I got to spend Saturday morning with one of your classmates, SMPA Ambassador Kassidy Corey. Kassidy volunteered to help show off our studio and talk about SMPA as part of GW’s Alumni and Family Weekend. Three groups of parents and students heard Kassidy talk about GWTV, classes, internships, and only at SMPA moments. After one of her presentations, one parent asked me if she could enroll in the program.
What made me proudest of Kassidy’s talks was how much she talked about SMPA as a community. SMPA is what it is because it is who we are together. Journalism and politics are team sports. Academics are part of communities of scholars. Our alumni are always part of our SMPA. Our work together in classes, centers and institutes, student organizations, and everywhere else, succeeds because we are a community. We show up for each other, go to each other’s events, applaud each other’s successes, and pick each other up when we stumble. Alumni graduate, but remain part of our community, talking to students, visiting classes, and helping you succeed as they were helped by alumni before them. Every parent was impressed with the cool facilities, but much more impressed by what you accomplish - and who you are - together.
For all of the good feelings from the weekend, I know that the government shutdown is impacting some of you in real and painful ways. We are contacting those of you who are getting credit for internships that may have been put on hold - if you registered for SMPA 3197 and your internship was impacted by the shutdown you will get credit for the course. If your internship was affected and you don’t hear from me or someone on the team, let me know. In addition, some of your personal or family finances may be affected by the shutdown. The Cokie and Steve Roberts Student Support Fund is here for financial emergencies like the one you may be facing because of delayed or missed paychecks. If you’re not sure if your situation qualifies for help, apply.