06.03.13

Murkowski Welcomes 10 of Alaska’s Brightest to Washington, D.C.

Group Marks 10-years of Alaskan Summer Interns for Murkowski

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Lisa Murkowski this week is welcoming her first session of summer interns to observe and participate in the daily operations of the United States Senate and observe the legislative process firsthand.  Senator Murkowski’s D.C. office is the only U.S. Senate office on Capitol Hill to bring on newly-graduated high school students for full-time help.  The young Alaskans from across the state will spend 4 weeks assisting in clerical and administrative tasks such as directing mail, speaking with constituents, and assisting staff with research projects.  This is the 10th year of Senate interns for Lisa Murkowski during the summer months before most of them begin college.

The first sessions of summer interns selected by Senator Murkowski are Duncan Brewer of Kenai; Sara Gomez of Ketchikan; Zachary Minster of Anchorage; Elisha Fields of Kodiak; Sydney Laudon of Anchorage; Kayla Dunham of North Pole; Jackson Landis of Ketchikan; Bradley Bourdon of Anchorage; Ariana Swan of Galena; and William Treadwell of Anchorage.

“These young Alaskans arrive in Washington, D.C. full of energy, ideas and enthusiasm to watch how the Senate operates after years of studying U.S. government in school,” Murkowski said. “My staff and I really both enjoy having interns in my office, and we greatly appreciate their contributions. So many professionals in public service today, including myself, can trace their careers back to their internships.”

 

Murkowski Interns Pictured Left to Right: Minster, Hester, Dunham, Swan, Fields, Gomez, Treadwell, Brewer, Landis, Laudon, Bourdon, O’Scannell

In addition to their work in the office, interns are provided with the opportunity to “shadow” Senator Murkowski in her daily work around the Capitol, obtaining up close and personal perspectives of the daily responsibilities of a U.S. Senator.

Senator Murkowski also welcomed two Alaskan college students to serve as this summer’s intern coordinators. The coordinators – Ayla O’Scannell of Anchorage and Corey Hester of Anchorage – will supervise and counsel summer interns in partnership with members of Senator Murkowski’s staff.  O’Scannell is a senior pursuing her degree in political science from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, and Hester is a senior at the University of Alaska Anchorage studying journalism.

 

###