AIKCU’s ten interns are wrapping up their second week of work in Frankfort as part of the AIKCU Frankfort Semester Internship Program. We caught up with, Lindsey Wilson College senior Jared Radford, just before he officially started his internship to see what he expected out of the experience.

Nine of the interns are working directly for legislators and one is spending the semester working for the Kentucky Historical Society. If you venture to the Capitol you are likely to see them taking notes during committee meetings, reading through bills, working on projects, or doing anything else that their legislators ask of them.

The 2010 AIKCU Frankfort Semester Legislative Interns are, left to right:

• Nathan Cox, a Campbellsville University junior majoring in political science, who is interning with the House of Representatives minority (Republican) caucus.
• Jared Radford, a Lindsey Wilson College senior majoring in history, who is interning with Rep. Jody Richards.
• Morgan Reck, a Lindsey Wilson College senior majoring in history, who is interning with the Kentucky Historical Society.
• Chelsea Clark, a Georgetown College junior majoring in political science, who is interning with Sen. Kathy Stein.
• Jessica Beard, a Transylvania University junior majoring in political science, who is interning with Rep. Leslie Combs.
• Nicole Paulley, a St. Catharine College senior majoring in criminal justice, who is interning with Rep. Linda Belcher.
• Tanalisa Hatton, a St. Catharine College junior majoring in liberal arts, who is interning with the Kentucky Senate Democratic Leadership office.
• Phillip Mitchell, a Campbellsville University junior majoring in political science, interning with Rep. Jim Wayne.
• Leann Straley, a Campbellsville University sophomore majoring in political science, who is interning with the Kentucky House of Representatives minority (Republican) caucus.
• Laura Perry, an Asbury College senior majoring in communications, who is interning with Sen. Tom Buford.

In addition to their full-time jobs working for legislators the students take two upper division seminar courses while in Frankfort.

This is the 11th year for the AIKCU Frankfort Semester Internship Program. In even years, students work directly for members of the General Assembly. In odd years, interns serve in a variety of state government agencies. The AIKCU intern program is directed by Richard Wilson, a former Courier-Journal reporter and bureau chief and member of the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame.