Capital gains: Interns live and work in Washington, D.C., in ‘once-in-a-lifetime experience’

Working as an intern with the Institute for Women’s Health and for Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs, Liberty University rising senior Brenna Futrell quickly adapted to life in the nation’s capital this summer.

“Being immersed in the fast-paced nature of things, especially because we’re in D.C., it’s been a really unique experience,” said Futrell, who completed both internships through Liberty’s Washington Fellowship. “You walk outside, and you can feel the pace of day fluctuate with the news, whether it’s [a] Supreme Court ruling [or] an amendment that was just struck down in the house, it’s very interesting. If you can get up here for a summer and enjoy what [The Washington Fellowship has] to offer, it’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Futrell was one of 12 students selected to take part in the summer term of Liberty University Career Services’ The Washington Fellowship. The fellowship also offers sessions in the fall and spring semesters. Students are selected and equipped to obtain a wide variety of internships that can be tailored to their passions and areas of study – from government to business, communication, education, ministry, and more. This summer, Liberty students worked at Contact Government Services (CGS), Media Research Center, Congressman Bob Good’s office, the Daily Caller, US Marshal’s, FOX News, America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and Mason Investment.

“Getting [the] workplace experience that you wouldn’t otherwise get is super valuable,” Futrell said. “Whether it’s a hard day, a challenging day, a good day, a slower day in the office, is the realization that the Lord has opened up this door and has provided this opportunity to learn, to be a sponge, to absorb all of this new information.”

Tracy Janssen, Program Coordinator for The Washington Fellowship, said the program challenges students to reach their full potential.

“The opportunities are limitless for these students,” she said. “When they go in, they learn how to do a diverse set of jobs by rotating sometimes between multiple offices. They’re not fetching someone their coffee or just running errands; students are doing research and getting hands on experience in marketing, communications, etc. They’re learning how to work on campaigns and they’re figuring out if it is the right thing for them. The professional development and education is exponential as students are getting to work next to professionals who have been in this industry for years.”

The program provides students with brand new apartment-style housing and a metro card for their daily commutes.

In addition to the professional experience students gain, students also have the chance to build relationships with other interns the way they would with fellow students on campus. They participate in “hall events” in their housing complex, attend weekly church services, and take trips together to tour D.C.’s many landmarks.

“It’s a really cool opportunity to not only [go to D.C.] and complete an internship, but also to foster Liberty community in the city. Having to rely on each other in the city … it’s definitely a strengthening experience for new friendships,” Futrell said.

Students are also encouraged to attend special events such as a Liberty alumni event in Alexandria, VA, or attending a Washington Nationals game.

Recent social work graduate Claire Boyette completed her internship by serving the local homeless community with the Georgetown Ministry Center. She spent her days serving coffee and snacks, providing street outreach, and organizing resource sheets.

She said the internship helped prepare her to work as a registered behavior technician for children with autism, a job she will begin now that her internship is complete.

“From [learning] how to work with supervisors, to how to talk to and listen to individuals and pick up on nonverbal cues and other things, [The Washington Fellowship] has been really beneficial for my perspective on clients and how to best serve them,” Boyette said.

“It’s a really important way to get hands-on experience in whatever field you’re hoping to go into,” she added. “There are so many specific organizations for people who are in Washington, D.C., who have the ability to hire interns and devote time to training them and understanding what specifically they’re hoping to get out of an internship or degree. It’s a really great way to get that experiential learning.”

For more information on The Washington Fellowship, please visit its website or email washington@liberty.edu.  Applications are currently being accepted for Spring 2024 and Summer 2024.