Carlee Drury ’27 of Providence, Kentucky, and Jager Ferguson ’26 of Chatham, Illinois, build their resumes with internships in Washington, D.C.
by Duane Bonifer
COLUMBIA, KY. (02/25/2026) Two Lindsey Wilson University students have clearer pictures about their professional futures, thanks to a recent internship in Washington, D.C.
Carlee Drury ’27 of Providence, Kentucky, and Jager Ferguson ’26 of Chatham, Illinois, spent the 2025 fall semester in the Capitol Hill Internship Program, where they took classes and served as interns.
Lindsey Wilson is one of eight U.S. colleges and universities who are members of the distinguished internship program, in which students live near Capitol Hill while interning in government or non-government offices and take part in seminars that enrich their internship experience. CHIP is open to students from all majors and career plans.
For his internship, Ferguson worked on the fundraising side for Axiom Strategies, a full-service political strategy firm.
“A lot of what I did was contacting donors, helping organize events and attending special events,” said Ferguson, who is a history and political science double major. “I got to meet a lot of cool people.”
Ferguson said the internship helped him clarify post-graduation plans, which include attending law school. But after a semester studying and working in Washington, he is now considering taking a gap year before starting law school so that he can work a full year in the nation’s capital.
“I would like to go back and work for a member of Congress,” said Ferguson. “I would like to see the inner side of how laws are developed. I feel like that would give me a very interesting perspective before going to law school.”
For her internship, Drury worked in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia Homicide Section, where she helped organize evidence that was used in federal trials.
A criminal justice and political science double major, Drury also plans to attend law school after she graduates from Lindsey Wilson. She said the CHIP internship “opened my eyes to more options.”
“It was very fascinating,” said Drury. “I really enjoyed seeing a new perspective of the justice system. I also made so many connections within the D.C. legal system and learned how everybody got to that point in their careers.”
‘A great opportunity’
Drury said the CHIP experience is “a great opportunity” because it helps students weigh various career possibilities and build a network of CHIP students from other colleges and universities.
“Even if you are not sure what you want to do after college, this gives you such a new perspective and helps you to see all of the different options,” she said.
This spring, two more Lindsey Wilson students are in CHIP — history and political science double major Braxten Davidson ’26 of Gays Creek, Kentucky, and media studies and communication double major Noah Elkhiyari ’26 of Peachtree Corners, Georgia.
Lindsey Wilson political science professor Matthew Powers, who coordinates CHIP at the university, said “it’s the best internship opportunity we offer.”
“It’s such an amazing experience for students,” said Powers, who has overseen four cohorts of LWU students in CHIP and is coordinator of LWU’s political science program. “It’s one of the best career-builders we have, and it is open to all students, regardless of their majors.”
20,000 steps a day
For Drury and Ferguson, their fall in CHIP was the first time either of them had been to Washington. And they got to see a lot of Washington while in CHIP. During their Washington seminar class, they visited several landmarks, including the Delegation of the European Union, where they met with one of the EU’s representatives.
In their spare time, Drury and Ferguson also did a lot of exploring. Ferguson said he averaged about 20,000 steps a day, which on most days included a stroll past the U.S. Supreme Court Building.
“Seeing that monument and testament to American democracy inspired me to do a good job,” he said. “It’s definitely different than walking by the Cranmer dining hall every day,” referring to the LWU’s Roberta D. Cranmer Dining & Conference Center.
Drury visited all of the Smithsonian museums during her fall semester.
“I just made the most of having that much history and culture in the area,” she said. “I’ve never had access to that much stuff to do.”
Lindsey Wilson University student Carlee Drury ’27 of Providence, Kentucky, stands behind a lectern at the Delegation of the European Union, which she visited last fall as part of the Capitol Hill Internship Program. Drury was one of two LWU students to participate in the Capitol Hill Internship Program.
Lindsey Wilson University student Jager Ferguson ’26 of Chatham, Illinois, stands in front of the United States Capitol, which he visited last fall as part of the Capitol Hill Internship Program. Ferguson was one of two LWU students to participate in the Capitol Hill Internship Program.
Lindsey Wilson University is a vibrant liberal arts university in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church, the mission of Lindsey Wilson is to serve the educational needs of students by providing a living-learning environment within an atmosphere of active caring and Christian concern where every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a real human being. Lindsey Wilson offers 28 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The university’s 29 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.
(Duane Bonifer – Lindsey Wilson University)