Lindsey Wilson College Student Anatoliy Voloshyn Enjoys Close View of U.S. Government in Capitol Hill Internship Program

anatoly in dc COLUMBIA, Ky. – Lindsey Wilson College student Anatoliy Voloshyn received a front-row seat last fall on how public policy is shaped and made.

The experience also provided him an opportunity to support his native Ukraine.

Voloshyn, who is a business administration senior from Cherkasy, Ukraine, took part in the Capitol Hill Internship Program in Washington, D.C. Lindsey Wilson is one of eight U.S. colleges and universities who are members of the distinguished internship program, in which students live on Capitol Hill while interning in government or non-government offices and take part in seminars that enrich their internship experience.

Voloshyn served as an intern in the office of New York Rep. Tom Suozzi, whose 3rd District includes parts of Long Island, Nassau County and Queens.

“It was just an unbelievable experience, I learned so much,” said Voloshyn.

Voloshyn said he was unsure at first about applying for the internship, but after talking with political science professor Matthew Powers, Voloshyn said he was ready to compete against more than 100 other U.S. students who had applied to be in the prestigious program.

“Dr. Powers did such a great job preparing me to interview for this program,” said Voloshyn.

Much of Voloshyn’s work on Capitol Hill included typical intern responsibilities, such as staffing the front desk of Suozzi’s congressional office, helping answer calls from constituents, and taking notes at congressional committee meetings.

Voloshyn also got to interact with members of Ukraine's parliament during a meeting of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, where they discussed helping children in Voloshyn’s native country.

“Besides it being a great learning experience, it was about something I’m obviously deeply interested and passionate about,” said Voloshyn. “That was a really amazing experience for me.”

anatolly in dc 2 Through his daily work, Voloshyn met several House of Representatives members who support aiding Ukraine in that nation’s defense of the 2022 invasion by Russia.

“Probably the best part of my job was that I was able to help my people through collaborating with the Ukrainian Congressional caucus and with different organizations,” said Voloshyn. “And Congressman Suozzi is a great supporter of Ukraine as well. Being able to share the experiences of the struggle of the Ukrainian people with others on Capitol Hill was great, too. It was the best experience because I was able to help my country through the work of my internship.”

Voloshyn said that his family members and home city of Cherkasy in central Ukraine have been affected by the war with Russia, but they have been relatively unscathed compared to Ukrainians living in the eastern part of the country.

“My city is relatively OK compared to the eastern part, but my parents are sleeping only like two or three hours a night because they will have to go to a shelter or to the basement when there is an attack by rockets.”

Voloshyn is unsure of his career plans after he graduates from Lindsey Wilson in the spring, but he said his Capitol Hill internship has influenced his path.

“I would say that my plans have changed 1,000% since my internship,” said Voloshyn. “Before my internship, I was learning more toward the private sector and business relations. But now I would like to dedicate myself to serving the United States through public service with the same passion I have for Ukraine.”

Pictured, top: Lindsey Wilson College senior Anatoliy Voloshyn, left, spent the 2024 fall semester as an intern in the office of New York Rep. Tom Suozzi. Voloshyn was part of the selective Capitol Hill Internship Program.

Pictured, bottom: Lindsey Wilson College senior Anatoliy Voloshyn, right, confers with New York Rep. Tom Suozzi. Voloshyn was part of the selective Capitol Hill Internship Program during the 2024 fall semester, where he was an intern in Suozzi’s office.