The location also made it possible for Neely to have contact with groups such as the Center for Reformed Judaism. Wofford is the state's first independent college to participate in the Washington Semester, which previously had been restricted to students at public universities. Wofford's first student participant, Ross Plyler of Greenville, SC, worked for Congressman Jim DeMint in 1999. We went to Wofford because it is the best. Mould says that the program gives students who may or may not be interested in government careers the opportunity to experience life in the nation's capital while working at a full-time job.
Fellows earn college credit for the semester and receive a stipend.
Most internships are designed for students seeking careers in politics and government. Very few of our students intend to become politicians or hold any public office. They plan on becoming concerned and active citizens. The selection process for the fellowships is keen, Mould says, with intensive interviews and stringent academic requirements. Ten students participated in the spring 2000 semester.