COAL GROVE — Former Dawson-Bryant graduate and standout on the Hornets volleyball team, Haley Johnson, is gaining valuable experience in Washington, D.C. in an internship through The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars.

Currently a junior at the University of Pikeville, Johnson is a communications major with a minor in English and said that she is seriously considering attending law school after completing her undergraduate work.

“With this internship, law school is definitely more of a possibility now, which is my main concern at the moment,” she said. “Being here, I realized that there are so many more options and opportunities out there than I ever thought there was before.”

Johnson started her internship toward the end of January and will go on until the first week of May where there will be a Washington Center commencement ceremony. Following a two week seminar at the beginning of the internship, Johnson began working as a student intern at The Charles Group, a consulting firm that supports government and lobbyist organizations with analytical studies and strategic planning on items such as national security, criminal justice and international affairs.

“My role with the internship is to research and analyze all of the topics for our clients’ use,” she said. “I go to a lot of hearings and congressional hearings that could pertain to our clients and talk to senior advocacy groups.”

She said that she had the opportunity to meet Ohio Sen. Rob Portman and is looking forward to meeting Ohio Congressman Bill Johnson.

More than 50,000 students from around the world have gained valuable experience and have been set on a course of achievement, leadership and engagement in their communities through The Washington Center. Throughout the two-week seminar that started the internship, students learned about the inner workings of Washington D.C. by exposing them to different elements and politicians in order for them to form their own beliefs as they move forward with their careers.

Johnson currently has a 4.0 GPA, is on both the dean’s list and presidential list, and is a member of the Student Government Association and National Honor Society.

A defensive right back on the UPIKE volleyball team, Johnson has received academic All Mid-South Conference honors the last two years and was named an NAIA Volleyball Scholar Athlete, an award that goes to junior class student-athletes with a 3.5 GPA or higher. As a student-athlete, Johnson also works at the UPIKE Admissions Office giving campus tours to prospective students.

“The experience that this has gotten me is great, especially with wanting to go to law school,” Johnson said. “It’s a lot of work but it’s also a lot of fun.”