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2008 AIKCU Legislative Interns, originally uploaded by aikcu.

Five independent college students from campuses across Kentucky reported to Frankfort this week to begin internships with the General Assembly. The students will spend their spring semester working directly for state legislators as part of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities Legislative Internship Program.

Sara Allen, an Alice Lloyd College junior from Viper, is a history and pre-law major who plans to attend law school. She will be working with Rep. Kathy Stein, a Lexington Democrat and chair of the state House of Representatives’ Judiciary Committee. Allen said that she applied for the internship because of her “interest in politics and the legal system.”

Micah Ingram, a Georgetown College junior from Corinth, is a political science major and would like to enter state government work someday. He will be interning with state Sen. Joey Pendleton, a Hopkinsville Democrat.

Leah Riley, an Asbury College junior from Harrodsburg, is a history major. She will be doing her internship with state Rep. Jim Wayne, a Louisville Democrat. She said that she applied for the internship to learn more about law-making and how public policy is made.

Holli Clevenger, a Lindsey Wilson College sophomore from Ashland, is a human services and counseling major at LWC. She will be doing her internship with state Rep. Susan Westrom, a Lexington Democrat. Clevenger said that she applied for the internship to learn how public policy is made “and how to increase civic engagement and advocacy on college campuses.”

“We’re very pleased to have another outstanding group of students come to Frankfort, and I’m certain that they will benefit as much from their experience here as have those who’ve completed this program in previous years,” said Dr. Gary S. Cox, president of AIKCU.

At their orientation luncheon, the five interns got advice from two former interns who have gone on to successful careers in state government. Leslie Caudill, a Pikeville College alum who now works in the office of the Kentucky Senate Democratic leadership, and Colene Elridge, a Transylvania University alum who works in the Personnel Cabinet, both told the new interns that this would be the “experience of a lifetime.” They encouraged the interns to work hard and ask lots of questions.

“In my four months as an intern I learned more than I ever did in a textbook or a class about government and how bills are made and passed,” said Caudill.

The Frankfort internship program, begun in 2000, is sponsored by the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities. Since its inception, 70 students attending most of Kentucky’s independent colleges, have spent a semester in Frankfort working for either selected members of the General Assembly or in state agencies. The program’s major purpose is to expose outstanding college students to public service as a career option and to help them hone already-existing leadership skills. Students chosen for the competitive program are required to complete 30 hours of work per week and two academic seminars focused on state government policy-making. They receive living expense stipends while in the state capital and a semester of academic credit from their campuses. The program is coordinated by Richard Wilson, a retired higher education reporter and Frankfort Bureau Chief for the Courier-Journal.

Please visit AIKCU.org periodically for more news about the interns and their experiences during what promises to be an exciting session of the General Assembly.

Click here to view more photos from the orientation.

While many soon-to-be college graduates may still be feverishly searching for that first full-time job, Asbury College senior Erin Owen isn’t one of them.

Owen, who will receive her bachelor’s degree in applied communications May 13, has already parlayed a spring semester internship in Gov. Ernie Fletcher’s office into a full-time job there. She has already begun her new post as assistant to the director of Gov. Fletcher’s Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives.

“I anticipated that the end of the semester would be a time where I would be fervently looking for a job. (Now) I am very pleased that (it) will not hold such endeavors,” Owen said. Owen is one of five Kentucky independent college students who this month are completing their semester-long state government internships in a program administered by the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities. She joins Michelle Clark, a 2004 intern and Asbury alumna on Gov. Fletcher’s staff.

Until assuming her new full-time job, Owen spent the first three months of her internship in a variety of duties including the tracking of legislation before the General Assembly and preparing adopted legislation for Gov. Fletcher’s signature. “Her work as an intern was outstanding, and we are pleased to now have her as part of our staff,” said Stan Cave, Gov. Fletcher’s chief of staff. “(She) is a very smart and talented young lady who has a bright future ahead of her (and) I look forward to watching Erin learn and grow as a part of this administration,” Cave added.

Owen, in a recent interview, said that her AIKCU internship “truly changed my life.” Prior to applying for the internship, she added, she had no experience in either state government or administration and public policy. The help, advice and camaraderie from other Fletcher staff members, she said, have led her to consider a career in some aspect of public service. “That is (also) life changing for someone who would not have thought twice about such an undertaking in the past,” Owen said.

