NRL News
Page 16
June-July 2011
Volume 38
Issue 6-7

National Right to Life Interns:
Fearless, Undaunted, Energetic, Passionate, and Devoted

By Jessica Rodgers

If it’s summer, then the offices of National Right to Life are buzzing with college students learning the ropes of the pro-life movement. Every year, NRLC hosts interns—students coming to Washington, DC, from all across the country to work for life.

Interns this year include not only a former intern or two back for another summer, but also a former National Right to Life Academy student who wanted to put a pro-life education into practical purpose. (For those who may not know, the Academy is a six-week summer training course for pro-life college students.)

Their backgrounds are diverse but their purpose is singular: Work to save unborn children.

College students who intern with National Right to Life not only gain valuable insight into the Movement, but they also get to take part in weekly seminars, picking the brains of pro-life leaders over dinner.

Working with our Communications, Education, Federal Legislation, State Organizational Development, Medical Ethics, and Political departments, the bright young men and women working in our offices this year reassure us that the future of the movement is in capable hands.

The eight interns for 2011 are Kateri Lang, Daniel Hellerman, Zoey Di Mauro, MaryAnn McCabe, Jon Scharfenberger, Lisa Hoonhout, Kelsey McCrum, and Hannah Roberts. Hailing from as near as just across the river in Virginia to as far away as California, these eight young people have converged on our nation’s capital inspired by their passion for life and for changing our culture.

While here, they have the opportunity to take a hands-on approach to saving lives. And they learn that the life of an intern, much like the life of a National Right to Life staffer, while not glamorous, is deeply rewarding. Educational materials need to be folded, mailings need to be sent out, envelopes need to be stuffed, and copies need to be made. Working side by side with those who have been in the Movement (some since the very beginning), our interns quickly learn that working to save unborn babies often means late nights at the office and a lot of paper cuts but a deep sense of fulfillment.

Fearless, undaunted, energetic, passionate, and devoted: These are the interns of National Right to Life. These are the faces of tomorrow’s leaders.

And the future has never looked brighter.

Jessica Rodgers is communications assistant for National Right to Life.