Free Trip to Annapolis Statehouse Still Accepting Students

The J. Glenn Beall Institute for Public Affairs and the Office of Civic Engagement are offering an opportunity for students to visit Maryland’s State Capitol in Annapolis, Maryland on Wednesday, March 4.

The trip is free for attendees and will feature a guided tour of the Statehouse, lunch with the Western Maryland delegation and current FSU interns, and the opportunity to see live debate on current state legislation. While seating is limited, Beall Institute Executive Director, Tim Magrath, says space is still available. Students from all majors are invited.

“I had a wonderful time visiting Annapolis last year, and highly encourage others to take advantage of the opportunity this year,” says Cody Matthews, an FSU student who is an intern with the Maryland General Assembly this semester in Del. Kiril Resnik’s office. Matthews attended the one-day event last spring.

“At the time, I was considering doing an internship with the General Assembly for [this] 2020 legislative session. After the visit, I was assured it was definitely what I wanted to do,” says Matthews.

FSU student George Robinson is also interning this legislative session for a delegate from Montgomery County and echoes Matthews. “The two Annapolis Statehouse visits were absolutely fantastic,” says Robinson, “the visit showed me the stateside of government and politics and I instantly knew after I visited the State House that I wanted to come back and intern.”

“If it wasn’t for the Annapolis Statehouse trips that I attended, I would not be interning in the Maryland General Assembly,” Robinson concludes.

The Maryland legislative session runs through April 8, 2020. The Beall Institute Statehouse visit will coincide with the final month of debate. Thus, students will have a unique opportunity to see the inner workings of government.

“The session only happens once a year for 90 days, and it’s an amazing experience to go to the State’s capitol and to witness the legislative process in person. You get to watch the representatives debate bills on the floor, and then meet with them afterwards for lunch,” says Matthews.

Moreover, all majors can benefit from the experience, says Mathews. “Regardless of what you are studying, what does on in Annapolis during these 90 days affects you directly, and it is an intriguing experience to witness some of it in person.”

Interested students can direct questions to Tim Magrath in the Political Science Department. Free tickets are available online at https://frostburgtix.universitytickets.com/