A summer to remember

Three of the E. Fleming Mason Interns with former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer.

This summer is one I will never forget. It has changed not only my perspective and understanding of the world, but it has given me the ability to further myself in ways I never knew existed. An indelible part of the internship was the willingness of the KA alumni to promote our experience through their personal success. Nowhere else could I have made personal relationships with lobbyists, Chiefs of Staff and federal employees without the bond that KA has mutually given us. It was also a unique experience to come together and live with four other KAs from around the nation and to share our common bond within a setting that brought all of us close to each other.

To be accepted into the E. Fleming Mason Memorial Internship Program was not just another internship. This “experience” was a life changing decision just as joining KA was for me. I have been offered another chance to intern in Washington D.C. next year. What is so amazing is that the position was one I never even applied for. One day I was called to receive notice I was being considered for another internship. Considering I was in this program with KA, I am almost certain that I have only thanks to give to some KA in D.C. that reached out to help me, even without my knowledge. I am convinced that this program is only as worthwhile as someone makes it, just as KA is only as good as its members. If anyone is looking for a life-changing experience that can project you towards a career in D.C., or just the knowledge and experience to thrive in the professional world, this program is unsurpassed. The only thing I have missed out on is that this program will only get better.

-Philip Stanley Davis (Beta Xi – Oklahoma State ’03)

The Experience

Looking back over the summer, I can honestly say that my time spent in DC produced two of the best months of my life. Sure, the events were great: the President’s Dinner, private tours of the White House, National Cathedral, Lee House, the weekend in Lexington, and so forth; but, it was the overall experience that made the summer so incredible. When describing the greatness of the overall experience, I would place heaviest emphasis on living and working in a bustling, highly populated, diverse city because of the newness factor. DC is practically the polar opposite of everything I have experienced in my life prior to the internship. Thankfully, I was able to adapt to this minor "culture shock." As a result, my eyes have been opened to a world of possibilities that await me after college graduation.

Overall, I would say that my time spent in DC was phenomenal. I realize that the reason the past two months went by so quickly is because we had so much fun and there was never an idle moment. Thus, if I could tell the next internship class one thing it would be that, in order to make the most of the experience, take advantage of every possible opportunity. If I could tell any person interested in the E. Fleming Mason Memorial Internship Program one thing, it would be to apply.

-Tate Bolick (Epsilon Mu – Elon ’05)

I can honestly say this last week leading up to the Heartland Values PAC Conference was a blur. I worked late every day and through the weekend to make sure everything was perfect. By the time Monday rolled around, all of the materials were ready, the speakers had been confirmed and we felt like every detail was in place. The Barbecue event Monday night at the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) went just as planned. The new Senator from Wyoming, John Barrasso, was introduced by Senator Thune and spoke to the guests. Senator Coleman, Senator Corker, and Senator Ensign also stopped by to speak briefly. This was more than we initially expected, and all of the guests were very impressed. I was also able to meet and speak with Nick Ayers, who was scheduled to speak Tuesday morning. Ayers is from Georgia and was appointed Executive Director of the Republican Governors Association by Governor Sonny Perdue. He has been labeled as the next Karl Rove. After cleaning up from the Barbecue and finishing set up at the Hyatt, I was off to bed and a 5:30 am wake up call.

The following morning, everything was going great as guests began to funnel in, until we heard votes were scheduled for the morning. At that point we were panicking and trying to rearrange all of the Senators as they were calling to request time changes. We had some backup plans built in, but nothing for this much disruption. Some Senators were packed in tighter than initially planned, but as the morning progressed the votes were pushed back to 12:30pm and by the time 11:30am rolled around, we were back on schedule with Senator Gordon Smith. All in all, we heard Nick Ayers and Senators Alexander, Chambliss, Collins, Inhofe, Smith, Stevens, and Sununu in the morning. For lunch our headliner was former US Attorney General John Ashcroft. I took it upon myself to be his personal escort and was able to speak with him for a few minutes. After Ashcroft we heard from the RNC chairman, Mike Duncan. Finally, and by far my favorite speaker on the day was Ari Fleischer. He spoke on the war in Iraq and his general experiences in the White House.

