63 Students Interning in Maine Government This Summer

This year, the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center placed a record number of 63 interns in Maine state, municipal, and county governments through the Maine Government Summer Internship Program. 45 interns work in state agencies, while 18 serve in municipal and county government offices. These internships are paid, full-time, 12-week positions. The internship program benefits a wide-range of Maine communities indirectly through the work of the interns but also directly with students living and working rural areas such as Lincoln, Bridgton, Fayette, Union, and Wiscasset as well as urban areas such as Augusta and Bangor.

Student Interns Come From a Variety of Academic Disciplines

The students interning in the program come from broad educational backgrounds including law, criminal justice, government, environmental studies, engineering, economics, and accounting. Utilizing their knowledge and skills gained at colleges and universities, these students work as GIS specialists, data analysts, infrastructure analysts, hydrology assistants, laboratory assistants, marketing and planning specialists, media content creators, and tourist development assistants to name a few.

The Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center pairs each intern with a host agency, department, or municipality and matches them with a direct supervisor. Their host supervisors and departments assign multiple projects to the students and benefit from their skills, enthusiasm, and fresh approach to the issues facing their offices and  communities. The students gain professional work experience, invaluable networking opportunities, and insights into the functions of local and state governments.

History of the Maine Government Summer Internship Program

Established in 1967, the Maine Government Summer Internship Program offers a unique opportunity for talented college students to work within Maine government, providing valuable financial support to students while they gain professional and practical skills in their fields of study. The 103^rd Maine Legislature founded the program to attract university and college students with ambition and talent to bring their skills and expertise to government agencies throughout the state. The Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at the University of Maine administers the internship program and, over the past fifty years, nearly 1,800 students completed internships through this program.