Bucknell Takes the Hill

The summer on Capitol Hill has already been filled with high political drama and landmark decisions — and five Bucknell University students are in the thick of it all.

As part of the Bucknell Career Development Center (CDC) Capitol Hill Internship Program, students with an unpaid, non-credit internship in Washington, D.C., or local Congressional districts are provided a stipend of $300 per week up to a maximum of $3,000 for the summer.

This year, for the first time, those students are sharing their experiences learning about the legislative branch online, via Instagram. | Follow the Capitol Hill Interns at @BucknellCapHill

"We are really excited to have our Capitol Hill Internship fund recipients on Instagram this summer and even more excited that the idea was completely student-driven," said Megan Wolleben, assistant director and program director, student communications.

"In the CDC we are always looking for ways to connect with students where they are. Having our students Instagram life on the Hill is a great opportunity to do just that."

The Instagram account shows an inside look at some of the sights and experiences the Capitol Hill Interns see on a daily basis — "anything from D.C. landmarks to press conferences to baseball games," said Holly Grosholz '17.

She's interning with Senator Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., this summer.

"As a political science major, being in the place where it all starts is a dream," said Grosholz. "I'm excited to see how the legislative process really works, gain great connections and experiences and take advantage of the opportunities available to me in such a diverse city."

The social CDC
The CDC is no stranger to using social media in their efforts to help students and alumni succeed in the workforce. The Bucknell Career Pinterest account has 26 boards and nearly 700 pinned resources for Bucknellians looking for inspiration on dressing professionally, job searches, resume tips and more.

The CDC posts career advice on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. The @HireABison Twitter account shares jobs, internships, externships, on-campus interviews and employer info session news.

"We're also asking Bucknell students to share their summer internship experiences across the country by using #BucknellIntern on Twitter and Instagram," said Wolleben.

Unpaid internship? No problem
Grosholz said she appreciates that the Capitol Hill Internship Program helps give students the chance to pursue their passions, particularly in fields that do not provide paid internship opportunities.

"This program, as well as the BPIP Internship Fund, prove just how dedicated the University and its alumni are to providing invaluable opportunities for students to gain real-world experience and further their success," said Grosholz.

More than 3,500 students interacted with the CDC last year and the University's annual Postgraduate Report is consistently positive. "The Capitol Hill Internship fund is an important part of the CDC's mission to help students discover career options and provide support throughout the career decision making process," said Wolleben.

Grosholz and her fellow Bucknellians will leave their summer on the Hill with knowledge that will help them at Bucknell and beyond.

"Serving for two senators will surely be a resume coup," said Grosholz. "Not only will it make me a more informed citizen, but I'll have a better understanding of the intricacies of government and public policy."