The Open Horizon Foundation and TXST Center for Research, Public Policy, and Training Internship Program

The Open Horizon Foundation and TXST Center for Research, Public Policy, and Training have established a fund to provide TXST students who are first-generation and Pell-eligible with the unique opportunity to serve as congressional interns at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. over a school semester. Interns will engage with and develop a greater understanding of the policy-making and legislative processes as well as gain invaluable professional skills, practical government work experience, and a more robust professional network.

Interns work full-time and are paid for the semester for which they are chosen. While interning at the U.S. Capitol will require hard work and some late nights, it can also be an extremely rewarding experience that better positions one for achieving their long-term career goals.  

While applicants must meet certain minimum requirements, there is much more to the selection process. For example, applicants must demonstrate a positive attitude, solid work ethic, excellent communication skills, adaptability, and creativity.

Each intern will be awarded a $10,000 scholarship made possible by the Open Horizon Foundation. A key component of the program is that all housing costs are paid through the scholarship funds awarded to participants. Each semester, TXST places students at a housing site that is chosen by the program administrator. TXST primarily works with WISH (Washington Intern Student Housing) to accommodate the interns. The housing scholarship is awarded to every intern and is integral to helping make this internship opportunity possible for all TXST students. The awarded student can use the remaining funds for travel expenses, clothing, or other day-to-day expenses while interning in Washington, D.C.

Finalists must successfully complete background screening as a pre-condition to an internship.