PNC Students Spend Spring Break Learning in Washington D.C.

Purdue University North Central students will travel to Washington D.C., during spring break to be part of the course, "Washington DC: The History, Politics and Culture that Shaped Our Nation" that will give them a first-hand understanding of the nation's capital and allow them to meet the Under Secretary of Education, the CEO of C-Span, curators of several of the Smithsonian Institution's Museums, take a private tour of Capitol Hill and enjoy other activities that are not available to the public.

This learning opportunity from March 4 to 9 will focus on the city of Washington D.C. and the nation's legislative process, while exploring the broader concept of citizenship.

This course, led by Dr. Karen Schmid, PNC vice chancellor for Academic Affairs, who is a course instructor with Laura Weaver, coordinator of the PNC Center for Service Learning & Leadership, gives students access to individuals, information and resources that typical guests to the nation's capitol.

As part of the course, the group will meet with Brian Lamb, the CEO of C-SPAN Networks. A native of Lafayette and a Purdue graduate, Lamb started his radio career in Lafayette. He worked as a reporter and journalist prior to helping launch C-SPAN in 1979. Lamb will share insights gained from 31 years with C-SPAN and interviewing presidents, world leaders, best-selling authors and leading names in politics, media, education and technology.

The students will also have a private meeting with the Under Secretary of Education Martha Kanter. This will give students the rare opportunity to talk personally with this high government official and to learn about the state of education in the U.S. There will also be a private tour of Capitol Hill provided by Sen. Richard Lugar's Office.

Another unique learning experience will be a meeting with Richard Hetzler, executive chef of the National Museum of the American Indian. He will discuss the indigenous cuisines of the Americas and explore the history of Native foods found throughout the Western Hemisphere.

Other planned learning activities include an observation of Congress; lunch at the Senate Dining Room; tours of the Pentagon, the National Archives, Arlington Cemetery and Mount Vernon. There will be a tour of the Library of Congress, and each participant will receive a reading card to them to use the Library of Congress' vast collection to conduct research for the course. Participants will have time to explore many of the Smithsonian Institution's museums, and enjoy a group dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill, a popular Washington D.C restaurant.

Students enrolled for credit will participate in course assignments, various readings and complete a research project on a topic of their choice related to citizenship. Participants not taking the course for credit are invited to all pre- and post-trip sessions and may participate in course activities and discussions as they see fit. They are not required to complete any of the assignments.