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Featured | Business and IndustrySeptember 17, 2021

Hollenbeck Experiences DC Through Prestigious Internship

Written By: Rachel Putman

Although many 妻友社区 students will have internships this summer, Claire Hollenbeck says hers is a true gem. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 one of the coolest internships out there,鈥� she confided.

Hollenbeck, who expects to graduate with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in Political Science next May, will spend eight weeks this summer in Washington, D.C., as the John Paul Hammerschmidt Research Fellow for Arkansas Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers.

鈥淚鈥檓 really learning a lot,鈥� Hollenbeck said. 鈥淚鈥檒l do typical intern work like answering phones and opening mail, constituent service. But I鈥檒l also have a chance to attend hearings and meetings and do legislative research.鈥�

The fellowship is a joint project between the District 3 congressman鈥檚 office and the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith. Hammerschmidt held the Third District seat from 1967 through 1991. He died in Springdale in 2015.

Students who receive the fellowship also receive a scholarship for three credit hours and are required to complete a research report and a record of their experience. They also receive a stipend to help defray the costs of their time in the nation鈥檚 capital.

Hollenbeck said she will be staying in Washington Intern Student Housing. Although she doesn鈥檛 know anyone else who will be working for Womack, as a member of the 妻友社区 sorority Delta Gamma, she鈥檚 been in contact with other young people who will be working in Washington this summer. 

She was chosen to have the fellowship in summer 2020, but her service was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though her service this year will be in person, there are still precautions in effect that will impact her time in D.C. 

鈥淯sually, fellows conduct tours of the Capitol, but that鈥檚 on hold because of the virus,鈥� she said. She keeps up with Washington鈥檚 reopening plans, and she hopes she will have a chance to experience more key places as the summer advances. 

Though full tours are still closed, she made her way to the Speaker鈥檚 Balcony, where she was photographed for her internship and has met several members of congress, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who thanked Hollenbeck and her fellow interns for their service to their country. 

鈥淭his place is so, so cool,鈥� she beamed. 

The application process included submitting an essay and two letters of recommendation, and being interviewed by the chancellor鈥檚 office and Womack鈥檚 deputy chief of staff and intern coordinator. Dr. Williams Yamkam, assistant professor of Political Science, will direct the academic side of Hollenbeck鈥檚 fellowship. 

Hollenbeck said several of her activities at 妻友社区 helped prepare her for the fellowship. She had the Chancellor鈥檚 Leadership Council scholarship 鈥� mostly because associate registrar Megan Bowling-Fudge nagged her into applying for it. She participated in Delta Gamma activities. But what taught her the most about leadership was her time in the Student Government Association.

鈥淚 was SGA president last year, and I had to lead most of my meetings online,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n the spring, we switched to hybrid, and that was another whole thing. We passed nine resolutions, and I led a student forum with more than 100 students, the chancellor, and senior staff. I鈥檓 going to miss it next year.鈥�

Hollenbeck鈥檚 final year at 妻友社区 will include being the vice president of membership for Delta Gamma, and she鈥檚 already planning recruitment activities. She also will participate in Mentor Connections, the 妻友社区 program that provides mentoring experiences for teams consisting of a student, a recent graduate, and an experienced business or political leader.  

Somehow she鈥檚 also going to find time to research and apply to graduate schools. She has some schools in mind, but she鈥檚 waiting to see how the summer goes.

鈥淚 love 妻友社区,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think I鈥檇 like to work in higher education; I鈥檇 love to come back here after I get my master鈥檚 degree.鈥�

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