UGA DC Semester Program


White House Internships- Summer and Fall 2008 by Don DeMaria
February 11, 2008, 2:55 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

Students who wish to participate in the Washington Semester Program must apply separately for White House Internships.  A description from the White House website is listed below.


The White House Internship provides an opportunity to experience day-to-day life at the White House while working on a variety of tasks and projects.In addition to normal office duties, interns attend weekly lectures, volunteer at special events, participate in tours, and contribute to a community service project in the Washington, D.C. area. White House Internships are unpaid positions and participants are responsible for arranging their own transportation and housing. Approximately 100 interns are chosen each spring, summer, and fall to participate in this highly competitive program.Please read the Intern Application (pdf) and the White House Office descriptions carefully. Office descriptions can help you determine your areas of interest and assist you in making an informed decision about which offices might fit your qualifications. Interns will be selected based on their application and demonstrated interest in public service.

Applicants must be:

-At least 18 years of age on or before the first day of the internship
-Enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at a college or university, or graduated the previous semester
-A United States citizen

Completed application materials must be submitted to Meghan Espinoza, Intern Coordinator in the office of White House Personnel, at intern_application@whitehouse.gov on or before the following deadlines:

Summer 2008 Internship
May 20 – August 15, 2008
Application Deadline: February 26, 2008
Fall 2008 Internship
August 26 – December 12, 2008
Application Deadline: June 3, 2008

Upon acceptance, candidates must consent to a security investigation prior to their start date and a random drug test. All security measures are confidential and intended to protect the applicant as well as the Executive Office of The President.



Matt Greco- The Metro’s Siren Song by Don DeMaria
February 11, 2008, 2:46 pm
Filed under: Current Interns

I’m falling in love with the voice on the Metro. Everyday, I take the red line from Union Station to Dupont Circle to go to work at my job at The Center for Global Development. It’s turned into a pretty mindless commute.

But every once in a while I get to ride her train and I’m brought out of my meditative trance. She announces the stops with affection; “Red line to Shady Grove, Judiciary Square, exit on the right and please have a nice day.”

One day, someone kept getting stuck in the door or something and it couldn’t close. She sternly gave us all a maternal lecture on the need for safety on the Metro, but still reminded us that she cared. I didn’t see anyone else smiling or looking up as she said this. Everyone stared at the floor like zombies. Whenever I bring the voice up to people they look at me with amusement and tell me that they’ve ridden the train for however many years and have never heard this voice.

I always try to get a glimpse of her when I get off of the train, but have yet to see her. Is she old? Young? Black? White? Does she even exist, or is she just a siren song that’s going to eventually lead me onto the tracks? Perhaps one day I’ll be standing in line at McDonalds or something and I’ll hear her voice ordering McNuggets.

The funny thing about the situation is that I always forget about her as soon as I get off the metro. I step out on the platform and wrest my humanity back from the throng of black suits and trench coats. I swipe my card and get on the escalator, forgetting all about the voice and the hold she has over me as I ascend into the sun and wrap my scarf around my face.



Applications Now Available for 2008-2009 & State Department Fall 2008 Internship Program by Don DeMaria
January 24, 2008, 4:18 pm
Filed under: Internships, Program Information

Applications for the 2008-2009 Washington Semester Program are now available on the program’s website.  Click here to download the PDF application.  The priority deadline for the Fall 2008 program is February 29, 2008. 

I also wanted to share that the Department of State Fall 2008 Internship Program application process is now open with a due date of March 1, 2008.  Students interested in interning with the State Department as a part of the Washington Semester Program need to independently apply for this highly competitive internship program.

Please click here (http://careers.state.gov/students/programs.html#SIP) for more information, and to start the online application process. The deadline to submit completed applications is March 1, 2008.

You can view or update your subscriptions, password or e-mail address at any time on your User Profile Page. All you will need are your e-mail address and your password (if you have selected one).



Our Official Beginning by Don DeMaria
January 11, 2008, 4:12 pm
Filed under: Current Interns, Program Information

The inaugural class of the Washington Semester Program has made its way to the capital and by now, most have started their internships as well.  Our beginning was charged with excitement and a shade of jitters as students moved into The Congressional and prepared for one of the most significant experiences of their college careers.  Throughout both move-in and our orientation, I knew that these students would represent UGA well and make significant contributions to their offices and the program. 

Orientation was a great success that started with a tour of Capitol Hill led by 4 UGA alumni who all work in the Senate and ended with the first meeting of POLS 4790 which is taught by Dr. Susan Haire.  In between, we walked to Eastern Market for breakfast, where a few of us enjoyed “The Brick” from the Market Lunch.  (If you don’t know about “The Brick,” go to Eastern Market and find out!)  The students attentively listened to me and others as we provided them with lots of information ranging from personal safety to ordering your groceries online.  Most importantly, we learned and laughed a lot and the group bonded.  In many ways (including the 70 degree weather), we could not have asked for a better beginning.   

Here are a few photos from move-in:

move-in-3.jpg             move-in-2.jpg               move-in-1.jpg



Spring 2008 Interns by Don DeMaria
December 20, 2007, 4:11 pm
Filed under: Current Interns

The Spring 2008 Interns will arrive in DC in a couple of weeks and with the help of many, they have very impressive placements.  My thanks to all of these offices for having a place for these outstanding students.

Spring 2008 Interns and Placements

Ryan Anderson- Quinn Gillespie & Associates
Nicki Bertsch- Arctic Studies Center, National Museum of Natural History
Lauren Coleman- Office of Rep. Tom Price
Matt Duckworth- Office of Rep. John Linder
Pasley Gordon- Center for International Trade and Security
Matthew Greco- Center for Global Development
Mandy McLeod- Office of Sen. Johnny Isakson
Caitlin Monahan- Office of Sen. Mark Pryor
Hadas Peles- Office of Rep. Hank Johnson
Alexandria Rizzo- Office of Sen. Saxby Chambliss
Will Rooks- Office of Rep. Jack Kingston
Natalie Stroud- Office of Rep. Paul Broun
Arthur Tripp- Office of Rep. David Scott
Sarah Tunkle- Office of Rep. John Barrow
Marlee Waxelbaum- Office of Sen. Byron Dorgan

I know that you will hear from many of them as they start blogging in January.