Zachary Rapaport, a 2020 Carnegie Mellon University graduate, traveled to New York City on March 9 for an interview.
"I wanted to immerse myself in city government," said Rapaport, who completed a Bachelor of Humanities and Arts in global studies and art with an additional major in Hispanic studies. "The Urban Fellows Program presented a hands-on opportunity to learn about government and public policy in New York, an impressive and complex city."
Everything was normal when he arrived, but a few days later the world had changed.
"On my flight home, there were only six people on the plane," said Rapaport. "Leaving New York was completely different from when I arrived."
Rapaport went home and waited.
Finally, he and 18 other fellows received official word in September. They had been accepted into the program.