APSU sends record nine interns to General Assembly

Austin Peay State University this week sent a school record number of legislative interns to the Tennessee General Assembly, which opened its 2019 session on Tuesday, Jan. 8. 

Nine students from various majors will spend the semester at the state capitol, helping legislative leadership and committees with analysis, constituent work and research. According to the state’s internship website, the program normally accepts 70-80 interns each year from around the state. 

MEET THE INTERNS

The chosen interns come from several Austin Peay departments. The students are:

• Amanda King, social work senior.
  • Hometown: El Paso, Texas.
  • Quotable: “I hope to learn how I can help my community in the future, how to work in the political setting, and how I can make future change happen for the United States. I feel blessed for receiving this opportunity, and I can’t wait to start learning.”

• Autumn Cole, biology senior.
  • Hometown: Pleasant View, Tennessee.
  • Quotable: “I am relatively undecided in my future occupation, and pursuing legislation in environmental preservation is one of my interests. Hopefully this opportunity will help direct my path by either narrowing or broadening my future outlook and interests.”

• Lynsie York, health and human performance senior.
  • Hometown: Erin, Tennessee.
  • Quotable: “This internship will help me determine where I want to go in my career. I am excited to see where this amazing opportunity takes me.”

• Kristina Grant, political science junior.
  • Hometown: Cross Plains, Tennessee.
  • Quotable: “I am beyond honored to have been selected from a wide pool of applicants to take part in this incredible opportunity to not only work with and learn directly from highly elected officials and lawmakers, but also to further my professional experience.”

• Sierra Salandy, political science senior.
  • Hometown: Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
  • Quotable: “To me this is more than an internship, this is a stepping stone to my future career in law and politics. I expect to learn more about Tennessee politics and obtain better leadership skills, public speaking skills and professional skills, which will assist me in becoming a lawyer and a legislator one day.”

• Cassondra Meadows, social work senior.
  • Hometown: Sparta, Tennessee.
  • Quotable: “This internship means the world to me. I expect to learn how a social worker can influence policy and be an active part of legislative matters.”

• Sarah DeVries, public relations senior.
  • Hometown: Highland, Illinois.
  • Quotable: “I am so honored to be one of nine chosen from Austin Peay. I can’t wait to learn in an actual business environment and broaden my horizons.”

• Raymond Wright, sociology junior.
  • Hometown: Cadiz, Kentucky.
  • Quotable: “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to see up close the day-to-day operation of our government and hope to use the knowledge I gain to narrow my focus for graduate school.”

• Jaylene Sanchez, criminal justice senior.
  • Hometown: Union City, New Jersey.
  • Quotable: "This experience means everything to me because it will give me the knowledge I need to be successful in my career. I hope this internship will open doors for future job opportunities."

The students will earn an advance and weekly stipend as well as academic credit.

The General Assembly will cover the expenses of five of the students, and APSU will fund expenses for the other four. In past years, the General Assembly funded up to three APSU students each year, said Dr. Matthew Kenney, chair of the APSU Department of Political Science and Public Management.

The Tennessee General Assembly legislative internship program was established in 1972 to provide college students with an opportunity to work and learn in a hands-on legislative environment. 

LEARN MORE

• For more information about the Tennessee General Assembly legislative internship program, visit http://www.capitol.tn.gov/Intern/index.html.
• For more information about political science and public management programs offered at Austin Peay, visit https://www.apsu.edu/political-science-public-management/.