Program Spotlight: Lutheran College Washington Semester
by Alexis Barton
As part of a longstanding partnership with other Lutheran colleges, Roanoke College students have the unique opportunity each semester to take part in a semester-long internship program in our nation’s capital. The Lutheran College Washington Semester is a chance for students to experience work and life outside of the campus community, taking part in unique internships and living in community with new peers while still taking rigorous coursework.
Roanoke College students have made up the majority of LCWS students for several of the recent semesters, including the fall 2022 class. Among these students were James Suleyman and Adelle Mengedoht, two junior students from the honors program.
Adelle, a literary studies and criminal justice double-major, spent her semester interning at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. While at her internship, she was able to work alongside another intern working on felony cases. She shares that she conducted interviews, visited clients in jail, and had the chance to observe a new side of the criminal justice system. When asked about advice for prospective students, Mengedoht shared that, “I would definitely recommend that students pursuing the D.C. semester begin working to apply to as many internships as they can as quickly as they can since many dates come up surprisingly quickly.”
James Suleyman, a criminal justice and sociology double-major, spent his semester interning at Offender Aid and Restoration. With this non-profit, James was able to get an insider perspective on transitioning individuals out of incarceration and into networks of support. Suleyman was awarded the Dr. Christopher Joyner Memorial Award for Outstanding Student for his unique and meaningful contributions to the program. Suleyman shared with the College that, “I’m so glad I got to be part of this program,” and, “I would encourage any student to try it and take advantage of the opportunities it offers. There is something here for everyone.
Students who are interested in taking part in this unique experience should contact Dr. Todd Peppers via email at [email protected] or in room 212 West Hall.
