The EMU Washington Semester combines a full-time internship with academic coursework. Students are placed in internships across a wide range of fields, including government, nonprofit organizations, communications, business, and advocacy. These placements are tailored to each student’s interests and career goals, ensuring that every student gains meaningful, hands-on experience. No matter where they end up working, students develop practical skills that set them apart in a competitive job market.

One of the most impactful aspects of the EMU Washington Semester is the personal growth it fosters. Living in a new city, navigating professional environments, and building a network from the ground up pushes students out of their comfort zones. For many students, this experience opens doors they may not have previously imagined. 

Students live alongside peers who are also pursuing internships, creating a supportive environment where they can share experiences, challenges, and successes. These connections often last well beyond the semester, forming a network of driven individuals across diverse fields.

The EMU Washington Semester is more than just a study away program; it is a launching pad for future careers. By combining academic learning with professional immersion in the nation’s capital, it equips students with the knowledge, experience, and confidence needed to thrive in their chosen paths.

The Washington Semester is intentionally interdisciplinary, welcoming students from a wide range of majors, and the spring 2026 semester is no exception. Spring 2026 participants span the breadth of majors at EMU, pursuing studies in political science, public health, engineering, and recreation and sport management. 

EMU Washington Semester Director Ryan Good noted: “Disciplinary diversity is a hallmark of the EMU Washington Semester and distinguishes us from other D.C.-based study away programs. Over the past two years, EMU Washington Semester students have pursued 31 different majors, hailed from six colleges and universities, and worked at over 40 internship sites around the D.C. region.”

This diversity shapes both internships and classroom learning. Students pursue opportunities aligned with their fields and learn alongside peers with different perspectives, creating a richer, more dynamic experience.

By embracing a wide scope of majors, the EMU Washington Semester ensures that students from all disciplines can gain valuable professional experience while exploring how their field connects to broader societal challenges.

Read on to learn more about the internship experiences of our spring 2026 students.

Leah Cap, from Spotsylvania, Virginia, is a senior majoring in political science. This spring, Leah is an intern at , a D.C.-based nonprofit that supports incarcerated and returning citizens with holistic reentry services. Her main tasks include helping clients find shelters and other programs, scheduling appointments, distributing food to people experiencing homelessness, and making phone calls.

Through her internship, Leah has gained a broader perspective on how systems work and a behind-the-scenes look at how to support at-risk clients. The highlight of her internship experience has been seeing clients come in down on their luck and later seeing them return happier and healthier.

Edwin Rios Sanchez, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, is a senior majoring in recreation and sport management, with minors in business administration and coaching. This spring, Edwin is working as an equipment manager for and football clubs. His main duties include preparing equipment for coaches, attending trainings, and setting up for games, including steaming players’ jerseys and ensuring they have their game-day gear.

One highlight of Edwin’s internship experience was traveling to Florida for a weeklong away trip with DC Power. During his time in D.C., Edwin has learned to feel more comfortable in a new environment.

Fortie Chipeta, from Mount Jackson, Virginia, is a junior majoring in public health with a minor in environmental science. This spring, Fortie is an intern at , working with its housing and homelessness prevention department. Her main duties include researching local resources and writing helpful tips for a weekly newsletter, handling medical records by scanning and uploading patient documents into eClinicalWorks (eCW), and answering calls and assisting with the patient intake process.

During her time in D.C., Fortie has focused on growing from her experiences rather than striving for perfection. Instead of stressing, she is learning to focus on how to fix problems and do things the right way the next time. One of the biggest highlights of her internship has been taking ownership of the weekly newsletter. She enjoys researching resources for residents and takes pride in ensuring each issue is finalized and sent out on time every Wednesday. 

Alexandre (Zander) Armstrong, from Waynesboro, Virginia, is a senior majoring in engineering. This spring, Zander is interning with the Clinical Engineering Department at .

One of the highlights of his internship has been getting a behind-the-scenes look at a hospital and learning how it operates. Life in the city has been challenging at times, but it has also given Zander the opportunity to navigate public transportation.

In addition to the four Washington Semester students, the Nelson Good House is home to two other students who have been important members of the community this semester.

Morgan Hutchens, a Goshen College senior, is majoring in Deaf Studies, the study of the origins of American Sign Language, Deaf community, and Deaf culture. The goal of the program is to promote awareness, social justice, and accessibility. As part of her program, Morgan is attending Gallaudet University for one semester. Gallaudet University is the only Deaf university in the world and also offers programs for hearing students.

Morgan describes living in the Nelson House as an amazing experience because it has given her the opportunity to build strong connections with others. One of her favorite things to do with her housemates is cook together, which brings her joy through good food and meaningful conversation. Morgan describes her time in D.C. as both challenging and exhilarating. Attending Gallaudet University has been a lifelong dream, and the experience has been eye-opening and deeply meaningful.

