WASHINGTON, DC—The USDA Forest Service proudly welcomes four new interns from the Demmer’s Scholars Program this summer. This year’s interns are:

• Janelle Grech, Office of International Programs
• Jerome Hamiliton Jr., Division of Outdoor Recreation, Wilderness and Wild & Scenic Rivers
• Angela Mish, Division of Outdoor Recreation, Recreation, Heritage & Volunteer Resources
• Gabrielle Ybarra, Office of Legislative Affairs

Students spend the summer working for a governmental or non-governmental organization for 12 work weeks and attending weekly classes with Professor Mark Rey, an executive in residence in the Michigan State University Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and Demmer’s Scholar Program director.

The course, Elements of Federal Policy Development in Natural Resources, evaluates how each branch of the federal government and non-government entities (including the media) affect the development and implementation of federal government policy in the natural resources area. Several guest speaker sessions are also scheduled to maximize the educational portfolio.

“Through these internships, the students get real-world experience, see classroom principles applied in practice and make valuable career contacts for educational and employment opportunities in the future,” said Rey.

At the end of the summer, scholars prepare their own presentations on what they learned from their work experience, a final paper on course content and textbooks. Their performance at their internship and participation in class also factors into their final grade.

Undergraduate students apply to the program and, if accepted, are matched with governmental or non-governmental organizations. Accepted scholars work with the program director to have their resumes sent to organizations in their interest areas. The Demmer’s program is sponsored by Michigan State, Mississippi State, and Montana universities, although students from other universities may also apply. While interns are busy with class and work, they also explore Washington, D.C., and neighboring locales with field trips on weekends.

The Forest Service has been involved in taking Demmer’s Scholars for many years. The William A. Demmer Scholars Program started in 2009, and each year about 25 students intern at a number of high-profile departments in governmental or non-governmental organizations, providing them with exposure to and experience in public policy-making on a national level. Following graduation, 40% of those scholars attained employment in government and non-government natural resources positions.