Students get firsthand political experience in Atlanta internships

Several Georgia College & State University political science majors have been selected to intern at the state legislature as a part of the Georgia Legislative Intern Program (GLIP).

Professor W. Clifton Wilkinson serves as the GLIP Campus Coordinator for GC&SU. Participating students include: Abbey Shockley, Ian McMullen, Jerome Curry, Jonathan Lupo and Michael George.

Each year, about 30 students are selected from Georgia’s universities for the opportunity to intern. The internship period corresponds with the annual session of the General Assembly, which begins on the second Monday in January and ends in March.

Michael George became the Legislative Aide to Dan Lakly, a Republican from Fayette County now representing the 72 District, by lending a hand in his successful 2004 campaign.

“I called and left a message on his voicemail telling him who I was and what my political beliefs are,” said George. “I met him the next morning and for the next three months I stood on the side of the street holding a campaign sign every morning and most afternoons.”

George said the internship is a useful tool for students.

“The opportunity [it provides] for a student is to network with people that work at the capitol and within the state government to try and find a job when you graduate or after your internship is over,” said George. “It gives you the ability to do something that most college graduates don’t have an opportunity to do: use your degree.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Mar 25 2005. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry