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Three political science majors at Tennessee Tech University had a front-row seat to a historic and headline-making session of the Tennessee General Assembly as legislative interns in Nashville.

Christian Mahan, a Cookeville native, interned with Rep. Ryan Williams while Andrew Gunter, a Jamestown native, interned for Sen. Ken Yager. Brett Howard, from Cleveland, interned in the House Clerk’s office.

The highly competitive internship program selects anywhere from 70 to 100 college students statewide each year. As legislative interns, students assist lawmakers with their daily activities and gain hands-on experience with the legislative process.

“The students that are here, they get to witness firsthand the legislative process from beginning to end,” said Shirley Frierson, Director of the Tennessee Legislative Internship Program. “They are working side by side with the members of the Tennessee General Assembly. There is nowhere else in the state of Tennessee where a student will have the eyes and ears of the members of the state legislature for 16 weeks.”

“The students from Tennessee Tech are great,” added Frierson. “All three are fine young men and have done well.”

This year’s session of the Tennessee General Assembly, which adjourned on April 21, saw lawmakers grapple with consequential debates over gun safety, LGBTQ+ rights, legislation placing limits on TikTok and other subjects.

Mahan, Gunter and Howard’s internship was also notable for another reason: 2023 marked the 50th intern class since the Tennessee Legislative Internship Program began.

Current and former interns joined with lawmakers and staffers to celebrate the occasion at a reception in the Cordell Hull State Office Building earlier this month.

“It’s been a ton of fun,” said Mahan, reflecting on his internship. “The educational experience is unlike anything else I’ve ever done before and, of course, the networking and connections you make here are incredible.”