Four Students from Alaska Participate in Washington Internships in Spring 2007

Washington, D.C. – Four students from Alaska are participating in a Washington, D.C. internship this spring semester through The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars.  Anne Katherine Johnson of Eagle River, Jared Kettler of Fairbanks, and Thomas Strapko of Soldotna, attend University of Alaska at Anchorage.  Tim Argetsinger of Anchorage attends Dartmouth University.

These students have received fellowships through The Washington Center’s Alaska Scholarship Initiative in partnership with BP and Totem Ocean Trailer Express.  The Alaska Scholarship Initiative builds opportunities for college students from Alaska to participate in the programs of The Washington Center.  The initiative was developed in 2006 with initial funding from BP.  Scholarships cover the program and housing fees, and modest living and air travel allowance.  Spring 2007 BP fellowships were awarded to Kettler, Johnson and Argetsinger.  The 2007 Totem Ocean fellowship was awarded to Strapko.

Kettler, a business administration and aviation major and intern at JP Morgan Chase & Co., described his internship, “My goal is to be empowered to pursue personal and professional
growth, and using this to benefit my community.  I am looking forward to the opportunity to
work in a real-world business environment.”

Johnson, a public relations major, is an intern at gallerywatch.com, a media enterprise that tracks the work of the U.S. Congress.  “At the end of the next fifteen weeks I intend to fully understand the legislative process.  I'll be on Capitol Hill nearly everyday attending committee hearings and meetings and writing articles about what is happening with certain bills.  I aspire to develop impartial analytical skills which will serve me well in my future education and employment,” she said.

Argetsinger is a member of the Inupiaq Tribe and interns for the National Coalition on Homelessness: “My vision is of an Alaska that actively and sincerely incorporates Alaska Natives to its urban communities, that incorporate Alaska Natives in its public school history lessons, and than encourages cultural immersion and retention programs as options in the Alaska Native education experience.”

Also a Native American, Strapko is a criminal justice major interning with the Office of Attorney General for the District of Columbia.  “Throughout my life, I have encountered many challenges.  These challenges have always led to two possibilities: give in to the challenge of the situation or rise above the challenge.  Thinking about the costs and benefits of committing to an internship has caused me to set three main goals for this internship: to increase my professional experience; increase my abilities in the areas of communication and leadership; and to improve my skills through evaluation,” he said.

In addition to their internships, Kettler, Johnson, Argetsinger and Strapko have enrolled for academic coursework, and will meet and learn from national and international leaders through The Washington Center’s Presidential Lecture Series, Congressional Speaker Series, Embassy Visits Program, and small group activities such as briefings, tours, and workshops.

They will receive academic credit for their internship, coursework, and professional portfolio.  The spring semester program is from January 18 to May 5, 2007.

BP (http://www.bp.com) is the world's largest integrated oil concern. The company, which was formed in 1998 from the merger of British Petroleum and Amoco, grew by buying Atlantic Richfield Company. BP has proved reserves of 14.6 billion barrels of oil equivalent, including large holdings in Alaska. BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. is second only to Russia in terms of known oil and gas resources in the company’s global portfolio. BP is the largest oil and gas producer in the US and also a top refiner. BP operates about 27,000 gas stations worldwide, including approximately 14,200 in the US. In 2003 BP, the Alfa Group, and Access-Renova combined their Russian oil assets to create TNK-BP, one of Russia's largest oil companies.

Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc. (TOTE) (http://www.totemocean.com) a privately owned shipping company serving Alaska since 1975, operates a fleet of roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) cargo ships offering twice weekly service between the Ports of Tacoma, Washington and Anchorage, Alaska.

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is an independent, nonprofit organization that serves hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States and other countries by providing selected students challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C. for academic credit. The largest program of its kind, The Washington Center has more than 35,000 alumni who have become leaders in numerous professions and nations around the world. It was established in 1975.

Dates & Deadlines

Deadline for Fall 2008 Washington, D.C.-London Internship Program is extended to May 30, 2008

Regular deadline for Fall Semester, Quarter and Postgraduate 2008 is June 13, 2008.

Competitive deadline for Spring 2008 Semester, Winter and Spring Quarters and Postgraduate is September 29, 2008.

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