Campus News

Twelve students participate in Washington, D.C. Summer Study Program

June 10, 2009

2009 Washington, D.C. Internship Blog

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Twelve students from the College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, and Saint John’s University, Collegeville, are participating in the 30^th annual Washington Summer Study Program.

The study program, which runs from early June through the first week in August, is designed to give students an opportunity to live and experience full-time work in politics and public policy in the Washington, D.C., area. Perspective participants from any academic major can apply for the summer internships based on personal interests.

Students earn academic credit though work in a Congressional office, on a committee staff, in a government agency, in a non-profit organization or with a public affairs group. The political science department, in conjunction with The Eugene J. McCarthy Center for Public Policy and Civic Engagement at CSB and SJU, organize the program. The program was founded by members of the political science department 30 years ago.

Co-directors Matt Lindstrom, associate professor of political science at CSB and SJU and director of the McCarthy Center, and Claire Haeg, assistant professor of political science at CSB and SJU, coordinate required weekly seminars for the students. These seminars provide students an opportunity to meet policy makers, activists and lobbyists, many of whom are graduates of CSB and SJU. Past seminars included visits with senior Congressional staff, executives of trade associations, journalists and current and former members of Congress. Students will also attend the second annual alumnae/i McCarthy Center reception, where they will have a chance to meet with CSB and SJU graduates living in the Washington, D.C., area and working in public policy fields.

“The program provides students with tangible work skills and networking opportunities that are usually less emphasized in the classroom,” Lindstrom said.

Program participants from CSB include:

Nicole Hochsprung, a political science and history double major from Alexandria, Minn., is interning with the American Federation of Teachers;
Amy Hoeschen, a political science major from Hastings, Minn., is interning with Americans for Democratic Action;
Amy Hogerton, a chemistry major from White Bear Lake, Minn., is interning with
Pediatric AIDS/HIV Care Inc.;
Kayla Kotila, a political science major from Dassel, Minn., is interning with the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure;
Rebecca Peichel, a political science major from Fairfax, Minn., is interning with the National Pork Producers Council;
Katelin Schartz, a political science major from Arvada, Colo., is interning with the Meet the Press/NBC Political Unit;
Jennifer Tong, a political science major from Cold Spring, Minn., is interning with Legal Services Corporation.

Program participants from SJU include:

Chase Kroll, a political science major from Orono, Minn., is interning with David Turch and Associates;
David Sandager, a history major from Marine, Minn., is interning in the office of Rep. Michele Bachmann (R, Minn.);
Valentin Sierra, a political science major from Manizales, Columbia, is interning with Dutko Worldwide;
Aaron Sinner, a political science major from Cody, Wyo., is interning in the office of Sen. Kent Conrad (D, N.D.);
Casey Wojtalewicz, a peace studies major from Appleton, Minn., is interning with the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL).

According to Lindstrom, many students return to Washington, D.C., after graduation to work on Capitol Hill or for a political interest group as a result of this program. For example, Jeff Schnobrich ’09, recently accepted a staff position at the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, where he interned last summer.