Centre College's Hope Wigginton to join C-SPAN during her semester in Washington, D.C.

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DANVILLE, KY (01/21/2014)(readMedia)-- Hope Wigginton of Campbellsville, a junior at Centre College, is interning this semester in Washington, D.C., with Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN). The network's mission is to air unedited, balanced views of government and public policy forums and to provide viewers with direct access to elected officials, decision-makers and journalists. As a politics major and international studies minor, Wigginton is enthusiastic about the possibilities this internship holds.

Wigginton hopes further her journalism goals through the experience she gains.

"My internship with C-SPAN will not only provide valuable experience in a field I'm interested in but also offer connections that could be a crucial piece of the puzzle regarding a future career," she says.

Wigginton was immediately drawn to the Centre-in-Washington opportunity due to her interest in broadcasting and government.

"I knew I was interested in an internship with a news station, and I'm thrilled to be working with C-SPAN," she says.

While in the capital, Wigginton plans to work in C-SPAN's marketing department, focusing on education and media relations. Most likely, she will be riding with the C-SPAN digital bus that visits schools, colleges, book festivals and other public events to host programs and interviews (the same bus that visited Centre's campus during the 2012 Vice Presidential Debate).

"I'm intrigued by Washington, D.C., and excited to spend another semester in a metropolitan setting after being in London, England, all of last spring," she explains. "I'm looking forward to seeing our government in action and being a part of making this action accessible to the public."

The Centre-in-Washington program is a rigorous one; in addition to her daily work with C-SPAN, Wigginton will participate in evening classes through Butler University, as well as required trips, lectures and other activities.

While balancing an internship with courses and other academic requirements can be daunting, Wigginton feels fully prepared for the semester.

"Centre provides such incredible opportunities for us as students," she says. "In the past year, I've attended the Vice Presidential Debate on our campus, studied abroad in London, England, and learned a bit about broadcasting from co-anchoring our campus news show Centre 360 this semester.

"In addition to this," she continues, "my courses have sufficiently prepared me to spend time in our nation's capital and understand political discourse and current events. The liberal arts education I'm receiving has immensely improved my speaking and writing skills and my knowledge about a variety of subjects-ultimately, preparing me for this unique opportunity." 

Wigginton is the daughter of Scott and Elizabeth Wigginton of Campbellsville and is a graduate of Taylor County High School.