STRAIGHT FROM THE SENATE

WANTED:
INTERNS TO HELP SENATE IN 2012 SESSION

College upperclassmen and recent graduates can set their resumes apart by gaining unique Statehouse experiences offered through internships with the Indiana Senate Republicans.

Applications for the 2.5-month, Indianapolis-based paid internships – including legislative and communications opportunities – are available online at www.senaterepublicans.in.gov/internship.htm and due by Oct. 31. A resume, two reference letters, official transcripts and a writing sample are also required from applicants.

All academic majors are welcome though some intern positions may be especially appealing to students studying communications, criminal justice, business, education, health, history, photography, political science, public relations and telecommunications, among others.

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Qualified candidates should have successful academic backgrounds and will be teamed with full-time press secretaries and legislative assistants.

Interns are invited to attend the General Assembly’s ceremonial Organization Day in November and officially begin their internships with orientation at the end of December.  The internships last the duration of the legislative session, which begins in January and by law is scheduled to end in mid-March.

Senate Majority Caucus internships give college students and recent graduates a wide range of experiences they can find few other places. From actually participating in the legislative process to teaming with a public affairs expert or helping solve constituent issues, interns help keep the gears of state government moving.

Communications interns will gain practical experience in helping prepare and distribute news releases, guest columns, letters to the editor, direct mail, e-newsletters, e-invitations, web updates, radio feeds, pod-casts and video productions. Legislative interns will work alongside senators and legislative assistants in responding to constituent calls, letters and e-mails, as well as staffing Senate committees and assisting with floor proceedings.
Students should plan to live in or near Indianapolis during the internship period because of the varied work schedule. A $700 bi-weekly stipend is paid to help with expenses.

Comments from previous interns

Perhaps the best description of the program comes from those who have experienced it.

Three former interns – Tyler Miles, Whitney Moorman and Krystal Shull – are now full-time staff members of the Senate Majority Communications Office.

“The Indiana Senate Communications internship was an incredible learning experience for me,” Miles said. “I learned so much about the process of state government, and how hard Hoosier legislators work for the people of this state. Working in the Senate Majority Communications Office, I experienced a truly multimedia work environment, working under deadline pressure to deliver information to the media and Hoosier constituents.”

“Indiana state senators and staff truly strive to ensure all internships are valuable experiences for college students and recent grads,” Moorman said. “During my time as a Senate Majority Communications Office intern, I not only learned the ins and outs of the legislative process, but I also gained real-world skills that were a big asset when I was job searching.”

“As a Communications Intern, it was an honor working alongside Indiana senators and staff. I received the best hands-on experience while loving every minute of the opportunity,” Shull said.

Other former interns, like Mike Brown and Amy Surber, are now legislative assistants. Cora Griffin, another former legislative intern, was recently appointed by Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels as the new student member of the IU Board of Trustees.

So an internship at the Senate could turn into much more than just another experience to put on a resume.

College Credit

College credit for the internship varies from school to school and is determined by academic advisors. Interns often arrange correspondence or independent courses. A three-credit-hour state government course, conducted at the Statehouse throughout the session, is available to all interns.
Scholarship Opportunities

At the end of each year’s legislative session, Verizon Communications offers a $3,000 scholarship to the top intern from each caucus — Republican and Democrat. Additionally, each caucus awards a $1,000 scholarship in memory of longtime Senate staffer Rick Gudal.

More Information

Students may contact Jennifer Carlton, intern coordinator, by email at jcarlton@iga.in.gov, for more information about internships with the Indiana Senate Republicans.