Fort Report: Internship Opportunities for Nebraska Students

Congressman Fortenberry with interns in his Lincoln office

As a young student, I was very interested in government, history, and social studies. When I was in 5th grade, I wrote to President Nixon about his trip to China. He didn't write back to me, but nonetheless that early interest continued to grow.

Today I am always encouraged to meet and hear from young students who enjoy government affairs. My office provides a unique opportunity for students to participate in the internship program in my Washington, D.C. and Nebraska offices. Interns gain valuable office experience and learn about the inner workings of a Congressional office.

Each semester, I welcome interns in both my Lincoln and Washington offices. Interns aid staff members with office tasks, including answering phones, assisting constituents, and media clips. Depending on their personal interests, interns may also help with policy research, constituent casework issues, and communications projects.

Interns in my office come from a variety of backgrounds and academic interests - we have had political science majors working alongside those pursuing degrees in business and chemistry. Although my internship program is primarily designed for college students, we occasionally accept well-qualified high school students.

Many colleges, including the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, offer academic credit to those who complete congressional internships. Not only do they provide valuable hands-on experience, internships also help develop professional skills and create a lasting commitment to public service.

In fact, some of my interns later come to work on my staff full-time. My office staff assistant, Katie Voorman, interned in both my Lincoln and Washington offices when she was in high school and college. Upon graduating college last spring, she moved to Washington to manage the front office, including working with our new interns. She told me her internships impressed upon her the importance of regular communications with our constituents in Nebraska.

To learn more or to apply for the internship program, you can contact staff members in my Lincoln or Washington offices by clicking here. I invite all young people with an interest in Congress to apply.