Now in its 13th year, the Archer Fellowship Program is established as a leading Washington, D.C. internship program for students in the UT System.
The Archer Center is now seeking applicants for the 2014-2015 academic year. The application deadline is Feb. 19.
UT students selected for the Archer Fellowship Program earn 15 hours of in-residence UT credit in Washington, D.C., while completing a full-time internship that directly aligns with their personal or professional goals.
Kevin Deluca, an economics and psychology senior from Round Rock, Texas, is a current Archer Fellow. Now in Washington for his final semester, Deluca landed an internship with the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN ECLAC). For him, the Archer Fellowship Program offered a break from the monotony of his coursework and provided a new sense of reality.
“Through my internship, I am involved in substantial research, as well as practical, day-to-day tasks that many organizations rely on,” Deluca says. “The program has given me a taste of the real world and has solidified my desire to work in D.C. on important economic issues.”
Every academic year, 80 students are selected to participate – 40 per semester. Each Archer Fellow cohort spends either a full fall or spring semester in Washington, D.C. Fellows live together in historic town homes just blocks from the U.S. Supreme Court on Capitol Hill, allowing them to form close bonds based on their shared experiences.
“Archer Fellows leave Washington with a strong professional network, a greater focus on their future careers and a sharper picture of how they can be a force for positive change in the world,” says Katie Romano, director of The Archer Center. “Many Archer Fellows remain in D.C. or return following the conclusion of their studies to pursue various professional opportunities.
That’s certainly true of Fall 2012 Archer Fellow Madison Estes. An international relations and global studies graduate from Coldsprings, Texas, Madison now works in Washington, D.C. for Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.
“The Archer Fellowship Program is a ‘must-do’ for any UT student who thinks they’re even the slightest bit interested in working for either the federal or state government, nonprofits and interest groups, international organizations, journalism outlets or campaigns,” Estes says. “This program opens doors to professional opportunities that most students rarely ever receive. It’s also a great chance to meet other students who have similar interests and passions.”
The Archer Center’s mission is to educate the next generation of leaders from Texas for local, state, federal and international service. The program strives to instill a love of public service within the future leaders of the world while equipping them with an understanding of how the federal government works.
For more information about the program and application process, visit The Archer Center’s website.
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