Written by Grace Canlas
It’s not every day that you have the opportunity to live in the nation’s capital, intern at the U.S. Senate, or shake hands with the Austrian ambassador. As a student on the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program (WHIP), that’s what your everyday life becomes. This past fall, I spent my semester on WHIP—a “study-abroad” program in Washington, D.C., that consists of a full-time internship during the day, rigorous Hillsdale classes at night, and various activities sponsored by Hillsdale in D.C. on the weekends.
WHIP offers the best of both worlds: the opportunity to continue one’s Hillsdale education through edifying studies inside the classroom and to apply one’s Hillsdale education to meaningful work outside the classroom. WHIP is education in action—it’s where statesmanship, self-government, and virtus tentamine gaudet (Hillsdale College’s motto, translated as “strength rejoices in the challenge”) come to life. This is part one of a three-part series explaining why you should go on WHIP. Reason #1: Do it for the people.
Living in the nation’s capital can be intimidating, but on WHIP, you are surrounded and supported by a network of genuine friends, wise faculty, and kindhearted alumni. I might be biased, but my WHIP class was composed of the most elite 17 people who became not only my friends for the semester, but friends for life. Living in the Hillsdale House builds a special community, whether that be singing karaoke on Friday nights or cooking an unforgettable Thanksgiving dinner. It is a great blessing to have the opportunity to connect with a group of talented, respectable individuals whom you might have otherwise never met on Hillsdale’s main campus. The adventures, challenges, and lore of WHIP forge a bond between you and your fellow students, creating memories you will share with one another forever.
Not only does WHIP cultivate friendships with classmates, but it also offers mentorship from faculty and alumni. As an undergraduate student on WHIP, you have the opportunity to take classes from some of Hillsdale’s top graduate professors. These professors are not only passionate about your academic growth, but also your personal and professional development. One of my favorite parts of WHIP was the scheduled dinners with Dr. Matthew Spalding, vice president for Washington Operations and dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government. Over the course of the semester, our entire WHIP class was invited to join Dr. Spalding for two dinners and a time of discussion.
While sitting around the table, we shared a delicious meal and considered matters such as C.S. Lewis’s “Learning in War-Time” and Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address.” As I would look around the room, listening to the judicious wisdom of Dr. Spalding and the rich insights of my fellow students wrestling with the purpose of education and the essence of courage, I realized this is what the Founders fought for and dreamed of—the possibility that on an ordinary Friday night, Americans of future generations might gather together to discuss the highest things in life for their own goodness and beauty.
Additionally, Hillsdale College has an extensive network of alumni in Washington, D.C., who are eager to meet students during their time on WHIP and maintain connections even after the semester. One of the most impactful parts of WHIP for me personally was the WHIP-Alumni Mentor Program—a program led by Hillsdale in D.C. that connects each WHIP student to D.C.-based Hillsdale alumni who work in a career field similar to the one the student seeks to pursue. Throughout the semester, you and your mentor meet to discuss professional matters such as career aspirations, job applications, and life after Hillsdale. When my mentor invited me over for dinner with him and his wife, we spent hours talking about the U.S. Intelligence Community, writing samples, and office hours with Dr. Stewart. While D.C. often hyperfixates on networking, the WHIP-Alumni Mentor Program focuses on fostering genuine relationships that offer guidance, build confidence, and inspire passions.
When people ask me, “What was your favorite part of WHIP?” I always answer, “My internship”—one of the many reasons being because of the people I met through it. I will shamelessly say that I interned in the best congressional office with one of the all-time greatest fiscal hawks and the coolest staff in the Senate.
I’ve been waiting to meet my senator since I was nine years old, and this fall I finally had the opportunity to shake his hand and talk with him. On the day-to-day, though, it was his staff I worked with that made my internship so phenomenal—whether that was attending a lunch briefing on semiconductors with one of our legislative correspondents or decorating the office for Christmas with one of our staff assistants. Not only was everyone welcoming to me as the office’s new intern, but they were eager to help support me in where I wanted to go next in life after my internship.
The connections you make from your internship are invaluable for references, networking, and mentorship. While D.C. is a big city, it’s also a small town—names carry quickly and stick fast, and building connections with people in the fields you aspire to contribute to one day opens so many opportunities you could never have imagined.
In addition to the daily interactions you have with the people from Hillsdale or your internship, you will meet countless individuals from events throughout the week. At a briefing on Tuesday, you could meet a world-renowned academic; at a gala on Friday, you could meet a United States senator; or at a Christmas ball on Saturday, you could meet the Austrian ambassador. From all the events that you attend and all the people that you meet throughout the semester, your networking skills, social confidence, and personal character will experience exponential development and refinement. As a result of WHIP, you will build some of the best relationships that help you to grow in virtue and to pursue work in service of that which is good. When you ask students what makes Hillsdale College so special, more often than not, you will hear the slogan, “It’s the people.” Reason #1 of why you should spend a semester on WHIP is the same: do it for the people.
Grace Canlas, ’27, is pursuing a major in history and double minor in psychology and military history and strategy. When she’s not studying, Grace can be found practicing martial arts or laughing with her family and friends.
Published in February 2026
