Given the cost of living in D.C. and the difficulties associated with finding paid internships, it would have been impossible for me to afford my summer in D.C. without financial assistance. My scholarship allowed me to pay for my housing and, therefore, pursue an unpaid internship relevant to my interests and career goals I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to accept. I am beyond grateful to have such an enriching experience in our capital and greatly appreciate PSIP’s Scholarships for making my summer possible!
- Yasmeen D.
Thanks to the Women in Public Service Scholarship (from an alumna gift, in conjunction with the U-M Alumni Association), I was able to participate in an unpaid internship with the Pretrial Services Agency for the District of Columbia. The scholarship allowed me to immerse myself fully in my internship, as I did not have to limit my hours to take on a second job. Without the Women in Public Service Scholarship, I would not have been able to get my foot in the door with so many great organizations in DC, where I will be returning post-grad.
- Julia P.
I was fortunate in finding an internship at the United States Capitol Historical Society in their development and communications department. While at the Society, I learned a number of things, including how to conduct donor research, how to run social media accounts on multiple different platforms, and how to write press releases all while gaining experience in a professional setting.
Through my internship, I was able to meet and speak with people like Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Joe Kennedy, and Yale history Professor Joanne Freeman! It was also exciting to work with people who share my love of both history and politics. This amazing opportunity would not have been possible without support from the PSIP scholarship fund, which helped me afford living and housing expenses in D.C.
- Grace H.
PSIP has been an absolutely tremendous learning experience for me. At Michigan, I am an education student and this summer, my internship at the Department of Education has let me get a glimpse at the world of education policy, and has helped me understand how schools work on a larger level.
Perhaps the most valuable learning experiences this Summer have been in the shorter connections I have made. It has helped give me an idea for what I would like a career to eventually be, and has been nothing short of exhilarating.
This has been a really exciting Summer to be in DC. I was able to take advantage of opportunities thanks to your support. It has been a life-changing experience, and I am so grateful for a PSIP Scholarship in making it a reality.
- JD B.
As a 2019 PSIP alum and recipient of the David & Lisa Barse Internship Scholarship, I could not be more grateful for the opportunities I was afforded through the PSIP program. I interned at Human Rights First in the heart of DC, a unique opportunity that allowed me to directly engage in advocacy related to human rights work. My projects were both compelling and challenging intellectually and I researched and drafted reports on a variety of complex international issues.
Outside of work, I also enjoyed attending PSIP’s professional development events, getting to know my mentor, and exploring all that DC has to offer with my roommates in the PSIP dorms. This experience was very influential in shaping my future career aspirations and a major contributor to my decision to move back to DC after graduation. I currently worked as a contracted senior paralegal for the Department of Justice, Fraud Section and constantly utilize the skills I learned during my summer with PSIP.
- Vivian R.
A main highlight during my time at the U-M is my participation in the Public Service Intern Program because of the resources the program provided me with and the impact it continues to have on my life today.
Understanding the competitiveness of internships in our nation’s capital, I knew I could benefit from resources and guidance on the path to obtaining my goal. This led me to apply for PSIP because, from my first day in Ann Arbor, I had heard of its positive reputation and the immense impact it had on students.
My time with PSIP exceeded all expectations. Along with educational tools to enhance my applications and valuable connections to graduates working in the District, PSIP provided generous financial support. I was fortunate to be accepted into the White House Internship Program during my summer with PSIP, an incredible but unpaid internship that allowed me to witness first-hand the inner workings of the executive branch. Due to the kindness of PSIP donors, some of the stress of how I would pay for housing and expenses throughout the summer was lifted. I was able to better enjoy my time in D.C. and stay focused on the experiences my internship offered me. I am forever grateful for those donors who helped make my summer in D.C. financially possible.
In addition to PSIP providing financial assistance, helping me land an exciting internship, and teaching invaluable skills I use today, the program played an instrumental role in connecting me to my current job. Due to a recommendation from another PSIP member, I was introduced to the Duke University School of Law D.C. Summer Institute. This pre-law class spans over several weeks and introduces undergraduates to legal issues that are taught during the first year of law school. As I had been considering law school, I decided to take the class which was held at Jones Day law firm. Little did I know, two years later, because of my familiarity with the firm, I would be applying to and accepting a job at Jones Day.
Since June 2020, I have been working as a Project Assistant in the Jones Day Issues and Appeals Practice, assisting some of the nation’s top lawyers with cases in the United States Supreme Court and other federal appellate courts. I learn each and every day at my job and know it will positively contribute to my future experiences in law school and as an attorney. Without PSIP, this opportunity would not have been possible.
PSIP is a terrific group that I would recommend to all students at the University of Michigan. There is no better program to enhance your skills, make connections, and prepare you for your professional career. Joining PSIP was one of the best decisions I could have made in college and a decision that still greatly benefits me today.
- Jacob C.
A PSIP Scholarship made it possible for me to live in Washington D.C. and, by extension, make meaningful and lasting connections with others interested in public service. The financial support allowed me to focus my time and energy on making the most of my internship, where I was offered and accepted a full-time position immediately after graduation! Just yesterday, I was reflecting on how powerful this internship experience was in kickstarting my career.
It would’ve been difficult to afford living in DC without financial support, and the possibility of funding through PSIP is what encouraged me to put myself out there and apply for as many internships as possible in a city I wanted to live in since I was 12 years old. Now at 22, I have returned to the area and continue to reflect on how grateful I am for those who supported me along the way — everyone involved in PSIP, Lynn Halton, and the extremely generous donors to the program. Thank you!!
- Sara J.
The PSIP scholarship was the only reason I was able to afford to live in DC and intern on Capitol Hill, which helped me land a job in the Office of Congressman Andy Levin and later enroll in the Master of Public Policy program at the University of Oxford (where I am now).
People without experience on the Hill are often passed over for jobs in congressional offices — internships (which were, unfortunately, unpaid at the time) are one of the only avenues into a career on the Hill. Because of this, most Hill staffers come from wealthy backgrounds, and the federal policies that they create and implement tend to reflect that.
Funding for DC internships allows working class students and other students who are not traditionally represented on Capitol Hill to get their foot in the door, and eventually help design policies that actually benefit working people. It isn't just diversity for diversity's sake — the demographics of Hill staffers (and interns) do have a tangible impact on what sorts of policies are written and whether or not those policies work as intended. I do not think I would be at Oxford today if it weren't for PSIP.
Working class students have so much to offer the public policy field, but cost is still a major barrier! Funding students is an investment in a more democratic world!
- Lauren S.
Because of financial support from PSIP, I was able to comfortably partake in an internship that I have sought after for two years. By providing financial support to PSIP students like myself, you are ameliorating a portion of the financial burdens and threats that plague lower to middle income students when it comes to the prospect of accepting an internship.
You are leveling the playing field, allowing us to spend more time on what really matters (professional development, networking, etc.) and less time worrying about whether or not we are able to accept the opportunities that we are absolutely qualified for due to financial roadblocks.
For many PSIPers and UMICH students in general, scholarships are the only way that we are able to get to where we want to be. Thank you for recognizing this and having the generosity to do something about it. The future of PSIP and the future of the opportunity gap is forged by individuals like yourself. I one day hope to be a donor myself.
- Daniela K.