Three NIU students who interned in Washington D.C. this summer walked away not only with a lifetime experience, but scholarships as well.

Matthew Venaas, senior political science major, was awarded the Paul Simon Award from the Illinois State Society for his time as an intern for U.S. Rep. Bill Foster. The award, worth $1,500, is given to the top intern from Illinois out of a pool of at least 50 Illinois college students who
also worked in Washington this summer.

In addition to researching issues and drafting constituent letters, Venaas said he gave tours to constituents. Although Speaker Nancy Pelosi walked by during one of his tours, Venaas said his favorite memory was more heartfelt.

“One time, we actually got a handwritten letter from a family who we had taken on a tour, thanking us for it,” Venaas said. “I was really touched to know that I played a part in their memory.”

The other two NIU students, Hunter Huffman, senior political science major, and Nma “Winnie” Okafor, senior accountancy major, were awarded $750. Okafor interned with U.S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski, while Huffman worked under U.S. Rep. Donald Manzullo.

Huffman said he credits his time as an intern for giving him direction for his future.
“I learned about a new master’s program in political management. I have never heard of that before,” Huffman said.

Because Manzullo was a strong supporter of the Peace Corps., Huffman said he was inspired to apply to work for the organization.

This was the first year of a congressional internship program set up by the NIU Department of Political Science. Department chair Christopher Jones and Matthew Streb, associate professor of political science, worked with NIU President John Peters and Kathryn Buettner, vice president of university relations, to get the program up and running.

Streb described the program to NIU Public Affairs as a huge success, saying, “We’re expanding it for next year by offering five scholarships” to award to students to diffuse the costs associated with the internships.

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