Monday, May 21, 2007
USI student selected as Intern of the Year by Indiana House Democrats
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Scott Carr ’07 was chosen as Democratic Intern of the Year by the Democratic Caucus of the Indiana House of Representatives during the first session of the 115th General Assembly. The honor includes a $3,000 Verizon scholarship. The award was presented to Carr and to the Republican Intern of the Year, Jessica Wiseman of Purdue University, on the House floor by Gale Y. Given, president of the Great Lakes Region of Verizon, in April. Carr holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from USI. A graduate of North Central High School in Indianapolis, Carr is the son of Randy Carr of Noblesville and Susan Carrico of Indianapolis. He plans to apply the scholarship toward law school. Carr was the only USI student intern serving in the House this session. Two other USI students, Shane Dearing ‘07 and Aaron Ridlen, served in the Senate. Carr was a highly visible student at USI, serving as president of the Student Government Association for 2005-06; student representative on the nominating committee for the Indiana Commission for Higher Education; and associate justice on the Inner Fraternity Council. He also was a founding member of the USI chapter of Kappa Alpha Order fraternity and served on multiple University-wide committees. Carr was Homecoming King in 2006 and won several honors and awards during his tenure at USI, including the All-Campus Student Achievement Award; Vice President’s Top Student Leadership Award; Alpha Psi Omega Memorial Scholarship; Robert L. Moore Scholarship; Greek Man of the Year Award; Kappa Alpha Order Brother of the Year; and more. He estimated that half of the 25 Democratic interns in the House applied for the scholarship. “Most people are planning on going to law school or graduate school. That makes it competitive. The whole interview process was very competitive to get the internship.” Carr was the only intern to work in the Democratic policy office. “I didn’t work for any particular representative – I worked for any of the reps that needed me, and the policy director and assistant policy director of the Democratic caucus.” He described the session as “intense.” “We had so many issues that could be referred to as crises – from property taxes to full-day kindergarten. There is a lot of give and take, and negotiations. A lot of bills depend upon other bills. It’s a complicated process.” Carr said he came away from the experience with a greater respect for the process and the legislators. “They work really hard and they have virtually no staff to help them. A lot of the legislators - especially in the house - have to depend on their own work and their own research to help them make their decisions.” He said that though the internship is a “big commitment – it takes a semester,” he would recommend it to any student. “Everybody should have this experience, in my opinion. So many people are naïve about the process, or only read the newspapers. This experience helps you understand what players are in the game and why.” In fall 2007, internship coordinators from the Republican and Democratic caucuses will be on the USI campus to visit classrooms and meet with students about internship opportunities in the Indiana House and Senate. Interested students should contact Pam Doerter, career coordinator in Career Services, at 812/464-1865. |
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