Name: KIMBERLY ELAM
Hometown: Batavia, Ill.
Age: 21
Year in School: Senior

Major/Degree Program: English, and also pursuing an Entrepreneurship Certificate and completion of Career Leadership Academy upon graduation in May 2010.

Internship: Communications intern for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)—the oldest congressional committee on Capitol Hill—which helps to elect Republicans to the House of Representatives. She assisted with writing press releases, helped compile race sheets in key districts for the 2010 House elections, updated media lists, staffed volunteer events, and provided other communications support for the NRCC.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Highlights: Touring the Capitol, the White House, the Pentagon, and U.S. Supreme Court. Also took part in the Senate-House Dinner (formerly the President’s Dinner), where she helped check in and seat guests. Speakers that night included actor Jon Voight, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, U.S. Representative John Boehner of Ohio, and U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

“The most interesting aspect of this internship was how quickly I fell in love with Washington.

Being an English major, I was not sure I could keep up, but being immersed in the excitement of the district was great. I learned so much this summer while also having a really great time. I read somewhere that there are over 6,000 interns on the Hill alone, and even more college students and young adults throughout D.C. The museums, events around the city, and overall young age of the people living here have made it the place I want to return to upon graduation.”

Career Goals: To work on Capitol Hill writing or campaigning, or to start a small business.

Elam poses with U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions of Texas outside the U.S. Capitol.