University of Utah students can now apply to be among the first cohort of Hinckley Institute interns housed in the Orrin G. Hatch Center in Washington, D.C. Students should apply by March 15, 2023, if they want to live in this exciting new space while growing their professional skills in our nation’s capital.

A Hinckley internship in Washington, D.C., often serves as a pivotal point in a student’s education. Many alumni point to their experience in the nation’s capital as a defining moment in their career trajectory and one of the strongest factors in their success. The Hinckley Institute is committed to broadening access to qualified students of all means and backgrounds for its Washington, D.C., internship program. Providing housing is a key component of this mission. “The Orrin G. Hatch Center represents a tremendous step forward in the history of the university and the Hinckley Institute of Politics,” said Jason Perry, Hinckley Institute director. “Our vision is that this new addition becomes a treasured home for University of Utah interns, faculty and alumni living in or visiting the Washington, D.C., area.”

International studies student Gabriella Villalobos wrote, “My Washington, D.C., internship experience with Ibarra Strategy was a life-changing opportunity. As I look back on my national internship experience, I feel grateful for the Hinckley Institute’s generous scholarships, and the opportunity to live in the nation’s capital. As a young Latina from Heber City, Utah I never really imagined myself being in D.C. at such a young age, let alone doing an internship that helped me find my true calling in activism and law.”

The Orrin G. Hatch Center is a milestone in the growth of the Hinckley Institute’s internship program. Previously, they could accommodate 30 interns per semester, they will now welcome 50 to their new location in the historic neighborhood of Dupont Circle, just blocks from the White House. This new permanent home contains five floors of student living and common spaces, two rooftop decks and the Carolyn Barnes Gardner Carriage House for events.

The building is named in honor of Utah’s longest-serving senator, Orrin G. Hatch, whose generosity made the acquisition possible. His legacy of civil service will be carried forward by the mission of the Hinckley Institute, as student interns participate in transformative experiences within the nation’s capital.

Built in 1903, the Classic Revival style building has distinctive red brick, grand columns, extensive trim and oversized windows. The five-story townhouse was designed by the noted Washington architectural firm of Hornblower and Marshall as a residence for J.W. Chisholm. Since then, it has hosted a number of historically significant residents including Charles Evans Hughes, an American statesman and lawyer who served as governor of New York, United States secretary of state and the chief justice of the United States Supreme Court. Most recently, the building was home to the Mathematical Association of America.

Steps from Embassy Row, Think Tank Row and nine blocks from the White House, the location is perfectly situated for the comings and goings of student interns. A permanent residence within this historic neighborhood aligns with the Hinckley Institute’s commitment to providing students with civic engagement opportunities. Students can apply for the Fall 2023 Semester online at hinckley.utah.edu by March 15, 2023. Students of all majors are encouraged to apply.