Students Gain Major Experience
Five 小优传媒 students lived, learned and worked in Washington, D.C., during the spring 2022 semester through the Washington Community Scholars鈥 Center.
Celesta Hartman 鈥23, a psychology major from Lima, Ohio, interned with the Charles Sumner School Museum and Archives to stage an exhibit. The school, established in 1872, was one of the earliest schools for African Americans in D.C.
鈥淚 chose to study in D.C. in hopes of becoming closer to achieving my dream career鈥攚orking at the Library of Congress,鈥 said Hartman. 鈥淥n top of the numerous connections I made, I also learned about how the need for public input and use dictates how well a place 辞辫别谤补迟别蝉.鈥
Jake Kiger 鈥22, a psychology and criminal justice double major from Columbus, Ohio, interned at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia, where his duties ranged from filing paperwork to interviewing possible witnesses of crime.
Justine Lesniewski 鈥23, a psychology and criminal justice double major from Mantua,
Ohio, worked with the Hyattsville Police
department to develop a Crisis Intervention Team and the Greenbelt Police Department
on opening lines of communication within the community.
Sara Poiry 鈥23, a graphic design major from Graytown, Ohio, worked with Washington
Digital Media on projects such as starting a
streaming podcast.
Noah Robinson III 鈥23, a psychology and criminal justice major from Urbana, Ohio, served with Voices for a Second Chance. VSC supports incarcerated and newly-released individuals in their transition back to the community.
WCSC is a program run by Eastern Mennonite University which is also open to Bluffton University students. Participants lived in a house with the 10 other WCSC students in the working-class neighborhood of Brookland. They shared meals, split household responsibilities and took weekly classes together.
鈥淚 enjoyed my time in D.C. and made lasting friendships,鈥 said Poiry. 鈥淚 definitely have stories that I will keep with me.鈥
