Plenty of work awaits the 10 students selected to work this year’s Capitol internship.

Nine of the 10 students selected signed their official contracts Nov. 2 and will head to Jefferson City for the majority of the spring semester.

“This is going to be a great opportunity,” said Acting President Terri Agee, “We try to do this better every year.”

Each student has been assigned to a legislator and will spend their internships working with constituents, attending committee hearings, tracking bills, doing research and even working on the Senate floor.

In addition to being an active part of the political process, interns also get to know their representative or senator on a personal level.

“We really go to the mat for them,” said Rep. Kevin Wilson (R-Neosho). “Very few kids, especially from this area, get this kind of opportunity.”

Though the interns plan to share an apartment while in Jefferson City, some like Alesha Gilleland, sophomore political science major, will spend weekends here in Joplin with their families.

“My husband is a full-time student, but I had to bribe my 10-year-old with a cell phone,” she said.

Though other schools in the area offer a Capitol internship program, lawmakers have said Southern sends some of the best and that this program offers an opportunity “like no other.”