Tower-Summer 2019

SUMMER 2019 | TOWER 19 STEWART IN THE HOUSE Clad in cap and gown, Madison Stewart ’18 may have been physically present in O’Pake Field- house that commencement day, but hermindwas nearly 200 miles away, consumed with thoughts of her im- pending internship at the nation’s capital. From the Office of Communi- cations tasked with overseeing presidential media relations, to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, manyWhite House offices appealed to Stewart. She finally received her commission once the rigorous selection process was completed… she was to report to the Office of Political Affairs (OPA). Among Stewart’s greatest takeaways from her internship experience was the robust profes- sional network she built with her supervisors and fellow interns. That network has since propelled her toward an exciting career in politics, including her current campaign position for the 2020 election cycle. She said she owes a lot of her success to her KU family, which includes her professors, coaches and teammates. “There are somanygood people at KUwho go out of theirway to support students; it’s amazing!” Her advice for students looking to attend KU and a political science major? Get involved outside the classroom and create a strong network with classmates, faculty and members of the community. Stewart believes internships are an excellent way to build a re- sume and students should aim to diversify their experience. “Your college years are so unique, and I think KU is a really conducive environment for students to grow as individuals. Kutztown pushed me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to set my goals high,” Stewart said. By Samantha Koller M’20 Editorial Graduate Assistant