Skip to main content
News
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Twitter
  • TikTok
  • Home
  • University News
  • Academics
  • Student Life
  • Alumni
  • Giving
  • Publications
  • Contact Us
  • STATEside

Video: ISU interns get life-changing experience in D.C.

  • Author By Adam Rahn and Ryan Denham
  • August 11, 2015
Dietz with D.C. interns
President Larry Dietz with the 2015 summer interns at an Alumni Association event in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., is more than just a place for politics.

Just ask Illinois State University’s latest group of D.C. summer interns, who are now wrapping up their pre-professional experiences at the Securities and Exchange Commission, the D.C. Metro Police, the National Archives, an internationally known graphic design firm, and D.C. Public Schools, just to name a few.

They spent this summer in Washington as part of a special ISU program offered to students through their academic colleges and Research and Sponsored Programs. Those selected benefit from several program perks, including shared intern housing on Capitol Hill and special events and networking opportunities.

This summer, interns were invited to an Alumni Association event in D.C. attended by President Larry Dietz and Marlene Dietz, plus other Redbirds.

“I think it’s great that Illinois State is promoting these kinds of experiences for its students. It creates well-rounded individuals. It creates critical thinkers,” said Taylor Gersch ’15, a graphic design major who interned this summer at Washington-based Insomniac Design.

And because the ISU interns live together and are all from different majors, they learn from each other.

“One of the great things about this is that the students come back together each night in their rental house and talk about their experiences,” said Ashley Ellefritz from ISU’s Federal Government Relations office, who coordinates the program. “For a student who works in graphic design, for example, she gets to learn a little about what it’s like to work at the National Archives. That experience is at the core of the Washington program, because it expands your view beyond what exactly you came here to do.”

The STATEside crew traveled to Washington earlier this summer to interview current interns (and an alumna who previously interned) and discover what they’ve learned on the job.

“Washington is a unique city because it’s really run by young people, and you’ll find that most offices on Capitol Hill and throughout the federal government are run by the under-30 crowd,” Ellefritz said. “It’s empowering to see what you can achieve so quickly after graduating from college.”

Interested in joining the D.C. internship program? Learn more about the program.

Contact STATEside’s editor at rmdenha@IllinoisState.edu.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Units

Academic Affairs and Provost, Federal Government Relations, Research and Sponsored Programs, Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts, Wonsook Kim School of Art

Related Articles

Illinois State University
Illinois State university
Illinois' first public university
© 2022 Illinois State University, Normal, IL USA
  • Privacy Statement
  • Appropriate Use Policy
  • Accessibility Resources
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Twitter
  • TikTok
Admin Login
  • Home
  • University News
  • Academics
  • Student Life
  • Alumni
  • Giving
  • Publications
  • Contact Us

University Resources

  • Illinois State University
  • Map
  • News
  • Events
  • Giving
  • Campus A-Z