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Danielle Corso '12: "I want a career that
helps the community." |
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Corso helped plan events for the
Richmond Slave Trail Commission. |
11/21/11
Internships are an essential part of career exploration and preparation at Randolph-Macon College. Just ask
political science major
Danielle Corso ’12.
Corso’s J-term 2011
internship at the Virginia House of Delegates enabled her to work closely with Delegate Delores McQuinn. Corso says the internship was a perfect match for her career goals.
“I want a career that involves helping the community, whether at the community level or through the political process,” she explains. “During my internship I experienced firsthand how an elected official carries out the duties of that position. I felt a kinship with Delegate McQuinn because we are both motivated by a deep desire to help people.”
To read more SERVE stories, click here. For three months, Corso attended General Assembly sessions and committee meetings and assisted Delegate McQuinn by helping her prepare for meetings.
“I compiled information about the bills being discussed at each meeting,” says Corso, who followed chief-patron bills to track their progress and then presented the information to delegates and senators. One of the highlights of her internship involved event-planning for the Richmond Slave Trail Commission.
“At the time of my internship, the Richmond Slave Trail Commission, which Delegate McQuinn chairs, was preparing to unveil 17 Richmond Slave Trail Markers,” says Corso. “I attended meetings with Delegate McQuinn and other members of the Commission to plan the event and get the community involved.”
One of Delegate McQuinn’s chief-patron bills addressed the research investigations of the Department of Historic Resources and the bill that would allocate slave-burial grounds back to the City of Richmond (from Virginia Commonwealth University) to preserve the location as a historical marker. Corso presented this bill to delegates and senators and asked for their support.
Along with the unveiling of the Slave Trail Markers, Corso attended a meeting with the partners of The Future of Richmond’s Past, an initiative that promotes the history of the Civil War.
“My internship was very valuable for me,” says Corso. “It enhanced my understanding of the legislative body and also gave me a unique opportunity to help organize public events. I networked with politicians, attorneys, lobbyists and leaders of various organizations. Through my work for Delegate McQuinn, I reached out to the community and assisted in planning events that would benefit the community’s understanding and appreciation for their city's history. It was an awesome experience.”
R-MC Sociology Professor Reber Dunkel, the coordinator of Students Engaged in Responsible Volunteer Experiences (
SERVE), says that Corso’s experience exemplifies the vital importance of the real-world training that internships offer.
“The Richmond Slave Trail Commission has been instrumental in helping preserve and recognize the historical contributions and hardships experienced by Africans and African Americans during the slave era,” says Dunkel. “Along with facilitating while learning about the legislative process in the General Assembly, Danielle was able to play a leadership role in organizing the events commemorating these important Virginia landmarks. This is a genuine service to the larger community.”
R-MC Political Science Professor Brian Turner helped Corso secure the internship and serves as her advisor and mentor.
“Danielle took the opportunity our internship program creates for students to work closely with elected officials, who like Delegate McQuinn serve as role models of public service,” says Turner. “Our
January Term interns working at the General Assembly are given truly substantive and important work to do, and like Danielle they often continue to work after the internship has ended. Our students are great ambassadors for the college.”
In 2010-11, R-MC students collectively amassed almost 8,000 volunteer hours. Nearly 50 students spent an alternative Spring Break in Florida for a combined 950 hours with Habitat for Humanity and 130 hours for a Haiti Relief project. Students in R-MC’s Greek organizations contributed more than 4,500 hours of collective service to the community, collected 550 pounds of canned food, donated 60 inches of hair to Locks of Love, 21 toys to Toys for Tots and generous funds to various organizations. In addition, money was raised on campus and donated to the Red Cross & Partners in Health for the Haiti Earthquake Relief. The SERVE program, in the Office of Student Life, is an integral part of Randolph-Macon’s Leadership Development and Service Initiative.