Lamar students intern at national political conventions

Four Lamar University Reaud Honors College students took part in an academic program from the Washington Center that saw them attend and complete internship placements at the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.
 
“No matter how many times I was told attending the convention would be an experience like no other, I didn’t understand until I actually attended,” Madison Marino, a junior economics major who attended the DNC, said. "Attending and working at the convention gave me a newfound respect and interest for the politicians who give up their lives for public service. I feel fortunate to live in such a great country as the United States.”
 
Marino was joined at the DNC by junior political science major Tara Hoch while junior accounting and finance major Victoria LaFleur and junior business management major Ryan Sherer attended the RNC. The students spent a week before the conventions in an academic program of seminars and lectures, then worked during the conventions with CNN, Fox News, Voice of America and the Texas delegation.
 
“The effort it takes to make sure the delegates are happy is incredible, and the Texas delegation staff did a great job of making sure everything went smoothly,” Sherer, who worked with the organization, said. “As for the convention itself, the rules votes may have been the most interesting part I witnessed because none of that process is shown on television typically…I was in the room for the aftermath of Sen.Ted Cruz's controversial speech. He came to breakfast and had to face the Texas delegation, who were not particularly happy with him.”