CHIP Students Provide Assistance
T
he Capitol Hill Internship Program (CHIP) was established in 2000 by Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU) after discussions between then NWU professor Dr. Robert Oberst and his former student and NWU alum, Kris Polly, about the need for a Washington, DC–based internship experience that provided housing and limited classes. Nine U.S. universities now participate in the program, which is run by the United Methodist College Washington Consortium and has been directed by Dr. Doug Steinel since its beginning. Students in the program participate in an internship and take two classes. Program tuition is the same as the tuition students pay at their home schools. Participants live in the CHIP house, which is less than 10 minutes from Union Station and the Capitol building, and have the opportunity to visit museums and historical buildings in DC and to visit New York, Philadelphia, and other cities. The CHIP program allows students to get a head start in their professional lives, gives them strong professional connections, and helps them determine what they want to do in the future. For several semesters, Water Strategies has taught and hosted the CHIP Washington and Lobbying class. Many members of the National Water Resources Association and other Water Strategies clients have shared their time as guest speakers for the class. When the COVID‑19 pandemic caused the CHIP students to be sent home in March, the class continued online. Many of the students were also able to continue their internships remotely. When asked if they would be interested in working on special COVID‑19 issues of our magazines, all our students were eager to be of assistance. This issue represents many hours of their labor in transcribing interviews and conducting additional limited research projects. Below are the biographies of the Washington and Lobbying class students who worked to create this issue for you. (Editor’s note: Each of these students is a
future great employee. Please keep them in mind if you have positions to fill. Water Strategies highly recommends them all for your consideration.)
Abbey Lloyd
James “Breck” Bivins
I am a junior at Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, North Carolina, where I am majoring in history and minoring in art. After graduating from Pfeiffer, I plan to attend graduate school at North Carolina State University and eventually pursue a career in Raleigh with either the state history museum or archives. While in Washington, I worked for the National Park Service as a volunteer at the Lock Keeper’s House and the National World War II Memorial on the National Mall. The effect that COVID‑19 had on Washington was instantly noticeable, as the usually busy National Mall became nearly deserted overnight and the internship program was terminated for the semester. I was unable to continue my internship from home in Asheboro, North Carolina, so my internship program coordinator at Pfeiffer created an online course to allow me to make up the credits. A lot of gratitude is owed to Dr. Steinel, who oversaw our program, coordinated our seminars, and introduced us to the wonders of life in Washington. By transcribing interview recordings with people involved in irrigation from across the country for the COVID‑19 issue of Irrigation Leader, my classmates and I helped to bring greater awareness to the challenges faced by irrigation districts and companies and how those challenges are being dealt with.
6 | IRRIGATION LEADER | JUNE 2020 - COVID-19 SPECIAL ISSUE
I am an environmental studies major from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. I graduated this semester and will be starting a job with Capital 4‑H as an instructor for its natural resources program in the fall. I spent my last semester of undergrad in DC as a media and legislation intern for Water Strategies as part of the CHIP program. Being in DC was amazing, I was able to see the legislative process firsthand and spend my weekends roaming museums and eating new foods. I was also able to learn about the history of DC directly from Dr. Steinel, who made great efforts to make sure our time in DC was spent well. Sadly, I had to go home as the COVID‑19 pandemic became more serious, but I was able to continue my internship at my home in New Braunfels, Texas. While at home, I have spent time preparing for my job in Austin and assisting Water Strategies with the COVID‑19 issue of Irrigation Leader. Christian Martinez
IRRIGATIONLEADERMAGAZINE.COM
