PIW adds to D.C. experience

A summer internship in the nation's capital can be educational and looks good on a resume. And thanks to the University's Penn-in-Washington program, it can even be a very enjoyable social experience. The Penn-in-Washington program, which lasts from six to eight weeks during the summer months, combines events like speeches and panels with softball games and other social activities. Designed for all Penn students who take part in summer internships in Washington, D.C., this free program has been expanding the simple internship experience for more than eight years, according to Michele Taylor, the Career Planning and Placement Service advisor who coordinates the program. "It was really very well organized," said Eugene Huang, a Wharton and Engineering senior who interned with the Federal Communications Commission last summer. "[The organization] was a testament to the program's coordinators." One important aspect of the program, which is associated with the Washington office of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, is the opportunity for students to talk with Washington professionals from the realms of both politics and media. Past speakers have included notables such as Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), the head of National Public Radio and the curator of the Holocaust Museum. Students often meet with these speakers in their offices, giving the interns a chance to ask questions in a more personal setting. "We got to talk with Sandra Day O'Connor for an hour? in an intimate setting which allowed us to ask her practically any question," Huang noted. Equally important is the program's social component. "In addition to allowing them to interact with other Penn students, the program tries to arrange social opportunities with other schools," Huang added. Taylor added that "a big part of this is the softball games we play against other colleges." The students also went to see a play together, saw an Orioles game and took a tour of the Pentagon, she said. Taylor said that Penn's program tends to be more structured than many other schools' Washington summer programs, while Huang added that "the experiences are unparalleled [and the program] has extraordinary opportunities." Since none of the social events or speeches are mandatory, students can pick and choose which of the program's offerings to attend. "A lot of students enjoy the program when they participate," Taylor said. "But many of them are too busy to attend every event. It's up to the student to take advantage of [the program]." Most of the participating students, noted Taylor, are interested in either politics or media, but there are still plenty of students like Huang whose interests lie elsewhere. To join the program, students need simply leave their summer phone number and address with CPPS before the school year ends. The program is coordinated by, "a junior, senior or very together sophomore," Taylor said. Taylor added that a coordinator is still needed for this year, and any interested student can apply by leaving a resume and letter of intent with CPPS by 5 p.m. today.