NEWS RELEASE

Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2006

Contact: Angie Joe
713.743.8153 (office)
713.617.7138 (pager)
ajoe@uh.edu

CAPITOL NOTES: WHITE HOUSE INTERN RETURNS TO UH FOR CLASSES
Tyler Nelson Spent Spring Semester Working in Vice President Dick Cheney’s Office

HOUSTON, July 12, 2006 – One University of Houston student spent his spring semester working for the second most powerful man in the United States.

Tyler Nelson, a junior in political science and economics, had the opportunity to work in Vice President Dick Cheney’s office as a White House intern. Approximately 100 undergraduate and graduate students are selected nation-wide for the highly coveted White House internship positions. Nelson is the sole UH student to make the cut in at least the last decade, according to Renée Cross, associate director of the UH Center for Public Policy, and Nelson’s instructor.

On a whim, Nelson applied to the program the day before the application deadline. He was asked to list his five preferences of where he wanted to work. Nelson decided to shoot for the top and chose one of the most selective positions – in the office of the vice president.

“The best part about the internship was interacting with Vice President Cheney,” Nelson said. “He took a personal interest in interns, because he was once an intern on the Hill. Despite his hectic schedule, he went out of his way to thank us for our work.”

The intern worked closely with the Advance, Political Affairs and Internal Affairs teams. Among his many responsibilities, he read, edited and distributed unclassified documents; researched information for speeches; and helped assemble briefing books.

In the thick of it all, Nelson once rode up the elevator with Fox News White House Correspondent Brit Hume. The reporter was en route to his exclusive interview with Cheney following the infamous hunting accident in February. The interview took place next door to Nelson’s work area.

In addition, he and the other White House interns attended weekly lectures, volunteered at special events and participated in tours.

“Tyler Nelson is the epitome of what we hope to see in a future public servant,” Cross said. “He’s bright and energetic with a tremendous work ethic. Perhaps most importantly, he sincerely cares about people and how public policy affects them. I predict great things for Tyler politically, and look forward to the day when he represents Houston in a formal leadership role.”

Prior to his White House internship, Nelson was an intern in U.S. Congressman Tom DeLay’s office in Washington, D.C., where he worked primarily in constituent relations.

His interest in politics started with his mission through the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From 2001-03, he volunteered in Veracruz, Mexico.

“My mission taught me more about life than even my time on Capitol Hill,” Nelson said. “Seeing how the poor lived inspired me to change things. It whetted my appetite for public service. That’s when I started writing for my university’s newspaper, The Daily Cougar. Then one of my professors recommended me for the internship with Congressman DeLay, and that’s when everything was set in motion.”

Nelson hopes to attend law or graduate school in the D.C. area upon his graduation from UH in May 2007.

For more information about the White House Internship Program, go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/wh-intern.html.

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