Overall the Conference was an amazing success and the Senator would like to do it again next year. It's great to feel that my entire summer's work went towards such a great event. Thune is one of the few Senators that could pull off an event like this or has even attempted one, and it's truly a testament to his nation wide popularity. I'm essentially done with work now, aside from proofing a few mailings we have going out in the following weeks.

I took in a concert Wednesday, and tonight we are going to dinner at the Capitol Grill with the program founder, Bill Skipper. Our final planned event is a Marine One landing at the White House. I'll definitely be breaking out my seer sucker suit for W. In the next few days leading up to my departure I'll be visiting all of the Smithsonian museums, the Holocaust museum, the National Archives, and anything else I have time for. It has been an amazing summer and I'm sure it won't sink in until I'm back at home and out of the hustle of DC. I'm eternally thankful to KA, Senator Thune and his entire office, and everyone who helped me get here.

-Bryan Schivera (Gamma – Georgia ’04)

Breaking out of D.C.

July 23, 2007

This past weekend we went to Lexington, Va. This trip was a welcome break from the fast paced life of Washington, DC. When we arrived on Friday, we volunteered at the Friday’s Alive event hosted by the local Lexington/Rockbridge Jaycees Club. The event took place at the Liberty Hall Academy Ruins adjacent to the campus of Washington and Lee University. This was a great opportunity to listen to beach music and to meet some of the KA staff.

On Saturday, we toured downtown Lexington, seeing Lee Chapel, Stonewall Jackson’s and Ammen’s graves, and we toured the KA National Administrative Office at Mulberry Hill. That afternoon we participated in a KA vs. Sigma Nu softball game where both national offices competed against each other. Even though we lost to Sigma Nu, it was a great opportunity to interact with both staffs in a competitive environment. Later Saturday night, we attended a cookout and did some fishing. This weekend was a well needed break.

-Alex Feinberg (Alpha Phi - Duke ’04)

KA and the Nation's Capital

July 19, 2007

I'm beginning to see what the DC grind is all about. The Heartland Values PAC Conference is a little over a week away and I've been working late every night. We are beginning to put materials together and double check all of the arrangements. I'm in constant contact with the Senate offices confirming time slots and details. I've been spending a lot of time back and forth between Staples, while putting the guest booklets together. This has been one of my biggest projects. I've had to create all of the speaker bios and other inserts.

Friday, we all took the day off for tours of the Washington National Cathedral and Arlington Cemetery. We were led by Gary Scott, a KA that we had met at the Mason dinner. Mr. Scott is the Chief Historian of the National Park Service in DC. He has also spent time working on the construction of the Cathedral with Richard T. Feller. Feller was a KA who at one time was in charge of the Cathedral construction. The Cathedral itself was fascinating, and Mr. Scott was able to provide insight into even the smallest aspect of its construction and meaning. By far the most interesting thing I learned about was the special carvings in front of the Lee and Jackson stained glass windows. Feller had a magnolia and rose carved above the two images. KA can claim to be the only fraternity with a connection to the National Cathedral.

From the Cathedral we ate lunch and drove to Arlington for a tour of Lee's house. My brother Matthew (Iota - Furman ’98) had just arrived in from Savannah for the weekend, and met us there for the tour. Mr. Scott arranged a private tour led by a park ranger that focused specifically on the life and times of Robert E. Lee. We all learned a lot about Lee's early years leading up to the war and how important the house was to him. After the tour we stayed for the changing of the guard and to see the eternal flame.

On Saturday my brother and I went to the Spy Museum. So far, this has been one of my favorite museums. Later that night we took in an MLS game at RFK and then enjoyed the Georgetown nightlife. My three day weekend was much needed as I'm sure this last week leading up the Conference will be non-stop.

