(Posted May 27, 2014)

Ashley Pinamonti, a junior from Spring Mills, Pa. studying international politics, received a Finnegan Fellowship and will be working this summer at the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.
Ashley Pinamonti, a junior from Spring Mills, Pa. studying international politics, received a Finnegan Fellowship and will be working this summer at the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

--News Release--
HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Ashley Pinamonti, a junior at Juniata College from Spring Mills, Pa., studying international politics and conflict resolution, received a Finnegan Fellowship from the James A. Finnegan Foundation that funds a 10-week paid internship in the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Integrated Tax Systems Business Operations Office in Harrisburg, Pa.

Pinamonti, the daughter of Sherry and Bob Pinamonti, also of Spring Mills, received the internship on the strength of an essay, letters of recommendation, college transcripts and extra curricular activities. Pinamonti is a 2012 graduate of Penns Valley High School.

Pinamonti has been active on campus while at Juniata and plans to spend two semesters studying abroad. In fall 2014, she will study at Vesalius College in Brussels, Belgium and in spring 2015 in she will travel to Seville, Spain to study at Universidad Pablo de Olivade.
In addition, she spent summer 2013 studying abroad in The Gambia, in western Africa, and stayed after the summer program to work in an internship with The Gambia Press Union, a journalism advocacy group.

During spring semester 2014, Pinamonti served as co-coordinator for Genocide Awareness Week, an annual event that organizes a campus-wide series of events designed to make the campus more aware of genocides.

"I think if I can understand the motivation and the process of making policy, it will give me some insight into how to adjust or change policy if conflicts or disagreements come up."

Ashley Pinamonti, junior, Spring Mills, Pa.

She serves as match secretary for the Hellbenders, the college's women's rugby club and also works as an Eagle Ambassador.

"I'm interested in the impact of the policies we create and I would like to understand every aspect of the policymaking process," Pinamonti says. "I think if I can understand the motivation and the process of making policy, it will give me some insight into how to adjust or change policy if conflicts or disagreements come up."

The James A. Finnegan Foundation was established in 1960 to honor the memory of James A. Finnegan, Secretary of Pennsylvania from 1955 to 1958. Finnegan fellowships have been awarded since 1960. Finnegan served under Pennsylvania Gov. George M. Leader. Prior to his service as Secretary, Finnegan was president of the Philadelphia City Council from 1951 to 1955.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.