NEWS

3 Morris students finish congressional internships

Special to the Daily Record

MORRISTOWN – A trio of Morris County students have recently completed internships in the office of U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen.

Tom Sokol, a Morris Plains resident and rising junior at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., recently completed his internship at the Republican’s congressman’s Morristown office.

As a congressional intern, Sokol fielded concerns and comments of constituents via phone calls, sat in on important meetings attended by the congressman and various groups, aided with newspaper clippings, and worked on a variety of projects regarding the people and events of New Jersey’s 11th congressional district.

“I most enjoyed the day spent with Congressman Frelinghuysen when we traveled to Kings Road Elementary school in Madison, Picatinny Arsenal to speak to veterans, and lastly to Wayne Hills High School,” Sokol said.

Sokol is an economics major at Dickinson and he hopes to pursue a career in business after he graduates.

Booker McLean, a graduate of Montville High School and former resident of Morristown, recently completed his summer internship.

While interning at Capitol Hill he attended House and Senate committee hearings, after which he would write memorandums. McLean also attended lectures, including one by Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., who has been called one of the most courageous people the civil rights movement ever produced.

McLean said his internship was an insight into “federal politics and an experience where I was always learning more.” A humanities major, McLean is going into his sophomore year at Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne Pa.

Aaliyah Lambert, a resident of Morristown, and a rising sophomore at American University, recently completed her four-week internship.

As a congressional intern, Lambert had the opportunity to attend congressional hearings and markups discussing bills about topics such as the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act. She also attended briefings regarding different social issues such as girls and the juvenile justice system and pre-school expulsion. Lambert had the chance to join in on different meetings with constituents and the Congressman’s staff. After attending these meetings Lambert was responsible for writing a brief memo that summarized what was discussed.

“By attending those various hearings and markups, I saw firsthand the extensive process our government goes through in order to pass a bill. It’s not as simple as people think; it takes a large amount of time and a lot of ironing out the little details,” Lambert said.

“During my time as an intern, Congressman Frelinghuysen was actually working on passing his bill, Defense Appropriations Act, so it was exciting to see how everyone swarmed around in the office to make sure the bill was ready to be presented on the floor.”

Lambert is majoring in communications, legal institutions, economics, and government. She serves as secretary on American University’s Black Student Alliance executive board.