-Bryan Schivera (Gamma – Georgia ’04)

Pandas, Nats and Odd Fellows

The last week has been filled with a lot of fun events. On Saturday, June 30th all of the KA interns attended the Magnolia Dinner at the Odd Fellows Lodge in DC. All of the brothers of the Lodge were KAs and we felt right at home throughout the night. The dinner was great, and we stayed afterwards to share a drink and to talk with all the Lodge members. On Sunday, Alex and I went to the DC zoo. We saw the famous Giant Panda and spent about three hours there.

This past week I have been interning at the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). The NRSC is an organization with the sole goal of electing and re-electing republican senators. My main task on the week was donor research. The emphasis is on those senators up for re-election in 2008.

July 4th was an amazing experience in DC. We spent some time around the Captiol and in Georgetown during the day, trying to duck the tornado warnings whenever possible. We headed towards the National Mall around 8:00pm to get an up close view of the fireworks. It was by far the largest show I have ever seen. We were so close that pieces of the fireworks were falling around us. I finished the rest of the week at the NRSC and did some side work for Senator Thune, now that the Heartland Values PAC Conference is getting closer.

On Saturday, Brad Patout, Chris Cook and a few other KA alumni took us all to the Nationals baseball game. The underdog Nationals actually beat the Brewers despite two Prince Fielder home runs. On Sunday, I went with a friend to the AT&T National Golf Tournament and watched some great competition. I actually had Tiger Woods walk right by me and brush my shoulder on his way from the putting green to the driving range.

The next two weeks are crunch time for the Conference. We've got a lot of work to do, but I'm ready to take it all on.

-Bryan Schivera (Gamma – Georgia ’04)

This week I accompanied two American Business Development Group (ABDG) lobbyists to a firing range in Fredericksburg, VA. FNH, the parent company of arms manufacturers, such as Browning and Winchester, hosted the demonstration for congressional staffers. FNH is a client of ABDG’s, and it was ABDG’s duty to bring staffers to the shoot in order to educate them on FNH’s products as they pertain to the Department of Defense market place.

In the morning, representatives from FNH conducted a classroom session where we learned about various FNH products that are currently or potentially being used by the Department of Defense. After lunch, the FNH representatives brought us to an on-site shooting range where we shot the SCAR Light, SCAR Heavy, P .90, FN 303 (less lethal), and M .240. The gun shoot was quite a memorable experience because it was the first time I had shot a fully automatic weapon.

-Tate Bolick (Epsilon Mu – Elon ’05)

July 9th

I am six weeks into my ten week internship and am enjoying my time in DC, both at work and with my roommates. Since my last blog entry, I have been busy at the Department of Labor. Interning is going very well and I couldn’t be happier with my internship. I am currently working on the development of a new website for the Department of Labor that will aid in recruiting young professionals and college graduates for government work. I will present this material to the Assistant Secretary, Pat Pizzella, in the next week.

Over the course of the summer, I have taken advantage of the many great resources DC has to offer. The highlights of DC thus far for me have been touring the West Wing of the White House, the Pentagon, and the US Capitol Building. Perhaps my favorite part of DC has been my daily runs around the National Mall and the White House. It’s very surreal to run alongside these historic and important buildings.

-Alex Feinberg (Alpha Phi – Duke ’04)

The Fourth in D.C.

The fourth of July in Washington, D.C. was an all-day celebration. There isn’t another place in the country that had as much going on that day. Chris Huff and I attended ‘A Capitol Fourth’ concert on the West lawn of the Capitol building. The National Symphony Orchestra along with guest stars put on an amazing performance. Appearances included the host Tony Danza, gospel singer Yolanda Adams, country star Dierks Bentley and even Little Richard. The night concluded with a spectacular fireworks show above the Washington Monument. There were hundreds of thousands of people spread out across the National Mall by the end of the night. It was a great event to attend in the nation’s capitol.