The Asbury senior is the daughter of Charlie and Sherry Vittitow of Eastwood, a Louisville suburb. She is married to Michael (Mitch) Owen, an Asbury student who plans to attend dental school.

The AIKCU internships are sponsored during the spring semester of each year and are open to applicants from the independent colleges who are juniors, seniors or graduate students. Students work 30 hours weekly and complete two academic seminars while in Frankfort. During even-numbered years interns work with members of Kentucky’s legislature. In alternate years they spend their semester working in state government executive agencies. The primary purpose of the program, held each spring semester since 2000, is to expose outstanding students to state government as a potential career choice.

Press Release: August 30, 2006

Applications are currently being sought from students attending Kentucky’s 20 independent colleges for the 2007 Frankfort Semester Internship in state government.

Juniors, seniors and graduate students interested in the program beginning next January can learn more about it, and obtain an application, at www.AIKCU.org, the web site of the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU), the agency sponsoring the January – April program.

Applications will be accepted on line, or by mail, from students in good academic standing regardless of their academic major. The application deadline is Oct. 20 and interns will be selected by mid-November. Students in the program receive a monthly stipend ranging from $500 to $1,000.

Those chosen for the program will spend the semester in Frankfort working 30 hours a week in a state agency and completing two after-hours state government-related seminars. “We have had numerous outstanding students in this program, and many of them have made such good impressions in Frankfort that they have been offered either summer jobs or full-time ones in state government,” said Dr. Gary S. Cox, AIKCU’s president.

The intern program, initiated in 2000, is tailored to give college upperclassmen an up-close look at state government. A related purpose is for the experience to permit them to consider public service as a career option. Sixty-five students have completed the Frankfort internship.

Richard Wilson, the program’s coordinator, will be visiting campuses soon to meet with students who seek more information on the program.

Visit the AIKCU Frankfort Semester Internship Program page.

Download the application (PDF).

Spring 2006 Legislative Interns

During the spring 2006 semester a group of talented AIKCU students lived, worked, and learned in Frankfort as legislative interns as part of the AIKCU Frankfort Semester Internship. In addition to their work assignments within legislative offices, interns take two seminar classes during the semester.

One of the students commented during the semester that, “The legislative process sometimes seems like a gigantic whirlwind. But that whirlwind is addictive.” Now that it’s over we wanted to get more thoughts on the semester, so we recently asked the spring 2006 interns to reflect on their internship experiences during the General Assembly. Here’s what some of them had to say:

Trista Corbin, Lindsey Wilson College, intern for Representative Gross Lindsay

“When I first started the internship, I was shocked at the mere chaos of Frankfort. But the chaos was what I began to love towards the end. There was never a dull moment. I enjoyed watching the process and how the whole political game is played. I think this inside knowledge will be very helpful in the future, because I can definitely see myself in the House of Representatives one day.”

Rachel Ratliff, Pikeville College, intern for Representative Jeffrey Hoover

In my career at Pikeville College I could have never learned from a textbook the details associated with lawmaking that I learned during my internship. I have really enjoyed my semester. . . I met people here from all over the state (and) developed relationships with interns from other colleges and universities, legislators and staff that I feel will last a lifetime.

Ashley Koch, Transylvania University, intern for Representative Kathy Stein

This past semester I spent in Frankfort was amazing. I do not think that anything else I ever do could teach me as much as I learned . . . This internship taught me more about where I want to go and life and the type of person I want to be than any other experience I will ever have in my lifetime.

Allison Brooke Maynard, Pikeville College, intern for Senator Ray Jones

I will most definitely recommend the Frankfort Semester to people from Pikeville College. I think that everyone can come to Frankfort and learn something that they never expected. I think that this is something that everyone should try.

Brooke Shelley, Lindsey Wilson College, intern for Senator Daniel Mongiardo

I have been interested in government and politics for several years, so my time here (in Frankfort) helped me see things I would never learn in a classroom. . . . The most valuable thing I am taking away with me is the confidence that I have in myself. Some of my views have been challenged while working in Frankfort, but I am confident enough to know that being wishy-washy on certain issues is OK. I will only be encouraged to seek more answers.

The Frankfort Semester Internship is an annual AIKCU initiative made possible by a foundation grant. In even years students intern within the General Assembly. In odd years, students work in a variety of administrative offices within state government. Applications for the Spring 2007 Administrative Intern program will be available early in the fall semester.