WilDCats at the Capitol accepting applications for fall internship; deadline March 31

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 24, 2025) – The deadline to apply for the Fall 2025 WilDCats at the Capitol internship program is Monday, March 31. Application details can be found here.

Since 2016, the WilDCats at the Capitol internship program at the University of Kentucky has provided students with hands-on career experiences in Washington, D.C.

Each semester, selected students travel to the nation’s capital to gain real-world experience and apply classroom learning in a fast-paced, professional environment.

“For me, it was life-changing,” said Jayden Sheridan, a UK senior studying political science. “It meant a lot for me as a first-generation student because I probably never would have gone to D.C. in my life, and I never would have worked there either. So, to be able to go and say I did this is really amazing.”

WilDCats at the Capitol is open to students of all majors. Participants remain full-time students, earning 12 academic credit hours through their internship and classes taught by UK faculty in Washington. By maintaining full-time enrollment, students can continue using their scholarships and financial aid while staying on track for graduation.

“The university provided us with mentors who were alumni,” said Keijuan Pryor, a UK sophomore studying public policy. “It was a great way to build connections and meet people who also went to UK. They could talk about their experiences at school and what it was like to work in D.C.”

During the internship, students live in program-organized housing in Washington. This experience allows them to better understand themselves and their peers and stay connected with campus.

“I had been to D.C. a couple of times, but this was different because that was more tour-oriented — I felt like a tourist,” said David Stevens, a first-year graduate student in the Martin School of Public Policy and Administration. “But this time, I was there for the whole four months, living with other UK students. The coolest part about the WilDCats at the Capitol program is you get to live in Washington, D.C.”

The university works with local providers to place participants in students-only, fully furnished housing near to mass transit options in Washington’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.

The internship program has expanded its reach thanks to collaborations with various university departments and offices. Most recently, the UK Office of Federal Relations partnered with the UK Office for Student Success to promote the program across all academic colleges and departments, ensuring that students from every discipline have the opportunity to participate. This partnership represents a significant milestone in UK’s efforts to create new opportunities for students and develop the next generation of leaders.

“This internship made it clear to me that this is the type of work I not only enjoy but also find impactful,” Stevens said. “Knowing that I was making an impact was really rewarding.”

All UK students interested in working in Washington are encouraged to apply. The application deadline for the fall internship program is March 31. For more information and to apply, visit here.