-Philip Davis (Beta Xi – Oklahoma State ’03)

An Audience with the President

All of the interns had the ability to volunteer for the President’s Dinner. This is a dinner in which the President speaks to a large crowd of his closest constituents from across the country. There were around five thousand people in attendance for the dinner. Our assigned duty was to assist guests by providing wheelchairs as they arrived and left the convention center. I happened to be assigned the task unknowingly of helping a close friend of President Bush to his seat. Before he sat down I took him to take a photograph with the President. I was allowed to follow him into the room. I shook hands and spoke briefly with the President as I then escorted the guest to his table. Meeting the President was amazing just out of the natural respect of the office he holds, but it was also unique to be able to hear him speak with a friend of his that he had known before he was Governor of Texas. It was an experience I won’t forget, mainly for it being so unexpected.
The dinner itself was a big success. There were many elected officials in attendance as well as great entertainment. After the dinner, Jo Dee Messina performed a private concert. The event was a joint fundraiser by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). As I already intern for the NRCC, I had seen how much time it took to put on such a large event. The day of the event I worked from 9:30a.m until the dinner was over. It was a long day, but a great event to be apart of.

The run of a lifetime

Interning in Washington, D.C. has been quite an experience. Just being here changes your perspective on the way our country is run. It does not take long to see the hustle and bustle of the city and the urgency that everyone has to meet the demands on their time. This is especially true on “the hill.” It is amazing the things that you can see, even just walking around the city. Just last week I saw the President of the United States, twice! The first time I saw him was at the President’s Dinner, one of the big fund raising events for the Republican Party where many of the Republican Representatives and Senators are in attendance. That was quite an event. The second time is kind of a cool story. I like to run and I don’t think there is any place better to run in the country than on the National Mall in the middle of Washington, D.C. The Mall is where all the monuments are located, including the Washington Monument and the Capitol building. I was running back from the Lincoln Memorial towards the Washington Monument when I saw a large group of Secret Service agents huddled around 16th and D streets, right next to the reflection pool where Martin Luther King made his famous “I have a dream speech.” I decided to stop and watch what was going on. The Secret Service was keeping people back as a crowd started to form. Everyone was speculating what they thought was going on, but no one really knew. Not even ten minutes passed when the roar of a helicopter came overhead. Sure enough, Marine One helicopter landed 100 feet from me and President Bush stepped off waving to the crowd. That was probably the most unbelievable run I have ever had.

I intern at the Pentagon, which is a pretty cool thing in itself. The constant focus on the war in Iraq and Afghanistan makes you really appreciate the job we have there and what our troops are sacrificing for our freedom. I am interning with Defense Secretary Gates’ speech writing group. We have been working on several speeches he will be delivering soon and to be a part of that is a great experience. One of the things I am working on is a project that our office started called Heroes in the War on Terror. The program finds different members of the armed forces who have fought bravely in the War on Terror and writes their story. I just finished writing a story about a truly inspiring Marine. If you get a chance, check out www.defenselink.mil/heroes and check out Major Doug Zembiec, the Lion of Fallujah. It’s an extremely inspiring story of a Marine who courageously fought and died for his country. I would also encourage you to check out all of the heroes on the website. They deserve everything we can give for what they have done for our country.

In the Writers Group, we also work closely with several other divisions in the Pentagon including the Press and Media, which means you get to meet some pretty famous people. Just today, I was at a press conference with Charlie Daniels, the famous country music artist, where he was presented a medal from the Department of Defense and the Defense Secretary for his continued support of the troops overseas. It was pretty neat to shake his hand and get his autograph. Who knows, maybe next time it will be Toby Keith or Carrie Underwood.

I am also currently working on volunteering for an advance trip with the Defense Secretary. These trips set everything up for the Secretary before he arrives to give a speech or attend an event. The advance team sets up the press and media, attendance, security, arrival and departure, and many other things for the Secretary before he arrives at a location to give a speech or attend a function. Hopefully soon, I will be shadowing the Director of Advance for the Secretary of Defense and possibly going on trips with them. Not bad for a summer intern.

