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November 28, 2007
Texas Tech Goes to Washington
Congressional Internship Program gives students valuable opportunities.
Written by Kristen Delisle
These 12 students were chosen to go to Washington, D.C. as part of the Congressional Intern Program. Two were selected to work in the offices of Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama.Click to enlarge.
What can take years to learn through lectures and textbooks, Texas Tech students grasp in just months through their work with numerous politicos ranging from Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison to presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
The Congressional Internship Program at Texas Tech has recruited and sent students to places like Austin and Washington, D.C., giving students a head start in learning about one of the grandest experiments in political history –American democracy.
Carmen Haworth, congressional intern coordinator, said the program is a great way for students to gain real-world political experience. This semester, 12 interns were chosen to go to D.C. Two of those students were selected to work in the offices of presidential candidates; one with Sen. Clinton, the other with Sen. Obama.
“Our goal is to provide a learning opportunity for students,” said Haworth. “We strive to make them aware of the political process.”
Since the program was founded in 1999, more than 170 students have participated, with about 30 percent continuing to work and stay actively involved in politics and government agencies around the country.
Haworth, a former intern herself, said how personal the experience is for students depends on how the office decides to utilize the skills of the specific intern. Students typically give Capitol tours to constituents, help set schedules for Congress members and also perform basic office duties.
Learning the Ropes
Vance Ginn, 2006 intern for Randy Neugebauer, learned valuable skills like social networking and time management.
Vance Ginn, an economics doctoral student, interned with Congressman Randy Neugebauer in the fall of 2006. Ginn participated in a variety of activities during his time on the Hill; most notably he attended closed-door staff meetings, made requests for the flag to be flown over the Capitol, lobbied for bills and attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Martin Luther King memorial.
Along with learning the ropes of how the federal government works, Ginn said he learned more about himself and how to use his time effectively and efficiently.
“The best part of the experience was the people that I met and the numerous alumni and current students of Texas Tech I met there,” Ginn said. “We definitely have a large crew of great alumni in the D.C. area that work hard and represent Texas Tech well. While I learned a great deal about myself and the political process, I will continue to treasure the networking ability I was able to strengthen while I was there.”
Students who travel to Capitol Hill live together in one house, which Haworth said is referred to as the “Tech House,” and are given a great opportunity to learn interpersonal skills from living so closely with other interns.
“The interns learn a lot, not just about the legislative process but also about the world,” said Haworth. “They have the opportunity to travel up and down the East Coast. They get to meet people from all over the world. It’s just about helping them expand their horizons to see what all is out there.”
Once accepted into the program, students are then placed with the political office that best matches the student’s goals and personality. Because of this extensive process, she said Texas Tech has earned a good reputation on Capitol Hill.
Undergraduate and graduate students from any major and political affiliation are welcome to apply. Students complete weekly journals during the duration of their internship, and write a paper about their experiences and a compilation newsletter upon completion of their stay.
More information and application forms can be found at www.congressionalintern.ttu.edu.
Story produced by the Office of Communications and Marketing, 806-742-2136. Web layout by Kristina Butler.