OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Rod R. Blagojevich Governmental Internship. The Office of the Governor provides unpaid internship opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students interested in experiencing all aspects of the day-to-day operations of the Governor’s Office. Interns interact directly with staff and assist in state government. The program provides internships year-round on a semester/quarter-length basis for in-state as well as out-of-state students. Minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Successful applicants may earn academic credit based on each learning institution’s criteria. Additional information can be found at www.illinois.gov/gov/intopportunities.cfm.

Michael Curry Summer Internship Program. This program encourages college juniors, seniors, and graduate students in all disciplines to apply for a summer internship. This ten-week program carries a stipend of $1,200 per month and begins approximately June 1. Interns work in one of the agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction. It is the aim of this program to encourage talented college students to consider careers in state government and achieve affirmative action through the nomination of qualified men, women, and minorities and persons with disabilities. Positions are in Springfield and Chicago. Applicants must be Illinois residents. Relocation is at the applicant’s expense. Additional information can be found at www.illinois.gov/gov/intopportunities.cfm.

James H. Dunn, Jr. Memorial Fellowship Program. This program supports a number of one-year fellowships with an annual compensation of $27,900 and full state benefits. Most fellows are placed in positions with the Governor’s executive staff, in the Office of Management and Budget, and in the Governor’s Legislative Office. The program is primarily based in Springfield, with very limited placements in Chicago and Washington, D.C. The program strives to meet the public sector’s future need for competent administrators. It serves as a public sector management training program that provides an opportunity for college graduates to supplement their education with experience in such areas as policy analysis and program administration. Minimum qualification is completion of a bachelor’s degree. Competition is nationwide, and therefore positions are open to out-of-state as well as Illinois residents. Additional information can be found at www.illinois.gov/gov/intopportunities.cfm.

Vito Marzullo Internship Program. This program supports a number of students annually to work in the Governor’s Office and agencies under the Governor’s jurisdiction. Most interns are placed in positions with the Governor’s executive staff, in the Office of Management and Budget, and in the Governor’s Legislative Office. The program is primarily based in Springfield, with very limited placements in Chicago and Washington, D.C. It supports students with benefits similar to Dunn Fellows. The program strives to meet the public sector’s future need for competent administrators. It serves as a public sector management training program that provides an opportunity for college graduates to supplement their education with experience in such areas as policy analysis and program administration. The program is open only to Illinois residents. Additional information can be found at www.illinois.gov/gov/intopportunities.cfm.

OTHER STATE AGENCIES
Governor’s Environmental Corps. Governor Rod Blagojevich and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency sponsor the annual Governor’s Environmental Corps summer internship program, which continues to be privately funded by Illinois corporations. The nine-week program provides as many as forty full-time undergraduate/graduate students the opportunity to work in the central and regional offices of the EPA. Opportunities are available for students studying biological sciences, physical sciences, chemistry, engineering, prelaw, personal computers, and communications. Additional information can be found at www.epa.state.il.us/gec/index.html.

Pollution Prevention Internship Program. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency annually recruits upper-level university students to work on pollution prevention (P2) projects during the summer. Students selected for the twelve-week session help participating facilities identify, research, and pilot P2 technologies and practices. Students in the program typically have backgrounds in engineering, environmental management, chemistry, or occupational health and safety. Additional information can be found at www.epa.state.il.us/p2/internships/index.html.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY CARBONDALE
In addition to the four state-supported internship programs offered by the Office of the Governor, Southern Illinois University administers the Senator Penny Severns Scholarships. From the premature death of Senator Penny Severns has come a program that positively impacts the lives of SIUC students. Beginning fall 2000, four scholarships have been made available to support students planning careers in public service: (1) The Senator Penny Severns Macon County Scholarship, (2) The Senator Penny Severns Making a Difference Endowed Scholarship, (3) The Senator Penny Severns Character Counts Endowed Scholarship, and (4) The Senator Penny Severns Women’s Public Service Endowed Scholarship and Internship Award. Included in the Women’s Public Service Endowed Scholarship and Internship Award is financial assistance for a nine-week summer internship position with a constitutional officer, member of the General Assembly, or state agency. For more information, please write to the Coordinator of Recruitment and Retention, College of Liberal Arts, Southern Illinois University, Faner 2427, Mail Code 4522, Carbondale, Illinois, 62901, or call 618-453-2466.