- Community
COPY BY: Rana McDonald, 806-651-2129, rmcdonald@wtamu.edu
CANYON, Texas—Two West Texas A&M University students are getting a behind-the-scenes look at Washington, D.C., this semester as interns in the Office of U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas.
Gus Trujillo, a senor business management major from Amarillo, is feeding his passion for the legislative process, and classmate Brandy Roberts, a senior business management major from Moscow, Kan., is marking off another accomplishment from her bucket list.
This marks the first time for two WTAMU students to be selected at the same time for the Congressional and Public Policy Internship in Thornberry’s office. The internship provides student interns a chance to experience the day-to-day operations in the administrative, legislative and communication branches of the office. It runs through mid-May and during that time, Trujillo and Roberts also will have the chance to participate in the many opportunities available throughout the city. Students participating in the program earn three semester hours of credit and receive a stipend from the University.
"I know there is much more that goes on behind the scenes before our congressional leaders cast a vote and just getting the chance to learn about that is fantastic," Trujillo said. "I hope to learn as much as I can about Congress and our U.S. Government as a whole especially since I plan to run for political office in the future."
One of Trujillo’s main responsibilities as an intern is working with the congressional staff on projects relating to recent political issues. He also helps with Capitol tours, answers incoming calls and helps with correspondence, among other tasks.
"I have never been to Washington, D.C., before and being able to explore the city while also working for a congressman in the political capitol of the world is like a dream come true," he said.
Roberts created a bucket list of things she wanted to accomplish as a student at WTAMU, and after hearing a former intern speak, she immediately added a Washington D.C. internship to the list.
"I first learned about this opportunity when I was a freshman in my Honors IDS class," Roberts said. "Dr. (Jessica) Mallard invited Eva Harder, a previous Washington, D.C., intern to come to class and talk about her experience. It sounded like something fun, exciting and right down my alley, so I added it to the list."
It’s quite an impressive list, too. Items accomplished so far include serving as a Readership WT Ambassador, getting elected Student Body President and wearing a maroon jacket as a President’s Ambassador.
As a Thornberry intern, Roberts has helped manage and maintain constituent correspondence and direct calls, emails and letters to a corresponding staffer. She also attends hearings, helps with projects as needed and handles day-to-day duties like filing and running errands.
Trujillo, who will graduate in May, is an active member of the WTAMU Student Senate, Alpha Tau Omega, SIFE, Leadership Board and the National Society of Leadership and Success.
Roberts, who will graduate in December 2013, is an Attebury Honors student and served as student body president from 2011-2012. Other activities include President’s Ambassadors and Circle K International.
For more information about internship opportunities available at WTAMU, visit wtamu.edu/DCinternship.
—WTAMU—