Trevor Shanklin, a senior at Rogers State University, was selected for an internship through the Washington Center, a nationally-recognized internship program that places students with private, public and nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C.
Shanklin, a political science major with a minor in public administration, is interning with the National Republican Congressional Committee.
“This is the internship, out of all of the options, that I was hoping to get,” said the Nowata, Okla. native. “This is an incredible opportunity, when you think about all the possibilities that exist in that environment. It’s as good as it gets.”
Shanklin also participates in the “Road to the White House” course offered by the Washington Center. The class was open to 25 students and focuses on issues and people involved with the current presidential campaigns. The first hour of each class is broadcast on C-Span.
He shares his experiences in his blog, found at rsuwashington.blogspot.com.
Shanklin is a veteran having served as a combat medic in Iraq and also as a National Guard recruiter. He is a member of the Student Veterans Association, participated in the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature and served on the Student Government Association.
He will earn college credit for successfully completing the program.
The Washington Center is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides internship programs and academic seminars to college students. The organization arranges 2,000 to 3,000 internship placements annually.
Washington Center internships are comprised of internship placement, an academic course, and the Leadership Forum. All students are enrolled in a particular program according to their area of interest. Each program focuses learning on concepts closely related to students’ intended professional fields. Activities and special programming, such as panels or tours of embassies or businesses, are tailored to the program’s core learning objectives and areas of study.
“This Washington Center Program provides students with an invaluable opportunity to gain practical experience and begin developing a broad professional network,” said Dr. Carolyn Taylor, RSU assistant professor and Strategic Initiatives Coordinator. “Trevor found a remarkable fit with his internship and course. We are very proud of him and know this will be a tremendous experience.”
For more information on the program, visit www.rsu.edu/washington-center/ or contact Taylor at [email protected].