Jan. 24, 2010
For Immediate Release

Campbellsville University students selected to intern in state government

 

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Five Campbellsville University students have been awarded internships in Kentucky state government and will spend most of their spring semester working and studying in Frankfort.

“This is the largest number of students from any single school to be awarded internships for a single semester,” said Richard Wilson, coordinator of the Frankfort Semester Internship Program sponsored by the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU).

The students, all seniors, are:
• Ethan Henderson, of Campbellsville, a Taylor County High School graduate majoring in political science. Henderson will be working in the Cabinet for Public Protection.
• Robin Hopkins, a Barren County High School graduate from Glasgow, also a political science major. She will work in the Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.
• Laura Johnson, a social work major from Rockport, TX, will work in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
• Alison Medders, of Campbellsville and a Campbellsville High School graduate majoring in political science, will work in the Department of Revenue.
• Bailey Schrupp, of Radcliff, will work in the Cabinet of Transportation's legal services office. She is a political science major and graduate of North Hardin High School.
• Also interning in Frankfort (not with AIKCU) is Micah Spicer, a senior from Mayfield, Ky. He is interning with Rep. Jody Richards.

The five Campbellsville students are among 11 interns chosen from six Kentucky independent colleges and universities. During their internship they will work 30 hours a week in their assigned agencies and complete two academic seminars focusing on state government issues and policy-making. Interns receive monthly stipends to partly offset living expenses.

The internship program is tailored to give college upperclassmen an up-close look at state government. Dr. Gary S. Cox, AIKCU's president, said a related purpose is for the experience to permit the interns to consider public service as a career option. Eighty-nine students have completed the internship program since its inception in 2000.

“The 2011 Campbellsville interns are all outstanding students, and I am sure they will be a credit to themselves, their university and the internship program,” said Cox.

Selection to the intern program is based on applicants' desire to work in government, skills needed by state agencies participating in the program, past academic performance, letters of recommendation and personal interviews. Participating students receive a stipend to partially cover their living expenses. In even-numbered years students selected for the internships work as aides to members of the Kentucky General Assembly.