Even simple things in Washington, D.C. can be pretty surreal. Every day, I walk to the metro on my way to work and every day I see a different building that is home to another government agency or department that you only read about in books. For example, just blocks from our apartment are the Department of Interior, Department of Labor, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group, and several embassies. Not even two blocks from our apart sits the White House where I run past almost every day. From our rooftop balcony, you can see nearly every monument including a spectacular view of the Washington Monument, the Pentagon, General Lee’s house atop the hill in Arlington National Cemetery, the Old Executive Office Building, and in the distance the Capitol Building. Just last Friday, we were on the roof top balcony and fireworks were going off over the Potomac River on the Virginia side. It was awesome.

The other thing about being in Washington, D.C. is the people you are around that you can get in contact with. Last Friday, all the KA interns had a luncheon with several other KAs that work in Washington. The luncheon was held at the offices of Meyers and Associates, a lobbying firm in Washington. The President of Meyers and Associates is Larry Meyers who was the Number I for the Gamma Chi chapter at Texas Tech University, which is the same chapter where I am a brother. Mr. Meyers and I joked about former Knight Commander and Gamma Chi Chapter brother, Dr. Idris Traylor, being Mr. Meyers’ little brother while Dr. Traylor was pledging. I mistakenly made Larry feel old by saying Dr. Traylor was more of a mentor to me than a little brother and we all just laughed it off. We asked the KA alumni questions about working on “the hill” and what kinds of opportunities are available for young students like ourselves in Washington, D.C. They stressed the importance of taking internships if you really want to work in D.C. in the future. The luncheon was great and I thought it was truly amazing to find KAs at their level of their careers still wanting to help young brothers of the Order.

Nightlife in Washington is great too. Georgetown is by far my favorite place to go besides maybe our rooftop balcony. There is also a restaurant on the top of Hotel Washington that has a great view of the White House and the Washington Monument. This place is especially good for dates. It even has a bar with a view for after hour’s drinks. So far Washington, D.C. really has been a blast. Something exciting is always going on here. Meeting all the other interns and students has been really great as well. D.C. is the melting pot for students from all over the country. For example, in my office there are two girls from California, a girl from Washington state, a guy from upstate New York, and a guy from North Carolina, to name a few. On our apartment hall there are students from Michigan, New Jersey, and Connecticut. We met three girls from Georgia who are friends with Bryan, and then every day we meet even more people from different places. It is really great to meet so many different people and hear them talk about where they are from. People hear that I am from Texas and they always give me a hard time that “everything is bigger in Texas.” I never argue with them and just smile as big as I can.

-Chris Huff (Gamma Chi – Texas Tech ’05)

Summer's here (almost)

Judging by Georgia standards, DC has yet to get into real summer weather. It's a good thing because this week has been by far the busiest. I have been working hard on researching for the campaign, taking RSVPs for and planning the Leadership Conference in July, and compiling donor lists. On Tuesday, I attended a cocktail party at the penthouse apartment of a large supporter. There were about 40 of the largest Republican supporters present and about 8 Senators. It was certainly an amazing experience to be in the company of such large supporters. On Wednesday, we had the Patriot Breakfast in the morning and a political conference in the afternoon. From there, I accompanied Senator Thune to the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) to make fundraising calls. By the time we wrapped up there, it was time to head to the President's Dinner. At the dinner, I arrived with Senator Thune and staffed him until the dinner was over. Most of us got great seats up front for dinner and were able to hear the President speak. We all stayed for the concert and got a chance to meet Congressmen and other interns. Over the weekend we had the pleasure of touring the White House with an E. Fleming Mason alum, Chris Cook. In the morning we toured the East Wing then had lunch together. The afternoon was dedicated to a tour of the Executive Office Buildings and West Wing. Not many people get to see this part of the White House anymore, so we all felt very lucky. As a group I think we all appreciated the fact that a former E. Fleming Intern was now giving us a tour of the White House. After a great weekend of sightseeing it was back to the grindstone of work on "The Hill."

