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I know what you’re doing this summer.

Are you looking for a memorable way to spend summer 2025? Close Up is going coast to coast, with brand-new summer offerings in Washington, D.C., and California!

Fourth of July | June 30-July 5 | High School & Middle School: Experience Independence Day with Close Up in our nation’s capital, including the legendary fireworksand festivities on the National Mall!
NextGen Roundtable: AI & Democracy Summer Institute | July 13-19 | High School: Close Up, the Deliberative Democracy Lab (DDL), and the Crowdsourced Democracy Team are gathering at Stanford University to study and evaluate tech and AI policy.

We hope to see you again this year!

Who run the world? (Girls)

What an honor it was to gather young women and educators from across the United States for the Empowering Girls’ Voices Summit in Washington, D.C.! Our heartfelt thanks go out to our partners at the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools and to former Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), Stanford University Deliberative Democracy Lab Associate Director Alice Siu, and American University Sine Institute Executive Director Amy Dacey, all members of the Close Up Board of Directors, for helping these girls build the skills and confidence of strong civic leaders!

Pride (In the Name of Rural Voters)

Close Up was so proud and impressed to see one of our alumni, Emilea Johnson, voicing her opinions as a first-time voter from rural America in the pages of the Chicago Tribune! Be sure to check out Emilea’s thoughtful op-ed!

It was the summit of ’25…

Thank you to those of you who joined us for the National Association of Independent Schools Student Civic Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., in February! All of us here at Close Up can’t wait to see how you get to work in your schools and communities!

Ch-Ch-Changemakers

What an honor it was to see Close Up included in The Hill’s Changemakers: 24 of 2024! We’re so proud to be among the people and organizations who, in The Hill’s words, are “making an impact at the Capitol and around the world” and “setting the pace and shaking things up in Washington.” Be sure to check out their interview with Close Up CEO Eric Adydan and President Mia Charity!

Celebrating our very own St. Patrick!

This year marks an incredible 50 years of partnership between Close Up and Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami, Florida! This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering efforts of Belen Jesuit educator Patrick Collins, whose dedication to civic education has left an indelible mark on generations of young people. We’re thrilled to pay tribute to Pat through the Patrick Collins Close Up Scholarship, a fund to support the Close Up experience of deserving Belen Jesuit students with financial need.

Our deepest thanks go out to Pat, to Belen Jesuit, and to all of our donors who are supporting this scholarship to expand opportunities for civic education.

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Looking for an internship in Washington?

Want to get your foot in the door? See who’s looking for interns in our nation’s capital!  

On Capitol Hill, check out the House and Senate employment bulletins. If a move to Washington isn’t possible just yet, reach out to your representative’s district office about local opportunities.

Most cabinet departments have internships for college students or recent graduates, including the Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and Department of Homeland Security.

Interested in working in journalism? The NBCUniversal Internship Program has roles all over the country and Fox 5 DC offers an unpaid academic credit program for college juniors and seniors.

Colleges often have advising and career resources—check with your school to see if they can help you find a Washington internship!

How do you write a great resume?

Don’t forget the basics! Include contact information like your address, phone number, and email.  
Don’t simply list the responsibilities of a past job; use action verbs to describe what you did in the role. Highlight the skill used, not the task performed.
In addition to work experience, list any scholarships, academic accolades, or extracurricular organizations. 
List valuable skills, such as proficiency in a particular computer program or the ability to speak more than one language.
Keep it concise. Don’t overwhelm employers with details. Help them focus on the important information.
Consider the format. Keep your resume clear and organized to keep the reader’s attention.
Use formal language. Avoid using personal pronouns like “I” or “we.”
Proofreading is essential! Consider having a friend or parent look over your resume to catch any errors you may have missed.

We want to highlight you!

Where has life taken you since your Close Up experience? What have you carried with you from your time in Washington? Share your story with us—we would love to spotlight your reflections, insights, and achievements!

“I absolutely love and cherish my time with the Close Up program. It was one of the best times in my high school journey. I got the opportunity to learn about D.C., U.S. government, and how you can always make a difference in your community by working together for the common good. In addition to all the learning, I made lifelong friends from places all over the nation and world whom I would have never met if I had not done the program. We are currently trying to plan a trip together to meet up with one another!”

–Jacqueline F., Close Up Alum, 2002  

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