Rachel Sondag ’07

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After interning in Washington, D.C. for a semester, I wanted a different kind of internship experience that would still fit well with my policy management major. Project Vote Smart's National Internship Program provided just that. I joined other interns from across the country at the Great Divide Ranch, which is located 100 miles south of Missoula, 65 miles west of Butte and 30 miles from the closest grocery store.

Project Vote Smart is a unique, nonprofit, nonpartisan voter research library. It provides American citizens with factual, relevant, agenda-free information about political candidates and legislation. Being away from the distractions of city life, political pressures and corruption, I was better able to educate myself and others about American politics, elected officials and candidates in the middle of the Northwest than when I was in the nation's capital.

Interns play a crucial role at Project Vote Smart and make up the vast majority of the staff; this allowed my internship to greatly contribute to my academic and professional growth as it allowed me to provide my own opinions and ideas while learning from those of others. Additionally, it helped me continue to develop my knowledge of nonprofit management.


Rachel and friends at the ranch.
Friends at the ranch from left, Berea College, Mount Holyoke, Sondag and her roommate from University of the Incarnate Word.

Rachel and friends in front of a glacier.
Interns and a staff member at Glacier National Park.

But there was much more to my internship than working in the office from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The ranch itself is beautiful. When work ended we were able to horseback ride, hike and take part in various other activities around ranch. On the weekends, I traveled to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks, attended a rodeo, went whitewater rafting and explored the Northwest.
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA 17013