From the Director

Fall 2001 Dollars make a Difference—Hinckley’s From the Director Generous Gift Expands Opportunities Wow what a year! The Hinckley Institute of Politics, along with the rest of International Program, our Washington America, experienced changes in the D.C. internship program has seen grow- ing student interest. For the first time in world stretching our imaginations the Institute’s history, students are being almost to the breaking point. We, like placed on a waiting list to serve in you, now talk about our world in terms of Washington. Financial resources are pre-9/11 and post-9/11. needed to meet this problem head on. The Institute continues sending We need to provide most students the bright, able, and enthusiastic students to opportunity to go to Washington when it Washington, D.C. This past year we fits into their academic plans. If not, we placed 84 students in all levels of D.C. stand a good chance of losing their inter- government, private lobbyists and think est. Your participation in this campaign tanks. Our autumn 2001, Washington will help provide the needed funds for class not only experienced Washington our students who wish to have a practi- in normal times, they were shocked as cal political experience domestically or many were evacuated from government abroad. For every dollar invested with buildings on 9/11. To their great credit, the Institute, a student’s life will change. and though the Institute made it clear to A gift of $3,000 will send a student to Robert H. Hinckley, Jr. them that they could come home if they Washington D.C. for one semester and a wished, they stuck it out and finished gift of $3,500 will send a student abroad their internships. Hats off to a great for one semester. All gifts at this level For more than thirty-six years, the may have the internship named after the group of students who became stronger Hinckley Institute of Politics has been in contributor or designee. In addition to because of the attacks. the business of changing students’ lives. one-time gifts of $50, $100, or even $250, Under the auspices of the Sam Rich Through the ongoing generosity of we are seeking long-term commitments. Program in International Politics, our Robert H. Hinckley, Jr. and the Hinckley For example, some contributors have Kotwara Program, which sends 10 to 15 family, the Institute continues to build up agreed to invest $3,000 per year for say, students annually to India, thrived last its endowment. In May, Robert H. five or ten years. Others prefer to con- March. Students studied politics in New Hinckley, Jr. presented University of Utah tribute to the Institute’s endowment fund President Bernie Machen a $1 million Delhi for a week, did service learning by to make internships permanent. Donald building a school in Kotwara, and then check for the Institute. With this gener- Dunn, former Democratic candidate for ous gift, we have launched our the United States Congress and former visited Varanasi and the Taj Mahal. The “Participation Campaign!” fundraising Hinckley Intern, has been designated as Kotwara Program became the genesis of drive for the 2001-2002 academic year. Development Director. Donald is happy a larger campus program called The One of our first major gifts in the to meet with you to set up an arrange- International Semester. Sponsored by “Participation Campaign!” came from ment most desirable to your giving the International Studies Board and Dr. Sam and Speed Rich, for the creation plans. If you are interested in contribut- working closely with the Institute, a fed- of the Sam Rich Program in International ing to the Institute, please contact eral grant was secured expanding Politics. The International Program Donald Dunn at 801-581-3390 or send expands our founder Robert H. Kotwara-like experiences to five other your gift to the Hinckley Institute of departments on campus. The Hinckley’s dream of “Every student a Politics at 260 S. Central Campus Drive, International Semester integrates a block politician” beyond America’s bound- Room 253 – Salt Lake City, Utah 84112- aries. The Rich International Politics 9151. The Hinckley Institute thanks its of academic classes focused on a foreign program has already placed students in generous benefactors and encourages country combined with travel to the Israel, Bolivia, and India. Plans are pro- others who catch the vision of the country. If the current round of gressing to place students in Western Institute to help continue the tradition of International Semesters is successful, Europe and Latin America. changing student lives through political In addition to our exciting new involvement. continued on page 3 1 Life on the Hill – Four Students Chosen as Outstanding Interns Mark Oblad thanks all those affiliated with the Hinckley Institute for the exposure and Lauren Johnson Natalie Noel experience