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Florida State University’s cutting-edge Applied Politics and Policy Learning Experience (APPLE) program recently celebrated its third anniversary with another influential visit to Capitol Hill. This year-long hands-on learning initiative provides students with exceptional insights into career pathways in politics and policy.

APPLE is a unique initiative that offers a carefully selected group of FSU Political Science undergraduates training in active citizenship and civic governance, merging three semesters of hands-on learning opportunities at various levels—local, state, and national.

“There is no program comparable to it in the nation,” stated Founding Co-Director and Political Science Professor Amanda Driscoll. “It is a genuinely transformative experience; our students emerge with unmatched early career experiences that prepare them to step into their chosen professions confidently.”

During the fall semester, students engage in projects related to local policy and governance, connecting with representatives from Leon County, the City of Tallahassee, and various local stakeholder interest groups. In the spring, students are involved in the Governmental Relations Legislative Internship Program, where they intern during the rapid-paced Florida legislative session.

The summer semester concludes in Washington D.C., where participants gain experiences through internships of their choice while residing and attending classes at The Washington Center in the center of the nation’s capital.

After a White House visit organized by U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL), the 12 APPLE students were joined by another 13 FSU undergraduates at the U.S. Capitol to meet with U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost (D–FL), who provided firsthand insights into federal policymaking and shared his experience as the youngest member of Congress.

The students also interacted with distinguished FSU alumni currently working as congressional staffers, who offered invaluable experiences and guidance for navigating career paths on Capitol Hill.

Alumni speakers included:

• Trinity Tresner (’22) and Adriana Diaz (’24), Scheduler and Staff Assistant for Rep. Maxwell Frost;
• Khamare Garner (’22), Special Advisor for Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA);
• Jack Hitchcock (’24), Legislative Correspondent for Senator Rick Scott (R-FL);
• Daniel Muniz (‘23/’24), Legislative Aide for Rep. Addison McDowell (R-NC);
• Dominique Yelinski (’16), Deputy Policy Director for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA);
• Edgar Barrios (’19), Communications Assistant for U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).

This culminating event signifies the conclusion of many students’ internships in Washington, D.C., where they served as interns on Capitol Hill at lobbying firms, advocacy organizations, and the White House.

“The APPLE program was the single most advantageous experience I have encountered during my undergraduate years,” remarked Elias Barcena, who interned at the Florida House and in the Office of Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL). “The insights I gained from experiences across all three levels of government were incredibly valuable, and I feel prepared to enter the professional realm.”

With three successful years of the program behind it, and thanks to the generous financial support of FSU’s Institute for Governance and Civics, APPLE is preparing for its fourth cohort of students who will begin the program this fall. Members of the third APPLE cohort will act as mentors to their successors while completing their undergraduate degrees on campus.

The APPLE program offers a seamless integration of academic coursework, policy training, and experiential learning aimed at shaping tomorrow’s leaders. This expanding alumni network—with seasoned political professionals—ensures APPLE students gain from strong mentorship alongside rigorous academic training.

For further details on APPLE, visit cosspp.fsu.edu/polisci/apple/.

To discover more about the College of Social Sciences and Public Policy, which encompasses the program and the Department of Political Science, visit cosspp.fsu.edu.

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