Pay It Northward: An Ambitious Initiative Unlike Any Other
In an unwavering effort to lift up Colby students and alumni, in May 2020 the College launched Pay It Northward—a strategic campaign—to counter the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the current job market. The goal? Secure post-graduate opportunities for every member of the Class of 2020.
As a major priority for the College, more than 100 Colby professionals rallied to ensure recent graduates are positioned for lifelong success. Through contact with more than 20,000 alumni, parents, and friends, hundreds of promising leads for young alumni were identified, a testament to the power of the Colby community.
As a result of our sustained efforts, more than 200 graduates have secured meaningful opportunities, but the mission continues. The DavisConnects team, in partnership with Advancement and partners across the College, continues to work diligently with graduates still searching for opportunities.
“Pay It Northward’s goal benefits the entire community, which is why it resonated with me,” said Craig Zevin ’11, COO of UBERDOC, Inc., a Boston-based health care startup where patients can find doctors and health care essentials for affordable, transparent prices.
Looking for someone to navigate government grants, DavisConnects matched Zevin with Ava Colarusso ’20, a science, technology, and society and global studies double major. Colarusso, who has been working as an associate partnership manager for the company since September 2020, brought valuable skills to the table. In addition to her work with government grants, she is gaining experience in other areas—from marketing to legal—throughout the company.
“What makes Pay It Northward so successful is the amount of knowledge the staff at DavisConnects has about the students, and the commitment everyone at Colby has to helping new graduates succeed,” Zevin said.
More about the initiative and how to get involved is on the Pay It Northward website.
Pictured above Ava Colaruss and Craig Zevin pose for a portrait at the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, Massachusetts on October 14, 2020. Photo by Adam Glanzman for Colby College.