Stephanie Valle arrived on College Hill planning to major in history. She had no idea that two years later she would be working near another hill that has made major contributions to history -- Capitol Hill.
By the time Hamilton's Semester in Washington, D.C., program began, Stephanie had secured a position as one of three interns in the White House speechwriting office. It wasn't easy -- the two-month application process involved submitting extensive background information and writing samples. Looking back, that effort was worth it.
Stephanie said the internship gave her remarkable access to the highest levels of the president's staff. "Being in that atmosphere was incredible," she said. "We had question-and-answer sessions with Karl Rove, Condoleezza Rice and Andrew Card."
"During my internship, I spent hours documenting 'local color' -- background information that made each speech personal for the audience," she said. Her detailed research helped maintain continuity among speeches and recognized campaign supporters.
"At times it was hard to make blind calls," Stephanie said. "But once I identified myself as a White House researcher, the reaction was much different than if I was a college student."
Stephanie checked completed drafts, line by line, to source every fact mentioned. "I had to document anything that could be challenged. The copy seen by the president doesn't have footnotes, but his office would call and ask for the source of a fact," she explained.
A 40-hour work week at the White House wasn't all Stephanie had to do. Each semester, Hamilton's Washington, D.C., program explores a different theme through a series of readings and debates. The topic for that semester? Homeland Security.
"Over the course of a semester, you really get to understand each other's political views," said Stephanie.
When Stephanie graduates with a degree in government and a communication minor, she is considering finding a graduate program where she can study media and politics. Eventually, she would like to build on her D.C. internship by pursuing public relations in governmental affairs.
