When Rep. Jerry Kleczka (D-Wis.) retired from the House of Representatives after nearly 20 years of service, he was kind enough to give $300,000 of leftover campaign money to the Les Aspin Center for Government. His gift was to create the Kleczka Internship Program, a program that would provide internship opportunities at a local level. The Kleczka Internship Program is aimed particularly at economically disadvantaged students and minorities who might otherwise be unable to attend the Les Aspin Center in Washington, D.C.

The Kleczka Internship Program selects six highly qualified but economically disadvantaged students each semester from a pool of applicants to participate in the program. To apply for this program one must apply one semester ahead of time to be considered. There is no requirement to be a political science major and Kleczka scholars have held a variety of majors whether the usual political science or something different like business or communications.

It is programs like this one that help make Marquette who we are, a place where students of all different backgrounds are given opportunities to succeed. The Kleczka Internship Program is not unlike the Les Aspin Center in Washington, D.C. in that it allows students to work with government institutions through internships. But rather than working at the national level, the Kleczka scholars work more with state and local government institutions. This past year the various internships that Kleczka scholars held ranged from working for Milwaukee's mayoral office to interning with state senators and the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors. Since traveling to and living in D.C. can be very expensive, the local scope of the program allows the Kleczka students to remain on campus rather than traveling thousands of miles for public service internships. The program also provides a stipend for living expenses.

The Rev. Tim O'Brien, director of the Aspin Center, said that the program would provide young people with a foundation in leadership and public service. Programs like this show Marquette's commitment to the concept of Cura Personalis (care for the whole person) by providing opportunities that are not only academically oriented but practical in the work force. Marquette should continue to support and possibly expand this program as much as possible and programs of a similar nature. The long-term benefits to the community of the Kleczka Internship Program are limitless, whether by involving more future leaders in local governance or by providing positive examples of young people overcoming financial obstacles to succeed.

This editorial was published in The Marquette Tribune on September 22, 2005.