-Bryan Schivera (Gamma – Georgia ’04)

At the White House

The 2007 internship class at the White House. Left to right: Chris Huff (Gamma Chi - Texas Tech '05), Philip Stanley Davis (Beta Xi - Oklahoma State '03), Bryan Schivera (Gamma - Georgia '04), Alex Feinberg (Alpha Phi - Duke '04) and Tate Bolick (Epsilon Mu - Elon '05).

Bryan Schivera, PACman

Arriving on Saturday, June 2 at Reagan National Airport, I was met by a smiling Rusty Foster who brought me to the George Washington University campus to meet the rest of the interns. Everyone certainly has high expectations for the next two months. I was impressed with the variety and diversity of chapters represented. Along with that diversity, however, the common thread that connects all KA men is apparent. Looking ahead at the summer, the group will have numerous opportunities to experience DC in a way most other interns will not.

My particular internship position is with Senator John Thune’s Finance Director. Day-to-day, I work with her on the Heartland Values PAC Leadership Conference, which all of us interns will attend and volunteer for in July. Some of the internship position involves compiling donor lists and planning the Leadership Conference, and I get to attend many events with the Finance Director. Last week, Philip Davis and I went to a fundraiser for Mitt Romney. There are several senatorial briefings, donor dinners, and fundraising events that I am scheduled to attend this summer. The internship position with Senator Thune is an amazing opportunity to gain experience with campaign work as well as having the opportunity to attend numerous DC political events. I am grateful to be here with four other KA brothers whom I have already become great friends. We will undoubtedly have the summer of a lifetime.

-Bryan Schivera (Gamma – Georgia ’04)

Arriving on Saturday, June 2 at Reagan National Airport, I was met by a smiling Rusty Foster who brought me to the George Washington University campus to meet the rest of the interns. Everyone certainly has high expectations for the next two months. I was impressed with the variety and diversity of chapters represented. Along with that diversity, however, the common thread that connects all KA men is apparent. Looking ahead at the summer, the group will have numerous opportunities to experience DC in a way most other interns will not.

My particular internship position is with Senator John Thune’s Finance Director. Day-to-day, I work with her on the Heartland Values PAC Leadership Conference, which all of us interns will attend and volunteer for in July. Some of the internship position involves compiling donor lists and planning the Leadership Conference, and I get to attend many events with the Finance Director. Last week, Philip Davis and I went to a fundraiser for Mitt Romney. There are several senatorial briefings, donor dinners, and fundraising events that I am scheduled to attend this summer. The internship position with Senator Thune is an amazing opportunity to gain experience with campaign work as well as having the opportunity to attend numerous DC political events. I am grateful to be here with four other KA brothers whom I have already become great friends. We will undoubtedly have the summer of a lifetime.

-Bryan Schivera (Gamma – Georgia ’04)

Face time with Mitt

Bryan Schivera (Gamma - Georgia '04), Governor Mitt Romney and Philip Stanley Davis (Beta Xi - Oklahoma State '03) at a campaign rally for Mitt Romney's presidential bid.

The first week in Washington, DC has been a great start to the summer. I am interning at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and it has been a great placement. In a typical day, I will normally do research or visit a congressional office. This week the NRCC is taking all of the interns for a tour of the US Capitol. The entire NRCC staff is really supportive in helping each intern promote themselves and to gain a great experience.

Bryan and I had the opportunity to attend a fundraiser for Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. We were able to meet him and to take a picture together. So much has happened in the first week that it seems as if we have already been in Washington, DC for a month. The five of us living together have had a great time, whether visiting the sites of DC, going out to Georgetown or spending time at the apartment – it has all made for a great time. We have all begun to settle into the city and our internships quite well after the first full week.

