A Southern Arkansas University endowment two decades in the making has its first recipient spending the summer in our nation’s capital for a career-boosting internship.
Cody Burkham, a senior political science and history major from Hope, has been named the first recipient of the William C. Nolan Legislative Internship. He arrived in Washington, D.C., on May 5, and hit the ground running the following day at his internship with Rep. Rick Crawford from Arkansas’ first congressional district.
Burkham’s excitement resonated through his cell phone as he walked the streets of D.C. after a long day of working with Congressman Crawford. He said he gets to help with a lot of “administrative stuff,” as one would expect from an intern, but that he has also helped Crawford by attending committee hearings and briefings. He said he has even had the opportunity to provide his boss with bill write-ups on proposed legislation that Crawford may be looking at to co-sponsor.
“I was really excited when I got the call from Representative Crawford’s office offering me the job because I knew it was such a great opportunity,” Burkham said. “Because of this experience I have decided that after I graduate from SAU I want to come back and get on as a staffer in a congressional office, hopefully with a representative or senator from Arkansas.”
The William C. Nolan Legislative Internship Endowment was established more than two decades ago to make it financially possible for a student from the Department of History, Political Science and Geography to accept a summer legislative internship with the U.S. Congress. Many students require this assistance in order to accept such an internship because they typically work in the summer. The stipend from the Nolan Endowment will help overcome that loss of income while providing an opportunity for a student to learn hands-on about government.
“I am excited that Cody is the first of many deserving students who will have an opportunity to gain practical experience working for Congress in Washington, D.C., thanks to the Nolan Endowment,” said Dr. Paul Babbitt, associate professor of political science. “Congressional internships are highly competitive, but they do not offer any financial support. This will allow more students to take advantage of the opportunity to work in D.C.”
Claudell Woods, the chair of the department, and Dr. James Willis, the retired University historian and professor of history, have been faithfully directing contributions to the fund. During the past year, an alumnus of the department made a generous anonymous gift in honor of Dr. Willis to complete the endowment and make it possible for Burkham to be the first stipend beneficiary this summer.
“D.C. is expensive and the Nolan Endowment has helped me pursue a goal and a dream,” said Burkham. “I am very thankful to Mr. Nolan, the SAU Foundation, and to all who have contributed to this fund.”
A U.S. Air Force veteran of the Second World War and the Korean War, Professor Nolan taught political science at Southern State College and SAU for 25 years, beginning in 1962. He also served as the chair of the social science division. He held degrees from Western New Mexico University and the University of New Mexico, with additional graduate work at New York University and the University of Mississippi. Upon retirement from SAU in 1987, he returned to his native state of New Mexico. He is now 91 and enjoys life in Silver Springs.
Before heading off to enjoy his evening in D.C., Burkham added appreciation for his SAU professors. “I know other interns who are going to schools like Harvard, Yale, and big state schools and I’m not intimidated at all because the faculty in our department makes sure we are prepared to pursue whatever we intend to do,” he said.
Cody Burkham overlooking Washington, D.C. from atop the U.S. Capitol dome.
