Your gift makes Washington D.C. a reality.
By supporting the Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement, you will help students reduce out of pocket costs for once-in-a-lifetime, career-changing experiences in Washington D.C.
Your Gift, Their Future: Empowering Purdue Students
Boilers Go to D.C. programs enables students to learn and work in Washington D.C., using BGDC Scholarships to help pay for the program. Your gift, no matter the size, makes a difference in a student’s experience.
What is Boilers Go to D.C.?
Want details about each BGDC program? Visit the Boilers Go to D.C. Website to learn more and discover the possibilities.
Hear from Our Students
Boilers Go to D.C. Student Impact Stories
Learn how your gift paves the way for Boilermakers to live and learn in D.C. Students have access to exclusive site visits in our nation’s capital, connections with Purdue Alumni, internship opportunities, and more!
Kiki Valadez, Class of 2027
“Boilers Go to D.C. was an eye-opening experience for me, and something I will never forget. I’ve learned that I have an interest in communications and journalism, and have had the opportunity to connect with many professionals while learning more about the inner workings of living and working in D.C.”
Alex Amado, Class of 2026
“Boilers Go To D.C. has helped me with my career in many ways, from connecting me with professionals [alumni] in a variety of fields, and most importantly, connecting with current Purdue students. BGDC showed me that regardless of the field you want to go into, there are Boilermakers who will gladly help you along the way.”
Elizabeth Pierce, Class of 2025
“The Boilers Go to D.C. program was an incredible experience for me and showed me careers and jobs I would have never thought of pursuing. Living and learning in D.C. as a part of this program was truly an impactful experience in my college career. It highlighted so many new career directions and exciting professional connections.”
Purdue D.C. Alumni - Get Involved with BGDC!
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Alumni Engagement & Mentoring Opportunities
Why Become a Mentor?
- Give Back to Purdue: Share your knowledge and experience with fellow Boilermakers.
- Shape Young Minds: Help students navigate career paths, refine job search strategies, and gain valuable insights into living and working in D.C.
- Expand Your Purdue Network: Connect with fellow alumni, up-and-coming Boilermakers and Purdue faculty & staff while making a meaningful contribution to the Purdue community.
Mentorship Opportunities:
The Boilers Go to D.C. Maymester program features C-SPAN founder and Purdue alumnus Brian Lamb, taking students to Washington D.C. to explore the city’s political, communication, government, and media landscape firsthand. Your role is to guide students from diverse majors as they learn about career paths, job search strategies, and navigating life in D.C.
Commitment: 5 Hours over a 3 Month Period
- Complete a mentor survey and program guidelines
- Attend a 1-hour virtual training session.
- Meet with your mentee virtually 3 times between mid-March and mid-May.
- Attend the Alumni Mentor Dinner in Washington D.C.
- Alumni and Student Service-Learning Event and Networking Luncheon
The Boilers Go to D.C. Summer Scholars Internship Program provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to spend their summer interning in Washington D.C. Students earn up to 6 hours of academic credit, receive career readiness training, professional development, and valuable alumni mentorship. Alumni mentors offer crucial insights into the D.C. job market, help students refine resumes and cover letters, provide career guidance and professional networking opportunities.
Commitment: 10 Hours over a 9 Month Period
- Complete a mentor survey and program guidelines.
- Attend a 1-hour virtual training session.
- Attend the Alumni Mentor Dinner in Washington D.C.
- Meet with your mentee virtually once per month throughout Fall and Spring semesters.
- Meet with your mentee bi-weekly (in-person or virtually) during Summer semester.
The Capitol Careers Mentorship Program creates opportunities to develop professional relationships between CCSE Student Community members and their Alumni mentors. Students will learn about career paths, and gain professional advice from experienced alumni professionals in the Washington, D.C. region. This 2-semester-long program is designed to be flexible yet impactful for both alumni and students who will meet at least once per month via virtual format at a day and time that fits both schedules.
Commitment: 7 Hours during the Academic Year
- Complete a mentor survey and program guidelines.
- Attend a 1-hour virtual training session.
- Meet with your mentee virtually once per month throughout Fall and Spring semesters.
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APPLY TO BE A MENTOR FOR ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS
Alumni Mentor Information and Application
Questions? Contact us at centerforscpan@purdue.edu.
D.C. Alumni Roundtable
The D.C. Alumni Roundtable gives Purdue University alumni in the Washington, D.C. region the opportunity to learn about the latest updates on Boilers Go to D.C. planning, give feedback and programming suggestions to the CCSE team, network with fellow Purdue Alumni, build professional relationships, and work together to support the next generation of Boilermakers.
To be a part of the conversation, please contact CCSE Managing Director, Andrea Langrish at alangris@purdue.edu for more information.
BGDC Alumni Advisory Group
- Adrian Mixon, Regulatory Counsel, F.D.A.
- John Pierce, Founding Member, Themis PLLC
- Mark Schoeff Jr., Financial Services Reporter, CQ Roll Call
- Kate Smith, Director, Public Affairs and Operations, Takeda