Summertime in Washington = Interns

By Derrick Jones, Intern Coordinator

You can tell it's summertime in Washington again: stifling heat combined with 95% humidity, swarms of tourists from around the world visiting our national monuments . . . and interns.

From Capitol Hill to the White House and everywhere in between, Washington is alive with the buzz of college students who have given up their summers to work and learn in one of DC's plentiful internship programs.

National Right to Life offers an internship program for pro-life students from across the country, hosting anywhere from 8-12 interns who work closely with our staff on a wide variety of projects. While the work of an intern is, at times, not the most glamorous, these dedicated young men and women tackle the task at hand and provide enormous support for NRLC staff.

In addition to providing support for the staff, summer interns attend weekly seminars given by NRLC staff. These get-togethers are an invaluable lesson into the workings of NRLC's departments, particularly the issues each department works on and how they are addressed.

Established in the 1980s, the internship program provides a training ground for college students who want to continue their pro-life work beyond graduation. Many past NRLC interns, including Department of Medical Ethics Director Burke Balch, former media relations director Michele Arocha Allen, and NRLC Field Coordinator Holly Miller (to name a few) have come back after graduation to join the NRLC staff full time.

What follows is an introduction to the young men and women who have been working closely with our staff this summer - - some of whom you may have talked to on the phone if you called the NRLC offices. We asked them what their favorite thing about working for NRLC was.


Administration - Kathleen Wilber -- A native of Hanover, New Hampshire, Kathleen is a drama major at the Catholic University of America in Wash-ington, D.C. "The best thing about working for NRLC is the dedication and commitment the staff have for the pro- life cause."

Development - Teri Roberts -- Teri is from Dayton, Ohio, and studies communications at Grace College in Warsaw, Indiana. "I like to know that I'm doing something important and standing up for something I believe in."

Education - Katie Althen -- Katie is a physics and Russian double major at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She is a native of Vienna, Virginia. "Working for NRLC has given me the opportunity to contribute to such an important cause and to witness the dedication of people working together to save lives."

Federal Legislation - Andrea Swinehart -- Andrea hails from Fresno, California, and attends the University of Notre Dame as a government and philosophy double major. "I have so many unique opportunities to learn about the relationship between the life issues and our federal government. I am further developing my understanding of the right to life movement."

Financial Services - Brian DeCorla-Souza -- Native to Alexandria, Virginia, in the DC metro area, Brian is a geography major at Mary Washington College. "The best thing about NRLC is its overall pro-life vision and goal for the future."

International Outreach/ United Nations - Brooke Wilkins -- Originally from Provo, Utah, Brooke is a graduate of Brigham Young University. She took time off from her job as costume shop manager for a theatre in Provo to assist Jeanne Head, NRLC's representative to the UN in Manhattan. "The best thing about NRLC is the people -- both on staff and throughout the country and the world who are working for our unborn children."

Media Relations - Tadhg Dooley -- Tadhg comes to NRLC from Albany, New York. He's a judicial history major at Boston University. "Working with NRLC is exposing me to new experiences and giving me the chance to make a difference."

Media Relations - Eric Wright -- A pre-law major at Pensacola Christian College, Eric is from the greater Dayton, Ohio, area. " Working at NRLC has given me the chance to do something beneficial for the country, while at the same time working for the future of our children."

Medical Ethics - Terrance McKeegan -- Terry is a second- year law student at Ave Maria School of Law in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is originally from Williamsport, Pennsylvania. "NRLC's commitment to defending life at both ends of the spectrum from the preborn to the elderly."

Outreach - Lauren Bicknell -- Lauren was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, and is a drama/religious education major at Catholic University in Wash-ington, D.C. "My favorite thing about NRLC? Working with such a diverse group of dedicated people for a common cause."

State Organizational Development - Chris Bare -- Chris is a native of Kennewick, Washington. He is recent high school graduate who is preparing for missionary work. "NRLC's biggest asset is all of the extraordinary people that put in overtime hours to ensure the safety of future generations."

State Organizational Development - Zach Bouschard -- Zach is another native of Dayton, Ohio, and is a business/management information systems major at Sinclair College in Dayton. "NRLC has provided me the chance to put my past pro-life experience to work and has given me a broader understanding of the issues facing the pro-life movement."

While our interns will be gone with the start of school next month, their hard work and dedication won't be forgotten. Thanks to all of our interns for their assistance this summer.

NRLC offers internships during the semester and summer for interested college students. For an application or for more information, contact Derrick Jones, intern program coordinator, at (202) 626-8800 or by e-mail at  jonesy77@aol.com.