Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program
Written by Emily Runge
Next spring I will live in Washington D.C. a place where politicians live and news happens, as part of the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program (WHIP). I am looking forward to this new exciting experiences; WHIP promises to be an invaluable addition to the already rich education Hillsdale College offers.
In preparation for WHIP, I talked with Sophia Carr, the WHIP program manager, to get a better idea of what kinds of internships are available to students and what living in D.C. is. “WHIP is the only program of its kind, especially if you consider the classes we offer,” she explained. With WHIP, Hillsdale is “taking liberal arts education into the Square.” Students can choose from a wide variety of classes, like Constitutional History, American Literature, Developmental Economics, and National Security Studies, one of the classes I’m looking forward to most.
Though classes and internships take up a large portion of students’ time in D.C., WHIP both encourages and offers students many opportunities to experience the city’s rich history and culture. Ms. Carr said that last semester’s program included tours of the Pentagon and FBI building, as well as visits to Monticello and Mount Vernon. They even saw a play at the Shakespeare Theatre, which is just two blocks away from the Kirby Center.
One of the most enjoyable extracurricular events was the scavenger hunt around the city that WHIP organized. WHIP students posted pictures on Instagram of themselves in front of the White House, the Old Post Office Building, the Hope Diamond, Ford’s Theatre, and other landmarks in D.C. The winning team received their choice of tickets to the International Spy Museum or the Newseum. Ms. Carr said that this particular event was a great way for WHIP students to get to know each other while exploring the city.
While many WHIP students take politics-related internships with organizations like the Heritage Foundation and with politicians like Senator Ted Cruz, Ms. Carr said that a majority of WHIP students intern at smaller organizations and economic think tanks. WHIP, however, is not limited to those interested in politics or economics. WHIP students come from a wide variety of interests; for example, history majors have interned at the National Archives and art majors at the National Portrait Gallery.
As I begin my own search for an internship, the large support system both here on campus and in D.C. has been extremely helpful. Students are expected to take the initiative in securing their own internships, but WHIP has many resources to help students find and apply for internships. Moreover, Hillsdale’s reputation benefits students applying for internships. “Most organizations know from past experience that Hillsdale students make excellent interns,” Ms. Carr explained. Due to their education and character, Hillsdale interns stand a head above all others.
Emily Runge is a sophomore at Hillsdale College who is majoring in Politics and minoring in History. She is a George Washington Fellow, a member of Pi Beta Phi women’s fraternity, a member of the Hillsdale College Honors Program, and a volunteer at Will Carleton Academy.