Leslie Meja is a graduate student at EMU’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP). He is completing his CJP practicum at the Kenyan Embassy in D.C. The inclusion of graduate students in the Washington Semester community enriches the experience for everyone and creates additional opportunities for learning and exchange.

Students interested in spending a semester in the nation’s capital should visit for more information or to apply. Be sure to also check out the EMU Washington Semester to see what our students are up to.

The EMU Washington Semester program started off in the fall of 1976 as a “high-risk proposition,” recalls Phil Baker-Shenk ’79.  

“It was a high risk for the college, a high risk for us individual students, and certainly a high risk for (program founder and director) Nelson Good ’68 and Arden Shank, who staffed it,” said Baker-Shenk, one of the first students in the yearlong program (then known as the Washington Study-Service Year or WSSY) from 1976-77. “It was a high risk all around, and yet people with good ideas decided to plunge in, take that risk, and make it happen.”

Fifty years later, that big gamble has paid off.

Alumni of the urban studies program—the only such program offered at Anabaptist-affiliated institutions—credit it with giving them improved professional confidence, greater clarity about career direction, more comfort in working with people different than they are, and an increased awareness of systemic injustices.

Each semester and summer, students from EMU and partner schools such as Bethel College, Bluffton University, and Goshen College converge at the Nelson Good House in the culturally diverse and multiethnic Brookland neighborhood of Washington D.C. It’s there that they learn to live in a shared community, cooking and eating meals together, managing a collective budget and household responsibilities, and navigating conflict with maturity.

Students gain real-world professional experience in their chosen field of study through internship placements, study the history and social dynamics of the city, and immerse themselves in the rich culture and vibrancy of the nation’s capital.

Baker-Shenk was among the 60 alumni and supporters of the EMU Washington Semester, from its beginnings in the 1970s through today, who gathered at the Busboys and Poets restaurant in Brookland on Saturday, Feb. 14, to share their memories and experiences from their time in the program and celebrate its 50-year legacy. The milestone reunion included remarks from Program Director Ryan Good, EMU Interim President Rev. Dr. Shannon W. Dycus, Provost Dr. Tynisha Willingham, and many students and alumni from the past five decades. 

Since its inception, more than 1,000 students have called the program home for a season of their lives, said Dycus. They’ve taken courses at and built relationships with institutions such as Catholic University of America and Howard University. And students have learned to live with difference, practice shared leadership, and carry conviction into real work.

“We’re celebrating a living, evolving experiment in education,” Dycus told the crowd. “One that has asked generations of students to take learning seriously enough to put it to work. Since 1976, this program has woven together community living, academic study, and vocational reflection right in the complexity of our nation’s capital.”

As the story’s been told, shared Dycus, Nelson Good came to D.C. as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War era. “And, out of that experience, he helped build a program committed to servant leadership and social justice, and an education shaped by peace, responsibility, and courage to see the city as it is.”

Nelson Good directed the program until his retirement in 1987, mentoring it through major transitions. When the time came to find a new home closer to public transportation and academic partners, he personally helped find and secure the building at 836 Taylor Street that became the Nelson Good House. 

“He did that work even while facing a cancer diagnosis and died a few months before the facility’s dedication (on Aug. 20, 2005),” Dycus said.

Alumni of the EMU Washington Semester gather to celebrate the program’s 50-year legacy.

The EMU Washington Semester offers a built-in social and professional network for its alumni, many of whom find long-term careers in D.C., thanks to the web of connections and relationships they build through the program.

Aerlande Wontamo ’06 was among the first cohort of 15 students to live at the Nelson Good House during the spring of 2006. She interned at the Ethiopian Community Development Council while taking classes at Howard University.

“It was such a meaningful experience for me because I got on (Howard’s) campus and I looked like everybody else,” said Wontamo, who is originally from Ethiopia. “There was another person in our group, I think from Goshen, who was also at Howard, and she was white. We would go to school, and that was the first time she felt like a minority. It was this wonderful experience for both of us.”

Like many alumni of the EMU Washington Semester (it was known as the Washington Community Scholars’ Center or WCSC after 2002), Wontamo stayed in the city. Twenty years later, the economic development grad is still working in the refugee and immigrant services field as senior vice president of U.S. programs for World Relief, a global Christian humanitarian organization.

“It was my internship that was such a meaningful experience for me and led me through all of the steps to get to where I am,” she said. “So, I’m a huge fan of the program.”

Anisa Leonard ’21, a social work grad originally from Kenya, interned at Voices for a Second Chance, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals returning home from incarceration, during her spring 2021 semester in the program.

