Each year, a select group of student leaders from a variety of different academic majors are given the opportunity to serve as interns and learn about state government firsthand, from inside the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio.
Photo (and header photo): Students from the Columbus Program in State Issues are briefed every week by different state and local political and business leaders. Here they are in a briefing with Ohio House Representative Gail K. Pavligia (R-District 72, Portage County). All photos by Rami Daud, senior photographer, University Communications and Marketing
It's called Kent State University's Columbus Program in State Issues (CPSI). The program is designed to help tomorrow's leaders understand public policy development at the state level.
Senior political science major Ciara Wallace works with Ohio House Representative Terrence Upchurch (D-District 20, Cleveland).
Interns study practical aspects of public policy-making firsthand, gain valuable pre-career knowledge and skills, and have the opportunity to establish professional contacts who can help them throughout their careers. Students spend about half of each week working in internships across Columbus. They also get to enjoy the sights, events and local culture in Ohio's busy capital city.
Following a private tour of the Statehouse, Columbus Program in State Issues interns had the opportunity to sign their names inside the capitol's cupola.
Ciara Wallace signs the cupola.
Senior translation major and CPSI intern Logan Wittreich signs the cupola