Hillsdale creates new D.C. program for student interns
Patrick Timmis
Issue date: 9/10/09 Section: News
This May the college created the Hillsdale Intern Leadership Forum, a program that offers lec-tures and discussions for Hillsdale students interning in Washington, D.C.
Based at the college's Allan P. Kirby Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Wash-ington, D.C., it served the more than 50 Hillsdale students and alumni who worked in the Wash-ington area this summer, said Virginia Thomas, associate vice president for Washington opera-tions.
The Forum, led by Thomas and David Bobb, director of center for teacher excellence, brought together many students and alumni for fellowship and lectures.
"Once every two weeks, we would sit down with some enormously influential speaker and talk for an hour," senior Jody Lent, who interned at the Kirby Center this summer, said.
Speakers included Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, former presidential candidate Fred Thompson and journalist Jan Crawford Greenburg.
Thompson's lecture was so popular that interns from The Heritage Foundation joined the group, Thomas said.
"It was delightful," junior Alice Arnn said about the program.
Another new feature was the First Principles on First Fridays lecture series, a public event held on the first Friday of every month.
The series was surprisingly well-attended for 7:30 on a Friday morning, Thomas said. About 90 people attended each lecture, she said, including Imprimis subscribers and congressional staff. Virginia Fox, a congressman from North Carolina, was a regular attendee.
"For people coming out on a Friday morning before work in D.C., that's amazing," Lent said.
The Kirby Center hopes to provide similar opportunities for student and alumni again next summer, Lent said.
Senior Matt Stone, who interned in D.C. in the office of Rep. Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, had advice for students interested in interning in Washington.
"People in Washington D.C. really respect Hillsdale students," Stone said. "Take advantage of our name and the reputations. Just go for it."
Renovation plans for the 16,000 square foot building that will permanently house the Kirby Center continue to move forward.
"The recession did not affect renovation plans thanks to the generosity of Allan P. Kirby," Lent said.
Thomas concurred.
"Donations are continuing strong and we have plenty of funds supporting the Kirby Center," she said.
The new building is scheduled to open in September 2010.
Podcasts of the First Principles on First Fridays lectures can be found on the college Web site.
Based at the college's Allan P. Kirby Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Wash-ington, D.C., it served the more than 50 Hillsdale students and alumni who worked in the Wash-ington area this summer, said Virginia Thomas, associate vice president for Washington opera-tions.
The Forum, led by Thomas and David Bobb, director of center for teacher excellence, brought together many students and alumni for fellowship and lectures.
"Once every two weeks, we would sit down with some enormously influential speaker and talk for an hour," senior Jody Lent, who interned at the Kirby Center this summer, said.
Speakers included Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, former presidential candidate Fred Thompson and journalist Jan Crawford Greenburg.
Thompson's lecture was so popular that interns from The Heritage Foundation joined the group, Thomas said.
"It was delightful," junior Alice Arnn said about the program.
Another new feature was the First Principles on First Fridays lecture series, a public event held on the first Friday of every month.
The series was surprisingly well-attended for 7:30 on a Friday morning, Thomas said. About 90 people attended each lecture, she said, including Imprimis subscribers and congressional staff. Virginia Fox, a congressman from North Carolina, was a regular attendee.
"For people coming out on a Friday morning before work in D.C., that's amazing," Lent said.
The Kirby Center hopes to provide similar opportunities for student and alumni again next summer, Lent said.
Senior Matt Stone, who interned in D.C. in the office of Rep. Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, had advice for students interested in interning in Washington.
"People in Washington D.C. really respect Hillsdale students," Stone said. "Take advantage of our name and the reputations. Just go for it."
Renovation plans for the 16,000 square foot building that will permanently house the Kirby Center continue to move forward.
"The recession did not affect renovation plans thanks to the generosity of Allan P. Kirby," Lent said.
Thomas concurred.
"Donations are continuing strong and we have plenty of funds supporting the Kirby Center," she said.
The new building is scheduled to open in September 2010.
Podcasts of the First Principles on First Fridays lectures can be found on the college Web site.
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