“The WCSC program was absolutely foundational in getting me to where I am now,” said the social worker. “It sparked my interest in working with people who are marginalized in so many ways, especially in a city so impacted by race and gentrification.”

Genesis Figueroa joined Ryan Good on stage for a conversation, reflecting on her experiences in the program during spring 2025. The EMU senior, who is double majoring in political science and Spanish, interned at Catholic Charities in its immigration legal services department, where she provided translation, interpretation, and administrative work. She said she hopes to become an immigration lawyer.

“It definitely solidified what I want to do after college and what type of work I want to do,” she said. “It solidified my passion for it.”

Another EMU senior, Dia Mekonnen, remembered living at the Nelson Good House with 13 other students during summer 2025. “It was really packed,” she said. “But it was really nice to connect with them. It was nice to cook together, to be able to share our perspectives, and we still hang out.”

Baker-Shenk credited Nelson Good, along with many other heroes, with the courage and vision to implement and sustain the idea of the D.C. program over the years.

“One of the many things he taught me, and it was a little hard for me to take back in the ’70s, was that institutions deserve our love and our commitment and our care,” he said. “Fifty years later, here’s an institution that has carried each of us in this room in one way or another, and it happened because it was nourished and encouraged.”

Kirk Shisler ’81, vice president for advancement, is a proud member of the third cohort of students in the program (1978-79). He told guests there were many ways to support the program. One such opportunity is through the Dr. Kimberly Schmidt Endowed Scholarship, which was dedicated during the program’s on-campus reunion at Homecoming 2025.

“Financial aid is such a critical part of the story for every student, and it’s an obstacle,” he said. “It’s an obstacle to participation in this program and others. And so what we can do to mitigate that through donor-funded aid is an opportunity we want to focus on.”

Learn more about the EMU Washington Semester at .

Read more:

• Sept. 2025: Rebranded EMU Washington Semester celebrates 50 years of career-building and community
• Nov. 2016: Forty years of service and learning celebrated at WCSC’s Nelson Good House
• Aug. 2015: Washington Community Scholars’ Center celebrates 10 years at the Nelson Good House in Brookland
• March 2014: The history of the Washington Community Scholars’ Center

On Oct. 11, during a homecoming celebration, the EMU Washington Semester program (formerly known as WCSC/WSSY) commemorated its 50th year with a special event held at the campus Student Union. The milestone gathering brought together students, alumni, faculty, and staff to celebrate five decades of experiential learning and community engagement in Washington D.C.

A highlight of the event was the renaming of the Washington Semester’s endowed scholarship in honor of Professor Emerita Kimberly Schmidt, who served as director of the program for 22 years. Dr. Schmidt was recognized for her outstanding leadership, innovative teaching, and commitment to student development throughout her tenure. The scholarship, now named the Dr. Kimberly Schmidt Endowed Scholarship, helps make it possible for all EMU students to access the opportunities available through the Washington Semester.

In presenting this honor, current Washington Semester Director Ryan Good noted Schmidt’s leadership in shepherding the program from a nine-month model to three terms per year to better accommodate shifting student needs and her critical role in moving the program to a new facility in 2005. “Over 22 years, Kim worked tirelessly to find internships for hundreds of students who came through the program during her tenure,” Good said. “She is a wise and authentic mentor, who gave generously of herself to support students as they worked to make sense of the city and themselves.”

“I am humbled and honored to have this important scholarship named for me,” said Schmidt. “This scholarship reflects EMU’s values and highest aspirations for its students. Expanding the Washington Semester’s vision of life-transforming, career-launching internships, community life, urban exploration, reflection, and analysis to first-generation college students is an appropriate expression of EMU’s emphasis on leadership and service.”

Schmidt also reflected on the changes she witnessed in the program over the years. “Almost 30 years ago, when I first started working for EMU, many of the students in the Washington Semester were born into Mennonite families, reflecting the general student body at EMU,” she said. “During my time, I saw significant shifts in student demographics. We went from being a predominantly white Mennonite program to one of true diversity and inclusion—not only in our subject matter and internship placements, but also in our student population.”

By the early 2010s, many Washington Semester students were students of color, including immigrants from Africa and Latin America. “They made a deep impression on me as they explored the legacies and realities of oppression in U.S. history and current culture and made connections to their own life experiences,” Schmidt added.

The endowed scholarship was first established 10 years ago to celebrate the program’s 40th anniversary and to promote inclusion and diversity. “Rising tuition costs made it clear that financial assistance was becoming ever more critical,” Schmidt explained. “The scholarship has grown from supporting one or two students annually to five or six. We hope to continue expanding it to reach more students and offer additional assistance and career-launching opportunities.”

