Support the UC Davis Washington Program!
In 2005, Carol Wall, former Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, established the “UC Davis Washington Program Scholarship Fund” by generously donating $10,000. Carol’s intention in making this gift was to create a new endowment that would be open to any donor who wanted to support scholarships for students attending the Program. Since then, we have been working to build the corpus of the fund, and in 2007 we received over $5,000 in additional contributions from alumni. To date we have over $16,000 in the fund. Our goal is to increase the endowment to at least $100,000 so we can offer scholarships to qualified students who might otherwise not be able to participate in the Program.You can make a significant impact on this vision by joining Carol and our other donors and make a gift to this scholarship fund. Your contribution of $500, $250, $100, or whatever amount you choose, will help nurture our community of talented UC Davis students by providing scholarships to support their Washington Program education.
Strengthened by your generosity, the UC Davis Washington Program can continue to produce students just like the one who said, “It was all amazing. This has been the best ten weeks of my life, hands down.”
For more information or to make a contribution, contact Sara Lombardo.
Thank you for your support!
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Alumni Profiles
Veronica Cummings - Arthritis Foundation & 2007 UCD Washington Program Alumna
For Veronica Cummings, college was all about exploring opportunities and embracing new experiences.
After seven years in the working world, Cummings felt privileged to attend UC Davis and wanted to get the full college experience.
“Our biggest regret in life is not what we have done but what we did not do.
I made it a priority to explore all available opportunities.”
Cummings urges prospective students to do the same. She states that anyone who is undecided about whether to apply to the Washington program should “get out of his comfort zone” and try something new. In her opinion, the possibility that something great will happen is inevitable.
Returning home to California and pursuing a career in local government in Sacramento was definitely part of Cummings plan. However, her positive demeanor, work ethic, and work experience, lead her supervisors at her internship with the Arthritis Foundation to offer her a full time position. With an EAP trip already planned to Italy, they held the job for her until she returned. Now she is back in DC enjoying every moment. Cummings often reflects that she would have never had this opportunity had she “played it safe” and stayed on campus.
Tom Le - Political Science PhD Student at UC Irvine & 2005 UCD Washington Program Alumnus
“Writing the research paper was the best thing that happened to me,” declares Tom Le.
As a Political Science and History major, Le said that he managed to get to senior year without doing much writing.
The UC Washington Program changed that.
From the initial application process to the opening academic orientation, the staff and faculty stressed the importance of being a good writer.
With the guidance of Professor Emily Goldman, Le stated that his writing skills became refined quickly.
“I found her help invaluable.”
He credits his internship, a great experience, for helping him realize that working eight hours a day in the same place, with little flexibility is not his ideal working environment. After graduating in 2006, Le taught debate techniques to grades 5 though 12 at a private school in the Los Angeles area. He is combining his love of teaching and flexibility by pursuing doctoral studies at UC Irvine.
“The Washington Program has so much to offer. Be it the internship, practical skills, or building lasting relationships with peers and faculty. All make for a wonderful experience whose memories last a lifetime.”
Dan Patry - Pacific Gas & Electric Company & 2004 UCD Washington Program Alumnus
As a graduating senior, Dan Patry was looking for a capstone experience – something that would give him a competitive edge once he entered the job hunting market after graduation.
The UC Davis Washington Program and his internship with Congressman Xavier Becerra during Winter 2004 did just that. Like most interns, he was assigned clerical duties such as answering telephones and mail. He attributes his gregarious personality and seriousness about the position as key reasons why he was quickly assigned more responsibility. “The key to getting more responsibility is a combination of skills, interest, and job opportunity. I just got lucky with all three” states Patry. Patry was soon regarded as an employee, traveling locally with the senator and attending meetings with him.
Prior to interning, Patry was unclear on his career path. “The internship had a great impact on reaffirming that I was on the right track. It was a defining factor. As for job hunting, “The internship sets you apart from other new graduates. You can discuss concrete work experience completed in a competitive work environment.”
Dan Patry recently graduated with a Masters Degree from Cornell University and is working at PG&E.
Following law school, Swansiger was offered a position with her current employer but in Memphis, TN - a city where she knew no one. She credits her Washington Program experience with making her more adventurous. "Without that experience, I don't think that I would have accepted my first legal job in a city where I had never even visited."
For Swansiger, the UC Davis Washington Program was the beginning of her career and "absolutely" changed her life.
Susan Swansiger - Attorney Advisor with the Office of the Commissioner for the Social Security Administration & 1990 UCD Washington Program Alumna
"I signed up for the credit and the internship but got so much more," says Susan Swansiger, Attorney Advisor with the Office of the Commissioner for the Social Security Administration.
Thanks to the UC Davis Washington Program, Swansiger interned in the Nation's capitol during the fall 1990 academic quarter.
"Working at the Federal Judicial Center, the education and research agency for the federal courts, was my first real job.
Prior to the internship, I knew that I wanted to go to law school and work in public service, but I had not had any exposure to the legal profession."
Swansiger assisted attorneys and other specialists who coordinated training for federal court personnel.
"My internship confirmed that I was pursuing the right career for me."
Swansiger was part of the inaugural group of Davis students to intern in Washington, DC. "Things were a lot different then. We actually lived in Falls Church, VA and had to ride a shuttle bus to a Metro station to reach the District."
Following law school, Swansiger was offered a position with her current employer but in Memphis, TN - a city where she knew no one. She credits her Washington Program experience with making her more adventurous. "Without that experience, I don't think that I would have accepted my first legal job in a city where I had never even visited."
For Swansiger, the UC Davis Washington Program was the beginning of her career and "absolutely" changed her life.
Joe Sheehy - Legislative Director for Representative Grace Napolitano & 2002 UCD Washington Program Alumnus
"I was a bit of a show off", admits Joe Sheehy, Legislative Director for Representative Grace Napolitano, when asked about his UC Davis Washington Program internship.
"I thought I had to impress everyone at all times. I'm glad that I got over that quickly". Sheehy interned for Representative Nancy Pelosi in Spring 2002 at the Democratic Whip Office. As a new intern, he says that he found the work environment intimidating. "However, you learn that they {Members of Congress} are just people too. Having this internship exposed me to the professional working world. It required me to wear a suit, and taught me to communicate more maturely." After about two weeks, Sheehy calmed down and started to love his internship. His tasks started out with the mundane telephone coverage, faxes, and copies but expanded into letter writing, attending hearings, and working with staffers. "I know that I got my first job because of the skills, knowledge, and confidence that I obtained from my internship."
Now a legislative director who serves as policy advisor and oversees several issues, including transportation, taxation, and budgeting, Sheehy advises students to find an internship that offers a variety of assignments. "Further," he advises. "Relax, be confident, and be yourself."
Keep in Touch
We would love to hear what you have been doing!Please email us updated contact and professional information at washingtonprogram@ucdavis.edu.