Maddy Institute receives money for future internships

By Karlotta Richardson
The Collegian

For students who are looking to get their foot in the career door and gain experience, the Maddy Institute offers an internship program aimed at undergraduate students who display leadership potential.

The Costa Scholarship Federal Internship Program and the Maddy Scholarship State Intern Program are two internship programs in the Maddy Institute.

Simon Haeder, Senator of Social Sciences at Fresno State, and two-time participant in the Maddy Institute Internship program, said although Maddy was a Republican, he was well-respected by all.

Haeder said interns are selected in the fall and their assignments begin the following spring or summer.

It also said that many types of scholarship intern experiences are offered at Federal and State governments in Washington D.C., Sacramento and Fresno at both the legislative and the executive levels.

Haeder said about 15 students are chosen to be interns. They are then delegated to one of the above-mentioned places.

Haeder also said both Democrats and Republicans unanimously decided to found the Maddy Institute.

The Maddy Institute’s three goals are citizen participation, government leadership and policy analysis.

Haeder said the institute’s mission is to gain more citizen participation and government performance through public service leadership training.

Mark Keppler has served as the Executive Director for the Maddy Institute since 2004. As Executive Director, Keppler is also CEO of the Institute. Haeder said Keppler came at a time when the program really needed help.

“Prof. Keppler took over the program when it was in disarray,” Haeder said.

Costa, who graduated from Fresno State in 1974, came back to his alma mater to serve as the Maddy Institute professor for the 2004-2005 year.

The policies for The Maddy Institute are set forth by a Board of Directors. The Board includes leaders of government, politics, education and business from throughout California.

The Maddy Institute was established in 1999. It was named for Kenneth Maddy, a former California state senator who represented the Central Valley. Maddy died in 2000 of lung cancer.

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