Hanft repeatedly saw the life-changing impact students gained from internships, specifically, so he and Patricia decided to make that their personal focus.
“Internships are so critical in today’s market,” Hanft advised. “They not only give you real-world experience and make you more marketable, but they also help you decide if you’re truly interested in that field.”
The Hanfts understand students’ realities. Even today, when most internships are paid by law, the compensation may not be enough for a student to cover living expenses and other job-related outlays. Thus, they established the Robert S. ’69 and Patricia R. Hanft ’72 Scholarship for Internship Support to help students pursue those valuable experiences.
Tatyana McGuire ’25 is the most recent recipient. She interned with New York State Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos last spring. As a New York City native whose family struggled to make ends meet during her childhood, McGuire found that Albany’s living expenses were too high a barrier. This scholarship, however, gave her the experience of a lifetime.
“Politics was an unspoken mystery in our home,” McGuire said. “Government was a force that loomed above us…dictating the cost of food stamps, the quality of our schools, and the availability of healthcare.”
Her family endured endless red tape from a host of government entities during her youth — humiliations that worsened once her mother developed Alzheimer’s Disease at age 45.
“The healthcare system seemed stacked against us, prioritizing those who could afford treatment over those who desperately needed it,” she added.
Those experiences inspired her to earn an associate’s degree in criminal justice, before continuing to Hartwick to add a bachelor of political science.
Yet, it was her internship which gave her the confidence to know she had the power to contribute to solutions. She credits De Los Santos for revealing her potential during a meeting in which he asked her to share her opinions and perspectives.
“He showed me politics isn’t just about policies — it’s about people. His job is to fight for his constituents, listen to their needs and be their voice,” she explained. “It was at that moment I understood my purpose. I wasn’t meant to just observe democracy; I was meant to shape it.”
McGuire’s intuition was true. She was hired by De Los Santos as a legislative aid this summer and is now part of his team supporting the 72nd district in Northern Manhattan. Her duties include constituent communications, research and event logistics, among others.
Today, the Hanfts look back on their college days with pride and purpose. They’ve retired to nearby Cooperstown, attend campus events and remain committed as ever to their alma mater. They also encourage fellow alumni to follow their lead, noting how
easy it is to make a difference.
“Contacts are needed to take phone calls and be a resource,” Hanft said. “Everyone is busy, but if you spend just a half hour with a student, it makes a huge difference. For a student to get up the courage to make that call…I’ve always got 15 minutes to talk to someone.”
Of course, financial gifts have an immense impact as well, which he saw time and again during his board tenure.
“Our students’ greatest needs are financial — you see that in our retention numbers,” he added. “Hartwick’s new tuition position is allowing us to get close to what the state system offers, so donors are needed to help bridge that gap. It’s our job to support this school and the next generation.”
To contribute to the Together, We Soar campaign, visit www.hartwick.edu/togetherwesoar or contact the Office of Advancement at 607-431-4081 or [email protected].
path. He recalls those early days of self-discovery fondly, despite living with modest means.
