Institute seeks interns

By Morgan Steger
The Collegian

Fresno State student Simon Haeder soaked up all the political experience he could this summer during his seven-week Washington, D.C. congressional internship.

“I learned so much about politics, how the process works, what it takes to be in politics,” the international relations graduate student said.

Haeder’s internship with Congressman Dennis Cardoza was paid for by former State Senator Jim Costa’s Scholars Intern program and administered through the Maddy Institute at Fresno State.

The institute, established by the California Legislature in 1999 to honor State Senator Kenneth Maddy, is focused on citizen participation, government leadership and policy analysis.

It offers internships at local offices in the spring and fall semesters and Sacramento and Washington, D.C. internships in the summer.

This semester, the Maddy Institute is offering 15 internship scholarships of $1,000 to $1,500 each, which will place students in state and federal representatives’ offices.

Applications are due Friday, Sept. 8 by 5 p.m.

The internships are open to all Fresno State students with more than 66 units and a 3.0 or higher GPA, said Naomi Strom, interim executive director.

“We only have 15 positions available and we are fortunate to get the best and the brightest who apply,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity to develop your resume.”

Just because you aren’t a political science major doesn’t mean you can’t contribute something to the political process and take useful information away from an internship, she said.

“The political process doesn’t start and end with being a poly sci major,” Strom said.

Haeder, who now works for the Maddy Institute as a research assistant focusing on the internship program, said the contacts he made through his summer in D.C. and previous internship work will help pave the way for him to find a job in politics once he completes his master’s degree.

“This is just the best experience I’ve ever had,” he said. “It has opened so many doors for me.”

For more information about Maddy Institute internships call 294-9119 or visit www.maddyinstitute.org.

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