-Philip Stanley Davis (Beta Xi – Oklahoma State – ’03)

Tate settles in

I arrived in Washington, D.C. at Reagan International Airport at 2:10pm on Friday, June 1 and was greeted by Rusty Foster and Erik Showalter, two Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation staff members. We waited at the airport for an hour and a half for Philip and Chris to arrive. Upon Chris and Philip’s arrival, we hailed cabs and headed to The George Washington University to check-in to our apartment. We arrived at the apartment around 4:30pm and began unloading and unpacking all of our belongings. I could not believe how well supplied our apartment was by the George Washington University and by the KAOEF. Everything we needed, from pillows to a toaster oven, was supplied by the KAOEF.

I began interning at the American Business Development Group on Tuesday, June 5. The first week was slow because most of the employees in my office were on a business trip in Anchorage, Alaska. I spent the majority of my first week settling in and helping to rearrange the office. Overall, the first week was about adjusting to working and living in the city. Getting accustomed to waking up early and riding the Metro was simple. In addition, the Metro prices are relatively inexpensive and the Metro system is extensive enough to take a person within walking distance of any point in the city.

-Tate Bolick (Epsilon Mu – Elon ’05)

Arrival in D.C.

The 2007 internship class on the rooftop terrace of their aparment building in downtown DC. Left to right: Tate Bolick (Epsilon Mu - Elon '05), Philip Stanley Davis (Beta Xi - Oklahoma State '03), Bryan Schivera (Gamma - Georiga '04), Alex Feinberg (Alpha Phi - Duke '04) and Chris Huff (Gamma Chi - Texas Tech '05).

June 12, 2007

Being the first intern to arrive in Washington, DC by almost a week, I must admit that I was a little nervous coming into a big, unfamiliar city by myself, but I stepped off the plane at Washington-Reagan International Airport with great anticipation and excitement to start my summer off as an E. Fleming Mason Memorial Intern. After I checked into the George Washington University (GW), I decided to go out into the city to explore and to find where I would be working the next day. I walked the National Mall and saw the Washington Monument, the World War II Memorial, the Smithsonian Museums and the Lincoln Memorial, eventually finding my way to the Foggy Bottom Metro Station. Riding the Metro for the first time was an experience. I got lost and had to ask for directions at every stop. I think the Metro Officials were glad to see me get off the Metro. After that fiasco, I decided to head back to GW and to get a good night sleep before my first day of interning.

My internship started smoothly, even though first days can be a little hectic (learning names, agency policies and what I would actually be doing this summer). The first week went along without a hitch, and my supervisor was already giving me tougher assignments. I intern in the Policy Department of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, and I do a number of different tasks such as analyzing data and generating graphs to be used in staff meetings and doing research for my supervisor. I am really satisfied with my internship this summer and foresee not only a summer of hard work, but also a summer of learning about the Department of Labor.

The social scene in DC has been great too. I have been fortunate that many of my fellow KAs at Duke have moved to DC after graduation and they have shown me around. Going out in DC affords many interns a chance to meet other interns outside of a formal working environment. My favorite areas thus far are Georgetown and Capitol Hill.

I am looking forward to my busy week coming up. On Wednesday, we are volunteering at the President’s Dinner. This will be a great opportunity to hear the President speak, and I am especially excited because I’ve never see the President in person. This weekend, we get a behind the scenes tour of the White House. At work, I have a big project due Friday in which I have to put together a PowerPoint presentation and research paper to present to my supervisor. Therefore, I will be putting in long hours in the Department of Labor’s library to finish this assignment by Friday.

-Alex Feinberg (Alpha Phi – Duke ’04)

DC here we come

The first week in Washington, DC has been a great start to the summer. I am interning at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and it has been a great placement. In a typical day, I will normally do research or visit a congressional office. This week the NRCC is taking all of the interns for a tour of the US Capitol. The entire NRCC staff is really supportive in helping each intern promote themselves and to gain a great experience.

