16-21 that focuses on development. A 14-week long program, students who graduate from it are placed in paid summer internships provided by sponsorship companies.
Ferguson’s participation in the project landed her a paid internship with Health Plus Insurance Company during the summer of 2008.
“The Department of Athletics is very proud of Crystal for her accomplishments, this is a great opportunity for her” said Director of Athletics, Dan Palumbo. “I am confident she will do a great job as she continues striving toward her career goals.”
Ferguson’s background also includes working in the office of Lenora Fulani, a political activist who is best known for her youth programs serving minority communities in the New York City area.
The sophomore is also very active in her church. She serves as a youth choir director and assistant director of the children’s choir at the East New York Seventh Day Adventist.