The Washington Center welcomes close to 90 young men and women from across the country participating in the Fall Semester 2005 Congressional Leaders Program and the Cordova y Fernos Congressional Internship Program with students from Puerto Rico. Also included in the program are three participants from Sub-Saharan Africa, participating with full fellowships from The Coca-Cola Foundation. All are among 430 plus Washington Center interns that are participating in a 15-week semester in Washington, D.C. for an internship experience around public policy, legislative affairs, and the work of U.S. Congress. The program is from August 31, 2005 through December 15, 2005. All students will earn academic credit for their internship from their home institutions.
During their internship on Capitol Hill, the students will gain first-hand knowledge and insight into the workings of a congressional office and/or committee, the legislative process, politics, and will have the opportunity to research various public policy issues pending before Congress. They also will be participating in The Washington Center’s Washington Forum, where they will meet business and government leaders, and taking relevant academic courses in such topics as public policy, Congress, foreign policy and politics.
“At work, the first two days were really busy but beneficial to my goals because there were twenty mayors from Puerto Rico visiting Congressman Luis Fortuño. The people that I work with invited me to all the activities with the mayors and the Congressman. I have also had time to learn my way through Capitol Hill and met a series of other congressmen and women.” - Laura Maristany, University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez
“The brief but thorough glimpse of what the next few weeks were going to entail brought home more firmly to me the fact that this was indeed going to be an exciting as well as involving internship during which I would have to work hard on all levels; academically, professionally, socially, emotionally, in order to achieve the expected results.” - Wendy Nimako Boateng, University of Ghana, Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
“Being involved with politics the past few years in the classroom has been a great learning experience; however, the opportunity to learn hands-on in the nation’s capital is very exciting. To be immersed in a city that thrives on the same debate and life-style that I do is a dream that will soon be realized.” - Casey Krizman, University of Tampa, Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO)
The Washington Center congratulates the following students enrolled in the Fall Semester 2005 Congressional Leadership Programs, and extends appreciation to congressional offices and various other organizations for hosting The Washington Center’s congressional interns:
Adams, Allison (University of Central Florida), Republican National Campaign Committee
Ahlstrom, Robert (Idaho State University), Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID)
Attah, Florence (University of Lagos) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ausherman, Zachary (Juniata College), Rep. Davis Geofry (R-TN)
Barnes, John (University of Tennessee), Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN)
Bauza, Milagros (University of Turabo), Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA)
Bell Martinez Crystal (UPR-Rio Piedras), Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)
Binotto, Mollie (Washington College), Winning Strategies
Boateng, Wend (University of Ghana), Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
Boettcher, Karl (Franklin Pierce College), Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL)
Borchers, Dylan (Wright State University), Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Boyer, Shakirah (Montclair State College), Mobilizing America's Youth
Breitbach, Emily (University of Iowa), Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN)
Brown, Kimberly (Pfeiffer College), Alzheimer’s Research
Buffone, Chelle (Adelphi University), Rep. Eshoo, Anna (D-CA)
Cain, Matthew (Ohio University), Rep. Ted Strickland (D- OH)
Catterson, Suzanne (Buena Vista University), Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)
Colon Lugo, Heidy (University of Puerto Rico), Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA)
Detullio, Catherine (St. Joseph’s University), Rep .Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Dull, Jamie (Juniata College), Chwat & Co.
Duncan, Matthew (St. Joseph’s University), Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH)
Elias, Glendaly (UPR-Mayaguez), Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)
Fernandez, Beatriz (Sacred Heart University), Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA)
Ferro, Jaclyn (University of Connecticut), Ball Janik
Foley, Christopher (Eastern Kentucky University), Rep. John Barrow (D-GA)
Forest, Nathan (Fitchburg State College), Fleishman Hillard
Fox, Evan (Rutgers State University of New Jersey), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Grasela, Victoria (Westfield State College), Advanced Network Strategies
Graves, Sean (Wright State University), Palumbo and Cerell
Halder, Matthew (University of Iowa), White House Commission on Remembrance
Handelman, Joshua (Colby College), Progressive Majority
Harrison, Matthew (University of Iowa), Congressional Award
Held, Eric (Loyola Marymount University), Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
Hellman, Bradley (University of Washington), Fleishman Hillard
Henderson, Kyle (New Mexico State University), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Hendricks, Jessica (Richard Stockton College), Congressional Award
Hepworth, Andrew (Texas Christian University), Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA)
Hernandez Soto, Jennifer (UPR-Rio Piedras), Rep. Rangel, Charles (D- NY)
Holmes, Holly (University of Tennessee), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Jacklin, Catherine (Iowa State University), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Jagida, Jonathan (University of Illinois), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
Jones, Kathryn (University of Iowa), Palumbo and Cerell
Jones, Rachel (University of Iowa), U.S. Department of State
Kebbell, Jared (Rogers State University), Kieloch Communications
Krizman, Casey (University of Tampa), Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Larsen, Kelly (Iowa State University), Congressional Award
Laureano, Miguel (UPR-Cayey), Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA)
Marinstany, Laura (UPR-Mayaguez), Rep. Luis Fortuño (R-PR)
Martinez, Juliana (InterAmerican University), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute
Mielnik, Megan (University of Iowa), mCapitol Management
Morewane, Bontsi (University of Botswana) Oxfam
Morlaes, Marilliam (UPR-Rio Piedras), Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)
Morris, Adam (Denison University), Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL)
Novak, Chad (University of New Hampshire), Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT)
Restivo, Jonathan (University of Connecticut), Republican National Campaign Committee
Rios, Ivan (InterAmerican University), Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY)
Rivera, Christina (Sacred Heart University), Univision
Rodriguez, Denise (UPR-Rio Piedras), Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Rodriguez, Isis (UPR-Rio Piedras), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
Romano, Joseph "Rocky" (West Virginia Wesleyan), Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV)
Roque Cruz, Christie (UPR-Rio Piedras), Univision
Rosado Torres, Karla (UPR), Rep. Peter Visclosky (D-IN)
Ross, Meredith (Washington College), John Mason for Delegate
Seavey, Michael (University of New Hampshire), Chwat & Co.
Sheehan, Rory (University of New Hampshire), Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
Shuman, Chloe (University of Massachusetts-Lowell), U.S. Capitol Historical Society
Smith, Brandon (Texas Christian University), Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK)
Smith, Diana (Texas Christian University), The White House
Summerfield, Trevor (College of Saint Rose), Veterans Corporation
Szymialis, Jordan (Indiana University), Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
Thomas, Barbara (Oakland University), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Thompson, Christopher (Florida Gulf Coast University), Representative Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
Vallila, Michael (Kean University), Palumbo and Cerell
Van Auken, Vanessa (Texas Christian University), The White House
Vasquez Diaz, Kristian (UPR-San Juan), Embassy of Canada
Vera, Juan (UPR-Ponce), Rep. Jose Serrano (D-NY)
Weisbuch, Aaron (San Diego State University), Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
Zeager, Ruth (Hiram College), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)
Zorfas, Ethan (Clark University), BAMPAC
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is an independent, nonprofit educational organization founded in 1975. Its mission is to prepare college and university students for civic leadership through experiential education. In this way, The Washington Center seeks to promote future leadership for the public, private and nonprofit sectors of society. It has served more than 34,000 students from over 1,000 colleges and universities. Visit our website