Bryan and I had the opportunity to attend a fundraiser for Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. We were able to meet him and to take a picture together. So much has happened in the first week that it seems as if we have already been in Washington, DC for a month. The five of us living together have had a great time, whether visiting the sites of DC, going out to Georgetown or spending time at the apartment – it has all made for a great time. We have all begun to settle into the city and our internships quite well after the first full week.

-Philip Stanley Davis (Beta Xi – Oklahoma State – ’03)

Meet the interns...

Tate Daniel Bolick (Epsilon Mu – Elon ’05)
Tate is rising senior at Elon University where he is majoring in Political Science and minoring in Business Administration. He is a Justin Holloway Memorial Scholarship and Elon Presidential Scholarship recipient. Tate has been on the Dean’s List, is currently on the President’s List, and is a member of Phi Alpha Delta, Pi Sigma Alpha and the Order of Omega. Within the Epsilon Mu chapter, Tate is currently the Number I, has been the Parliamentarian, Standards Committee Chairman and Chairman of the Judicial Committee. He wants to graduate from Elon University with honors and be accepted into a law school preferably in the Washington, DC area where he’ll pursue a JD/MBA degree. Tate is interning with the American Business Development Group.

Philip Stanley Davis (Beta Xi – Oklahoma State ’03)
Philip is a senior at Oklahoma State University where he will graduate this fall with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Philosophy. He has been on the Dean’s List and is a KAOEF Scholarship recipient. Philip has been the Rush, Scholarship and Social Chairman, not to mention the Number IX, III, and I of Beta Xi chapter. In the past year, Philip has lead a bible study and serves the largest Christian ministry on campus, “Overflow.” After graduation, Philip wants to pursue a dual masters degree in Public Administration and Psychology. Philip has served on and volunteered for several local congressional campaigns in Oklahoma. Philip is interning with the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Alexander Bunnen Feinberg (Alpha Phi – Duke ’04)
Alex is a recent graduate of Duke University where he majored in History. Alex has been on the National Dean’s List, the Dean’s List at Duke and on the Atlantic Coast Conference Honor Roll. He has volunteered his time at the Durham Literacy Center and traveled to New Orleans to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity after Hurricane Katrina. He was a four-year member of the Duke Varsity football team. Alex served Alpha Phi chapter as Number III during his junior and senior years. He plans to attend the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Alabama in the fall. Alex is interning with the Department of Labor.

Christopher Allen Huff (Gamma Chi – Texas Tech ’05)
Chris is a recent graduate of Texas Tech University where he received a BBA in International Business. Chris has been the recipient of several academic and community awards: Dean’s List, Robert H. Ewalt Student Government Association Scholarship, Alpha Phi Omega Leadership Scholarship, Order of Omega and Lewis N. Jones Pledge Leadership Award to name a few. Within the Gamma Chi chapter, Chris was Pledge Class President and Number I. This past spring, Chris completed his term as External Vice President for the Student Government Association. Chris is interning with the Department of Defense.

Bryan Alexander Schivera (Gamma – Georgia ’04)
Bryan is a rising senior at the University of Georgia majoring in Political Science. He is on the Dean’s List and is a HOPE Scholar. Bryan is an active volunteer with HERO for Children, a philanthropy that raises money for children affected by HIV. In 2006, Bryan was the top fundraiser for HERO. Within the Gamma chapter, Bryan has served as Number IV, Sports Committee and Rush Committee Chairman. After graduation, Bryan hopes to join the Kappa Alpha Order staff as an Associate Director of Chapter Services and eventually apply to law school. Bryan is interning with Senator John Thune (R-SD).

The 2007 internship class on the rooftop terrace of their aparment building in downtown DC. Left to right: Tate Bolick (Epsilon Mu - Elon '05), Philip Stanley Davis (Beta Xi - Oklahoma State '03), Bryan Schivera (Gamma - Georiga '04), Alex Feinberg (Alpha Phi - Duke '04) and Chris Huff (Gamma Chi - Texas Tech '05).