Author Robert Kiyosaki once said, "If you want to go somewhere, it is best to find someone who has already been there.” For some BYU-Idaho students, somewhere became Washington D.C., and someone—the Career Center.
How? The Washington D.C. Internship Summit program.
“We help everyone with the end goal of getting an internship in D.C. We get them ready,” said Career and Employment Manager Tyler Christensen.
The program provides résumé and cover letter improvement, mentoring, and networking opportunities for a variety of majors.
After joining the Summit, students may also apply for a four-day expedition to the capital, which brings them face-to-face with future employers.
Led by Christensen and fellow staff, the itinerary features visits to some of the major companies and organizations in the area, such as the State Department, Forvis, and the Institute of World Politics.
Someone Who’s Been There
When Ellie Rogerson attended a Summit informational session, her passion for it landed her a position at the Career Center as a Washington D.C. specialist.
Eventually, she was part of the program’s first-ever expedition—a catalyst in her journey to intern at the U.S. Senate.
“I love getting to help them get out there because I had such a fantastic experience. I’m just that person there to push them in the right direction and give them guidelines,” she said.
Rogerson worked with hundreds of students interested in the Summit, including Emely Hernandez, an international studies student.
At first, Hernandez had a difficult time finding an internship, unsure of where to start. But the Washington D.C. team made all the difference.
“Ellie helped me a lot with my résumé and cover letter. She was great at helping me tailor my application material to D.C.,” she said.
Rogerson also advised Hernandez on the expedition application process and what helped her get an internship.
Hernandez was selected for her own expedition soon after. Experiencing D.C., even just for a few days, made her want to return.
During the trip, Kris Hammond, director of Career and Employment Services, told Hernandez about the global leader program, run by the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute.
That comment set in motion a chain of events that resulted in Hernandez flying back to the capital to start the program—just four months after the expedition.
As a global leader, she dove into the world of public policy as she worked both in a congressional office and in a corporate institution, where she learned about leadership, resilience, and commitment to communities.
“While I didn't specifically meet anybody from my program at the expedition, I think if I wouldn’t have gone, then that conversation wouldn't have happened,” she said.
A Support System
The networking trip also led to Natalie Finlayson’s return to D.C. She landed an internship with a nonprofit organization she had toured—the Heritage Foundation.
Finlayson has always wanted to use her public relations degree to work for a nonprofit. That came true as she created social media content to promote the organization’s mission.
“The expedition was very, very influential. It gave me a whole new perspective on things I didn't even know were open to me, and being in D.C. exploded my opportunities,” she said.
During her internship, she lived in university-managed apartments—another resource available through the Summit program, which provides more affordable housing for BYUI students.
“We can have people with the same values and background, and we can all bond over BYU-Idaho. It's a little bit harder when you're on your own,” she said.
Finlayson loved participating in numerous community events with friends she made during her time in D.C.
The young adult stake in the area also brought interns together through temple trips, institute classes, family home evening activities, and dinners hosted by local ward members.
“I think more than just the internship, it's the experience of being out there,” Finlayson said.
The Best Network
Before the expedition, Finlayson had applied for multiple internships. However, getting hired came down to one question: “Who do you have connections with?”
One of the most powerful connections in the Summit program is the Alumni Department, also located at the Career Center.
During the expeditions, some of the companies students visit—and where they could get hired—are the workplaces of BYU-Idaho graduates.
Breck Manwaring is an alumnus who works as a DevOps Consultant at Amazon Web Services, in Arlington, Virginia.
A few years after graduating, he reached out to Christensen, hoping to serve as a mentor to undergraduates who are unsure about their careers, or to those looking to advance their professional experience.
“The best way I can express gratitude for my education is by giving back and helping the next generation of students succeed,” Manwaring said.
This collaboration opened the doors of the Amazon corporate headquarters in Arlington for BYU-Idaho students. Manwaring started hosting tours for those visiting D.C. during the Summit expedition.
“The students quickly impressed me with their professionalism, thoughtfulness, and graciousness. This experience made it clear that BYUI students are capable of thriving in diverse environments,” he said.
With the recent launch of a BYU-Idaho alumni chapter in D.C., the connections between BYU-Idaho students and graduates are expected to grow even stronger.
“It’s fantastic to see them give back,” Christensen said. “Many of the alumni we partner with are people we have worked with over the years. It’s awesome to see it come full circle—they start at BYU-Idaho and end up recruiting here or mentoring students.”