Fingarson, a senior at Montana State University majoring in business marketing from Atlanta Ga., recently completed an internship with the Institute for Humane Studies. Now, she has recently been accepted by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee as an intern in Washington D.C.

The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) Journalism Internship Program at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va, accepted Fingarson for a 10-week internship. The program kicked-off in Washington D.C. for one week with the following nine weeks spent in the newsroom at The Valley Morning Star in Harlingen, Texas.

Fingarson did not ease into her position as a journalist; rather, she jumped in with both feet. The Reagan State Funeral was held while Fingarson was in D.C. attending IHS seminars. She was asked by her soon-to-be editor in Harlingen to write an article on the funeral and surrounding events. The article ran on the front page of the Valley Morning Star.

Arriving in Texas, Fingarson was put to work as a general assignment reporter, covering local governmental issues, features, and community stories. Additionally, each week she submitted "A Slice of Life," which focused on a member of the community. As the "rookie" reporter, Fingarson was often sent out on assignment with little time to prepare. Fingarson shined as she met the challenges she confronted with tenacity and continued success.

Two weeks into the program, Fingarson was offered a full-time reporting position after her anticipated graduation of Spring 2005. Although this offer was enticing, Fingarson has decided to take a different path.

Recently, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee offered Fingarson an internship through Senator Max Baucus's (D-Mont.) office. Fingarson is the first scholar accepted for this internship program, which is organized and entirely supported by the College of Business's Bracken Center. "This internship is perfect for me because I will be able to combine both my passion for journalism with my insatiable interest in public policy," Fingarson said. Fingarson will begin her internship Jan 10, where she will be researching for the various teams associated with the committee, such as tax, Social Security, and international trade. She will also be corresponding with newspapers such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, sending press releases and informing them of the Committee's status.

Fingarson hopes that her two internships will be the springboard upon which she will build her career as a journalist and public policy analyst. She expects the position will culminate after years as a working journalist, heavily involved in Congressional issues and public policy. She aspires to be awarded the Nieman Fellowship for Journalists at Harvard University, which requires at least five years working journalism experience. She then hopes to study law at Harvard. Fingarson is also currently writing a memoir, which she hopes to have published within the next five years.

There are few words to describe the pride we at the College of Business have when it comes to Ashley Fingarson. We wish her the best in all of her endeavors.