When Yna Shimabakuro graduated from Sacramento State last spring with a degree in political science, it was only a couple of months before she was hired to work for Democratic Assemblyman Alberto Torrico.

Shimabakuro feels she would not have gotten the job if she had not taken part in Sac State’s Sacramento Semester program.

The Sacramento Semester is a program in which students spend the spring semester interning at the state Capitol.

Michael Wadle, director of Sacramento Semester, said the statewide program offers students an internship either in state government, in the Legislature, the executive branch or with a lobbying organization. Students also attend a seminar in California government and politics. Students must be in good academic standing and have passed the writing proficiency exam before applying.

The program is open to students from any of the 23 California State University campuses. The program is accepting applications for the spring 2009 semester. The deadline for students from other CSUs is Nov. 7, but for Sac State students the deadline is Nov. 14.

Wadle said this program provides students the opportunity for hands-on learning, instead of just reading books in the classroom. The program begins at the start of spring semester and ends in late May. Students intern 25 hours per week at the Capitol. In addition, they must attend a seminar presented on Thursday evenings. Guest speakers meet with students on Friday mornings at the Capitol.

Shimabakuro said this program serves as a gateway to the professional world. She was able to meet and work with people in government that she otherwise would not have had the opportunity to meet just attending classes at Sac State.

During her internship, Shimabukuro worked with constituents from Assemblyman Torrico’s 20th district on the Baby Safe Surrender Law. This law allows a parent or person with lawful custody to surrender a baby confidentially, without fear or prosecution, for child abandonment. This law allows for at least a 14-day cooling off period, which begins the day the child is voluntarily surrendered. During this period, the person who surrendered the child can return to the hospital to reclaim the child.

Wadle emphasized students do not have to be government majors to apply for the program. He was a journalism undergraduate and said the Semester Program was just starting the year he interned for it. He said the Semester Program emphasizes employment opportunities to network and develop careers.

“This is a way to translate the classroom to the real world,” Wadle said.

Wadle said since the program began 33 years ago, more than 700 program alumni have received jobs as lobbyists, consultants or legislative staffers.

Delette Olberg participated in the program in 1995 and graduated with a government degree from Sac State in 1997. She has an extensive background working at the Capitol.

Olberg, now a lobbyist for Southern California Edison, worked for various government agencies until she was hired as chief of staff to Republican Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee from 2004 to 2007. In September of 2007 she was appointed as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s special adviser.

Olberg said that for students that want to join the program, the emphasis should not be on what they already know, but what they will learn from the experience. Students should think about how it will be applicable to their futures.

Lucas Frerichs, a Sac State alumnus who participated in the program in 2005, said this is one of the best programs Sac State has to offer.

He said instead of reading about the processes of government, a student gets to experience what takes place at the Capitol.

“It uses the state Capitol as a laboratory,” said Frerichs.

Students interested in applying for the Sacramento Semester this spring can find detailed information on the Sac State Government Department website at csus.edu/govt.

Sally King can be reached at [email protected]