her internship provided. “I enjoy working with public policy and Lauren Johnson served a Fall 2000 tense contest between Gore and Bush have learned a great deal in my intern- internship in Congressman Merrill played out in Florida. “It was a fascinat- ship and current job. Thank you for mak- Cook’s office. She was quickly given a ing time to be at the White House and in ing my internship possible.” great deal of responsibility, doing every- Washington,” said Johnson. “Now when I Mark Oblad, a senior majoring in thing from writing constituent letters, see a White House briefing, I recognize Economics, interned with Congressman giving tours of the capitol building, to the room and I know where everything is James V. Hansen during the Summer representing Congressman Cook at taking place. At the beginning of my Semester of 2001. Oblad enjoyed the var- events. “I had no idea of the range of internship I was excited and honored to ious assignments that he was able to per- experience I would have in this position,” be there, but my experience surpassed form in Congressman Hansen’s Johnson says. She even found herself anything I ever expected or imagined.” Washington, D.C. office. Those assign- putting out an experimental fire while Natalie Noel served an internship ments he enjoyed most were assisting dressed in full fireman’s regalia (com- with the office of Senator Robert F. the Congressman’s legislative assistants plete with oxygen tank and night vision Bennett in the Summer Semester of 2001. with research pertaining to constituents’ goggles) as part of an educational and Noel graduated from the University of inquiries, responding to constituents’ lobbying effort by firemen’s organiza- Utah with a B.A. in English and a inquiries, and conducting VIP tours of tions. The congressional staff was Certificate in Practical Politics from the the U.S. Capitol. “It was a great experi- extremely close and saw to it that Hinckley Institute of Politics. During her ence to be a part of the team in Johnson had a wide-ranging experience. internship she had the opportunity to Congressman Hansen’s office,” Oblad Johnson commented, “Congressman work on a variety of issues, including nat- said, “It was exciting every time I got a Cook was himself very helpful and he ural resources, energy policy, agricul- new assignment that would make a dif- personally saw to it that I would experi- ture, transportation, and veterans’ ference for someone.” ence as much of the capitol’s political affairs. Noel commented that her intern- Oblad commented further, “Just being atmosphere as possible.” She mentioned ship “allowed me to witness the political there was an invaluable experience. I how much she learned about our process firsthand.” Some of Noel’s learned so much from actually seeing the nation’s history just by strolling the halls favorite responsibilities included attend- legislators debate on the chamber floors, of the Capitol. She also benefited from ing committee hearings and researching hearing Congressman Hansen’s staffers the collective learning that took place legislation. She appreciated the oppor- discuss controversial issues, and listen- among all the Hinckley interns. “We all tunity to work with the Bennett staff and ing to the Congressman express his learned from each other and were always added that, “It was great to be able to approval after the passage of key bills.” comparing notes, whether we were at work with and learn from staff members Besides the on-the-job experience, Oblad the Treasury, on the Hill, with a lobbyist, that have been working on Capitol Hill loved learning from the wide array of at the State Department, or wherever,” for a number of years.” other educational opportunities in said Johnson. “It was an education I After completing her internship Noel Washington. Oblad approached the could never have gotten anywhere else.” decided to continue working for Senator nation’s Capitol like a university of edu- At the end of her internship, Johnson Bennett and now has the opportunity to cational resource, attending lectures at was recruited to volunteer in the Social work on issues that deal with the the National Archives, volunteering at a Office at the White House as the Clinton Judiciary, telecommunications, technol- local non-profit organization, and visiting administration was ending and as the ogy, commerce, and immigration. Noel the monuments to enrich his internship 2 continued from page 1 elements of American political concerns including constructive criticism and we the program will extend campus-wide are dedicated to the deepest and most and bring a new international focus to important freedom of America, the right the University of Utah. to speak out. Our scholarships and internship aid We continue to broadcast our forum programs continue to thrive. Through to the people of Utah.

Load more