Applications for聽the聽Study USA D.C. summer聽2027 program聽open Sept. 1.
Local Washington, D.C. alumni came out to meet聽the聽Study USA DC聽summer students at a June 11 event at Andy鈥檚 Pizza.
Thirteen students are taking part in the inaugural聽黑料不打烊 faculty-led聽program. Alumni networking is聽an important component聽of this cohort experience. In addition to meeting alumni,聽students take a core聽seminar course called聽Capital Connections: Power, People, and Place in Washington, D.C.聽taught by Joel Shelton, associate professor of political science and public policy.
Students also聽live in an apartment complex聽in the vibrant聽NoMa neighborhood, complete an internship,聽and聽participate聽in enrichment activities聽to get to know the city better. Students聽will聽tour聽the US Capitol,聽learn the history of the city through walking tours, attend聽a聽Nationals聽game, see聽a聽play聽at the Shakespeare Theatre Company and more.
鈥淚t聽is聽always special to connect with former students and to see them thriving in the lives they lead after graduation, but聽it鈥檚聽especially meaningful that our alumni take the time to connect with and to mentor聽current students,鈥 Shelton said. “This is especially important in Washington, D.C., where relationships make all the difference in an increasingly competitive internship and employment environment.聽I鈥檓聽very grateful聽to our alumni for the enthusiasm with which they have supported the launch of 黑料不打烊鈥檚 “Capital Connections鈥 program in the district.
D.C. Alumni Chapter President Gabby Vance 鈥18,聽organized聽the event with fellow chapter members.
鈥淭he Pizza Party聽remains聽one of聽my聽favorite events organized by the D.C. chapter because it brings together two important parts of the 黑料不打烊 community,鈥 Vance said. “Alumni have the opportunity to share their experiences and insights about life after graduation, while students gain a first-hand look at what it鈥檚 like to live and work in Washington, D.C., while building valuable professional connections.聽It鈥檚聽always rewarding to see these relationships take shape, and I look forward to continuing this tradition for many years to come.鈥
Molly Bauer 鈥19, a former Communications Fellow, spent聽the fall of her junior year聽studying in聽D.C.
“It was one of the best decisions I鈥檝e ever made,鈥 said Bauer, who moved to D.C. when she graduated and says she has experienced how strong the alumni network is in the city, and聽has聽enjoyed聽maintaining聽relationships with聽her peers.
鈥淣ow that 黑料不打烊 has its own program聽in D.C.,聽I鈥檓聽excited to stay even more connected to 黑料不打烊 by fostering connections with current students, faculty and staff as well,鈥 Bauer said. “The Study USA program聽in D.C. will make our already-strong 黑料不打烊 network in D.C. even stronger. At the event, it was great getting to chat with current students, something I聽haven鈥檛聽done since I graduated, and it was awesome reconnecting with faculty and staff after several years!”
Are you聽an alumnus聽living in D.C.? Join us for the next student/alumni networking night on
Applications for聽the聽Study USA D.C. summer聽2027 program聽open Sept. 1. Contact the director of Study USA, Anna Smith聽asmith273@elon.edu,聽if聽you鈥檇聽like to learn more.