Three Whitworth students receive 2010 Nethercutt Fellowships

Whitworth sophomores Callie Gordon and Aaron Korthuis and junior Hannah White are three of the eight college students in Washington state to receive the 2010 Nethercutt Fellowship, founded by former U.S. representative George Nethercutt. Among other educational opportunities, the fellowship will provide its recipients with an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., this summer.

The year-long Nethercutt Fellowship program will begin in the spring, when students will attend a series of lectures in economics, political science, constitutional history and leadership development. During their trip to Washington, D.C., this June, Nethercutt and the fellows will visit the White House, tour the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and meet with members of Congress and ranking government officials. Upon their return, the fellows will be responsible for completing a nonprofit, government-based internship through which they can serve the Spokane community.

"My ambition is to become an attorney and work in the government sector as a civil servant," says Hannah White, of Chattaroy, Wash. "There are many lessons and insights I will be able to gain from this program. I am excited to build relationships and learn how to better serve my community."

Aaron Korthuis, a resident of Lynden, Wash., sees the fellowship as a way to help him understand the U.S. legal system as he takes steps toward a career as a lawyer.

"I hope to encourage others at Whitworth to apply for a fellowship so that they too can become more informed students and citizens," Korthuis says. "As I look forward to my career, I hope to use this experience to better understand the U.S. government, and to do positive work in my community."

Callie Gordon, a resident of Ellensburg, Wash., plans to teach history and government at the high school level after graduation.

"This opportunity will allow me to experience the subject firsthand and to become much more knowledgeable about the way our government works," she says. "Hopefully, that knowledge will allow me to teach in a more dynamic and influential way."

The other five fellowship recipients hail from Gonzaga University, Pacific Lutheran University, Washington State University, Waynesburg University and Willamette University.
Past Whitworth students to receive the George Nethercutt Fellowship are 2009 alumnus Rashid Gabdulhkov, senior Gillian Goodrich, and juniors Michelle Creek and Tyler Whitney.

Established in 2007, The George Nethercutt Foundation is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that exists to develop in young adults an understanding of government, business, public policy issues and civics, and to foster leadership qualities that will add value to their communities.

Nethercutt, a Spokane native, was elected to represent Washington's 5th Congressional District in 1994. He left public office in 2005 and started Nethercutt Consulting LLC, a Washington, D.C.-based consulting and strategic-planning practice. In 2005, President George W. Bush appointed Nethercutt chairman of the U.S. Section of the Permanent Joint Board of Defense, U.S.-Canada, which is the senior defense policy advisory body for shaping the U.S.-Canada defense relationship.

Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). The university, which has an enrollment of 2,700 students, offers 55 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

Contacts:

Kristina Sabestinas, executive director, The George Nethercutt Foundation, (509) 742-9362 or kristina@nethercuttfoundation.org.

Emily Proffitt, public information officer, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or eproffitt@whitworth.edu.