St. Thomas University senior Brandon Keller and graduate student Yanelis Madrigal were picked to participate in an internship program at the office of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio to learn first hand about the operations of the U.S. government.
Yanelis, who earned an undergraduate degree from STU and is currently working toward a graduate degree in criminal justice, said the experience will strengthen her understanding of local and state politics and legal matters.
“Aside from answering constituents’ calls, we also deal with a range of issues like immigration, housing and tourist visas,” said Yanelis. “And thanks to the professors at St. Thomas, who prepared me for life beyond the classroom, I have a solid foundation to build on.”
Brandon, who finished his first congressional internship over the summer, has his sights set on interning at the White House. With the help of STU’s Career Services Center, he applied earlier this year and is waiting for a response.
“There isn’t a day in which you do the same thing as the day before,” said Brandon, a political science major entering his senior year. “One day we’re talking to constituents, the next we’re writing memorandums that go to the Senator himself, meeting with federal and local agencies, and researching issues affecting constituents.”