Three East Texas A&M University students are spending the fall semester in Washington, D.C., gaining experience in congressional offices and government relations through the Texas A&M University System's Public Policy Scholars Program.

The program pairs internships with academic coursework, allowing undergraduates from across the A&M System to explore public policy while earning college credit. Participants take classes taught by Bush School of Government and Public Service faculty and gain firsthand exposure to policymaking.

Theophilus Manex, a political science honors student minoring in philosophy and history, is interning in the office of U.S. Rep. Brian Mast of Florida. He plans to pursue a legal career focused on corporate, regulatory and tax law.

Jocalyn Leija, a first-generation honors student majoring in political science with a general business minor, is a legislative intern with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. She hopes to become a civil rights or environmental attorney.

H'Lyia Kennedy, a history junior, is interning with the A&M System's Office of Federal Relations. A student government senator, Kennedy aspires to become an attorney who helps underserved communities navigate legal and policy systems.

East Texas A&M's Office of Student Career Preparedness introduced the students to the opportunity and helped them prepare through interview coaching and guidance on statements of purpose. The office fosters relationships with employers that can result in career opportunities for students and alumni, while providing quality career preparation tools to develop the essential skills needed to compete in the job market.

“PPSP gives students the chance to learn beyond the classroom, build professional networks and gain firsthand experience in our nation's capital,” said Arthur Lumzy Jr., executive director of Student Career Preparedness . “Most importantly, they return with new perspectives, greater confidence, and experiences that can shape where they go next.”