Three Rogers State University students have been selected to participate in a nationally recognized internship program that places students with private, public and nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C.
Catrina Taber of Oologah, Brandon Jones of Claremore and Eric Loggin of Owasso have been selected as RSU representatives to participate in The Washington Center program. Taber will travel to Washington, D.C. for the 10-week summer session, while Jones and Loggin will participate during the 16-week fall program.
The Washington Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing internship programs and academic seminars to college students. The organization arranges 2,000 to 3,000 internship placements annually.
This is RSU’s second year to place students in the program. Funding for RSU’s participation in the program was provided through a $25,000 legislative appropriation secured by Sen. Stratton Taylor, who participated in The Washington Center internship program as a college student. RSU also expects to send three additional students to participate in the coming year. Each student will earn college credit for successfully completing the program.
Taber, a junior majoring in biology, will intern with the National Hispanic Medical Association. A 2002 graduate of Charles Page High School in Sand Springs, Taber has been active in the RSU Spanish Club and has been named to the President’s Honor Roll each semester she has attended RSU. She is the daughter of Gary Taber of Sand Springs and Debra Rubink of Oologah.
Brandon Jones, a junior majoring in liberal arts, will serve his internship this fall with a museum or arts-related agency. Jones attended Claremore High School and earned his GED in 1998. At RSU, his photographs twice have been published in the university’s literary and arts journal, “Cooweescoowee,” and his art has been recognized during the RSU Student Art Show, including top honors in the 2004 show. Jones is active on campus with the Student Art Association and the Gay/Straight Alliance. He is the son of Richard and Andrea Jones of Claremore.
Loggin, a 2003 graduate of Owasso High School, is a junior in the justice administration program. He will intern this fall with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Loggin has been named to the dean’s honor roll at RSU and has been recognized by The National Dean’s List for his academic achievements. He is the son of Kim Loggin and Jim Loggin, both of Owasso.
The traditional components of The Washington Center’s general internship program include a four- or four-and-a-half-day per week internship, academic coursework, a Congressional Breakfast Series, a Presidential Lecture Series, embassy visit program, small group discussions, professional workshops, internship portfolio development, housing and student life services.
The Washington Center places students in a variety of public, private and non-profit environments. The program provides internships for students from a variety of academic disciplines, not just political science students, said Dr. Carolyn Taylor, RSU assistant professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the university’s faculty liaison for the program.
In affiliating with The Washington Center, Rogers State University joins an elite group of public colleges and universities including the University of Oklahoma, University of Washington, University of Iowa, Iowa State University, University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Connecticut, University of Illinois, and University of Massachusetts.
Last year, RSU also sent three students to participate in the program: Leon Hershberger of Tulsa, who interned with the Small Business Administration; Jared Kebbell of Claremore, who interned with a private political consulting firm; and Jasmine Medley of Locust Grove, who interned at the International Association of Chiefs of Police.