Four Students Selected for The Washington Center Internship Program

Four 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.

Tina Joyce a bachelor of fine arts major from Owasso, Chris Garner a social science major in justice administration from Locust Grove, Desiree Mitchell a social science major in psychology and sociology from Elk City and Olivya Perry a social science major in psychology of Bartlesville, have been selected as RSU representatives to participate in The Washington Center program. The four students will travel to Washington, D.C. for the 10-week summer session.

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 third 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 former Sen. Stratton Taylor, who participated in The Washington Center internship program as a college student. Each student will earn college credit for successfully completing the program. The students participated in a competitive selection process to be part of the program.

“The students have diverse interests and are looking forward to spending the summer in Washington, D.C.,” said Dr. Carolyn Taylor, RSU assistant professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the university’s faculty liaison for the program. “The program allows students to have real-life experiences to augment their classroom learning.”

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, Taylor said.

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.