Political Science and History Student Selected for Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program
By Keegan Koberl
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry, a third-year student dual majoring in political science and history from Redondo Beach, Calif., will serve as Cal Poly’s 2024 representative to the Panetta Institute Congressional Internship Program.
After a two-week training period at the Panetta Institute at CSU Monterey Bay, Henry will work in the Capitol Hill office of a California congressional representative in Washington, D.C., for 11 weeks in the fall.
“I am eager to use this incredible opportunity as a Learn by Doing experience,” Henry said. “When I am working on Capitol Hill, the practical skills I will learn that are needed for any political science-related job I want to pursue will be immense.
“This opportunity and everything I can learn on the job will be life-changing and hopefully lead me to pursue the career and life path of my dreams.”
Henry is one of the principal founders of the San Luis Obispo Model United Nations Club at Cal Poly. Since founding the club, the university’s Model United Nations team has expanded its membership and participates in a greater number of competitions with improved performances. The club’s delegate membership now comes from almost every major on campus.
Henry is the 24th Cal Poly student to participate in the Panetta Institute program since 2001. He will join 20 other students, all nominated by the presidents of California State University campuses, as well as two private universities, Saint Mary’s College of California and Santa Clara University. The program is open to all academic majors and is recognized as one of the leading internship courses in the nation because of the rigorous training it provides.
The Panetta Institute covers program costs, including course registration fees, campus services during orientation, air travel and housing in Washington, D.C. By covering these expenses, the institute can make the program available to interns from all socioeconomic levels. Cal Poly awardees are supported in part through the Ed and Jan Slevin Congressional Internship Endowment.