Two Arkansas Tech University students are examining the transition of power from one presidential administration to another during a two-week academic program in Washington, D.C.
Sophomore Allison Edwards of Perryville (photographed, left) and junior Savannah Dye of Russellville (photographed, right) earned an opportunity to spend Jan. 8-21 in the nation’s capital as part of a presidential inauguration academic seminar hosted by the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars.
According to information provided by the Washington Center, the seminar allows participants to learn about “key policy issues in detail by hearing from leaders from the government, think tanks, the media and other national organizations.”
In addition, the Washington Center stated that the program prompts students to “examine the significance of the inauguration through guided small-group discussions and by visiting leading organizations around the city.”
Both Edwards and Dye are blogging about their experience at http://blogs.atu.edu/studyabroad/. Interested parties are invited to read about their journey throughout their two weeks in Washington, D.C.
“As a political science major, it is a great advantage to be familiarized with the history of our country and the terminology of politics which allows me to understand and appreciate this city even more,” wrote Edwards in a blog entry from Tuesday, Jan. 10. “Since the inauguration is less than two weeks away, the city is bustling with tourists and workers trying to set up all of the stages and viewing areas.”
Edwards and Dye are also touring many of the nation’s most historic sites. They have visited the Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and the Iwo Jima Memorial.
“It’s one thing to hear how many soldiers are still missing in action from the Vietnam War in a class lecture, but it’s much more powerful to walk alongside the wall of the names of soldiers,” wrote Dye in a Jan. 10 blog entry. “Walking to and from these monuments like many influential people from history have before us is a truly empowering experience.”
Learn more about study abroad opportunities at Arkansas Tech University.
