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Matthew Musser '12 |
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Randolph-Macon College student
Matthew Musser ’12 got a behind-the-scenes look at the Virginia General Assembly during January Term 2011. The Mechanicsville, Virginia native interned at the General Assembly with Senator Walter A. Stosch of the 12th District of Virginia.
The experience gave Musser insight into how the General Assembly functions. “I worked with constituents to record their topics of interest, and I tracked bills that are important to the Senator and his constituents,” he says. “It was a great opportunity to sit in on Committee and Sub-Committee meetings. I also worked with elected officials, and I met lobbyists and members of special-interest groups.”
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R-MC
Economics/Business Professor David Brat was instrumental in helping arrange the
Bassett internship. “I talked to Professor Brat at the end of the fall semester and said that I wanted to do something during J-Term that would help me in the future and also be a great experience," says Musser. "He was extremely helpful and offered support throughout the entire process.”
Musser says the internship was a fantastic opportunity to network and to see firsthand some important connections. “The experience was great because I saw how government and the corporate world interact,” he says.
Getting Involved
Musser, an
accounting major, has for the past three years been a catcher for the Yellow Jackets varsity baseball team. “I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to play baseball in college and also be so involved in other activities,” he says. “I work during the summer as an orientation assistant, and I like being able to plan events and then see it all come together for new students. Helping freshmen experience something that I have already been through is something I enjoy.”
Musser’s involvement in
Kappa Alpha is also very important to him, and in 2010 he received the Samuel Z. Ammen Award for outstanding leadership skills. The event was held at the Emerging Leaders Academy in Lexington, Virginia, and for Musser the award was more than just a plaque. “It was an opportunity to put the R-MC Zeta Chapter on the map with the national office,” he says. “Joining KA was one of the best things I have ever done. I saw how close the brothers were and I knew I wanted to be part of such a dynamic group.”
Making Plans
Musser plans on attending graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in sports leadership. Ideally, he’d like to combine his two favorite interests, sports and accounting, in his future career. “One day I hope to work in a professional team’s advertising department,” he says. His back-up plan, however, takes a much different direction. “I am also considering a career in law enforcement,” he says. “My grandfather worked in the Pennsylvania State Department of Corrections and my father works for the Hanover County government. I want to follow in their footsteps by helping people in the community.”
For more information about the breadth of programs and opportunities available at Randolph-Macon or to schedule a campus visit, contact our Admissions Office at (800) 888-1762 or at
admissions@rmc.edu.
About the Bassett Internship Program:
The Bassett Internship Program is dedicated to providing a real-world backdrop for future academic learning, as well as preparation for life after graduation. With a history of placements in over 1,100 sites in more than 20 states, Washington, D.C., and 11 foreign countries, students get an opportunity to explore the world of work.
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