The TX Legislature meets every other year for 140 days, packing two years of law-making into a bit more than four months. This is a predicament that calls for help, and offices are quick to reach out to SHSU for possible help.
To that end, eight students set out on a Thursday for Austin, TX, to interview in both Democrat and Republican offices. To mark this moment, the students met under Bruce Munro’s “Confluence,” an art piece that highlights the complementary nature of the Humanities and Social Sciences, a fitting metaphor for a team of Bearkats ready to help each other in their next adventure.
The Sam Houston Austin Internship Program (SHAIP) is the vehicle for this adventure. SHAIP was initiated in 2012 by President Dana Hoyt, who wanted students to have great experiences while also increasing SHSU’s presence in Austin.
And for the past 12 years, SHSU has sent students to Austin, where they have worked in diverse offices, expanded their skill set, and broadened their professional network.
The SHAIP program offers students scholarships to defray living costs; assists with the interview and placement process; and offers trainings and workshops throughout the internship. The goal, as President Hoyt envisioned and President White has extended, is to provide once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to a great group of students, while enabling them to serve the State of Texas.
Center for Law, Engagement, and Politics 