63 Full-Time Interns Successfully Complete 12-Week Government Internships

The Maine Summer Government Internship Benefits a Variety of Maine Communities

Maine State Treasurer Henry Beck and Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey recently congratulated the 2019 Maine Government Summer Internship Program participants and their supervisors in a reception at The Blaine House. This year, the MCS Policy Center placed 63 interns in Maine state, county, and municipal governments for 12-week paid summer internships. 45 students served in state agencies located in Augusta, Bangor, and Portland while 18 worked in municipalities and county governments statewide. These students enriched a diverse array of of coastal and inland communities from Lincoln to Kennebunkport to the north and south and Bridgeton to Union from west to east with many in between.

A Range of Interns and Supervisors Participate in the Program

Interns experiences ranged across many disciplines and were not relegated to students interested specifically in public policy.  Students held a variety of academic backgrounds and interests across STEM, business, and humanities disciplines including GIS, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, History, Geology, Biology, Economics, Environmental Studies, Finance, Law, Marketing, Communications, as well as Government, Civics, and Public Administration.  These students served with town managers, public works directors, planning commissions, tourism commissions, and state governmental offices. Each intern was hosted by a particular agency or municipality and worked on multiple projects with a direct supervisor. It is the role of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center to pair intern applicants with hosts that desire their specific knowledge and training. The hosts of these students benefit from the skills, enthusiasm and fresh approach of a new individual working in their agency, while the students benefit from the relationship through networking, gaining professional work experience, earning a steady income, and acquiring insight into the functions of state and municipal governments. Those interested in hosting an intern or becoming an intern in the future should contact Peggy McKee (margaret.mckee@maine.edu).

The Impact of the MGSIP Reaches Far Beyond Maine

Though students are required to either attend school within the state of Maine or to call Maine their home, the geographic impact of this internship program extends far beyond the boundaries the state.  This year, students hailed from college and university campuses as far away as Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Quebec, Indiana, Ohio, Maryland, and Halifax as well as throughout the northeastern United States. Students also called a variety of locations home, the furthest coming from Fairfax, Virginia. For more information on the geographic scope of the internship program click below:

The 2019 Maine Government Summer Internship Program has a Vast Geographic Impact

Several Interns Featured in the Media

Many of our interns had their experiences highlighted on social media and through local news outlets. Visit the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for even intern media coverage and photo galleries of the educational, networking, and ceremonial events. #MCSPCIntern2019