As it has for 50 years, the Washington Semester supports EMU’s ongoing commitment to transformative education, leadership, and service—values that continue to guide the program’s mission in preparing students for meaningful engagement in their communities and professions.

For more information about the EMU Washington Semester, visit .

The Washington Semester offers students the chance to gain meaningful, hands-on experience in their fields through internships at nonprofits, government agencies, advocacy groups, and other key institutions across the city. Each placement is thoughtfully matched to align with the student’s academic focus and career goals, providing not only practical skills but also real-world perspective that complements and extends their classroom learning.

Read on to learn more about the placements of our Fall 2025 students and their goals for their time in D.C.

Mwamini Bayongwa is a social work major at EMU with a minor in psychology from Riverdale Park, Maryland. This semester Mimi is interning in the social services department at , where she is working on care plans, discharges, resource connections, and different interventions. She is also involved in mental health sessions, which has given her hands-on experience with clients and how support is provided in practice. Through her internship, Mimi hopes to gain real-world experience that connects what she has learned in class to professional practice. She also wants to grow more confident in a workplace setting and learn how to communicate and work with others effectively. Most of all, Mimi hopes that this experience helps her see what path she wants to take in her future career.

Beckham Jantzi, from Hesston, Kansas, is a photography major at EMU. This semester Beckham is interning with , a youth powered environmental action program, working on event photography and editing a documentary. Through his internship, Beck hopes to expand his skills in photography and help the environment. Through his time in D.C., Beckham wants to expand his social circle.

Willem Hedrick from Waterloo, Canada, is a digital media major at EMU. This semester he is interning at as a lead podcast producer where he is producing a podcast, conducting event videography and photography, livestreaming events, and creating short-form content to promote the company. Through his internship, Willem hopes to learn from the hands-on experiences of an internship where he is learning new skills, working as a team, and discovering where his interests lie in the digital media industry.

Lynnzey Young, from Gas City, Indiana, is a Bethel College student majoring in mathematical science and elementary education. This semester she is doing student teaching at where she is working with second, third, and sixth grade math students. Through her internship, Lynnzey hopes to gain more confidence in leading a classroom.

Anisa Sharhabeel, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, is a student at EMU double majoring in business administration and health science. This semester, Anisa is interning at . Anisa’s responsibilities include creating appointments, checking patients in, and getting their charts ready for the doctors. Through her internship, Anisa hopes to gain knowledge and experience in her field, particularly in patient care, and to enhance her communication skills.

Charlie Aldrich, from Capac, Michigan, is a Goshen College communications major with a minor in writing. This semester, Charlie is working as a corporate communication intern with the where he is working on writing press releases, public relations, and media writing. Through his internship, Charlie is hoping to develop his writing and media skills in a fast-paced, professional environment.

Chase Comer, from Timberville, Virginia, is a political science and history major with a minor in pre-law at EMU. This semester, Chase is interning as an election analyst at . Chase’s responsibilities include helping to oversee State House and Senate elections in Maryland and Virginia as well as helping oversee the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election. Through his internship, Chase hopes to gain professional experience in election analysis.

Ethan Neufeld, from Newton, Kansas, is an EMU student majoring in biology and chemistry. This semester, Ethan is interning as a Kairos support assistant at where he is leading wellness workshops on nutrition and cooking, documenting Kairos resident stories, and assisting broadly with wellness-related goals at Kairos house. Through his internship, Ethan is hoping to gain communication skills about lifestyle medicine and nutrition and listening skills from his time hearing patient stories.

Tre Uzzle, from Chesterfield, Virginia, is an EMU student majoring in business administration with a minor in marketing. This semester, Tre is interning as a marketing assistant with where he is working on graphic design and providing corporate sponsorship assistance. Through his internship, Tre is hoping to walk away with proficient skills in business-to-business and business-to-consumer marketing.

Kate Castillo, from Harrisonburg, Virginia, is an EMU student double majoring in accounting and business analytics. This semester, Kate is interning with as an accounting intern where she is working on enhancing her technical skills and working toward providing tools for training people. Through her internship, Kate hopes to gain a better understanding of what she wants to do in the accounting field as well as developing lasting connections with individuals at her internship.

Students interested in spending a semester in the nation’s capital should go here for more information or to apply today! Be sure to also check out the EMU Washington Semester account to see what our students are up to.

WHEN ML LORMEJUSTE ’25 arrived at the Washington Community Scholars’ Center (WCSC) during the fall of 2024, he admits he wasn’t there to make friends. “I was just there to do what I needed to do and move on,” recalled the public health major. As the semester progressed, Lormejuste was nudged out of his comfort zone by social outings and group activities—and found himself forming close friendships with his eight housemates and discovering the value of community. Reflecting on that semester spent in Washington, DC, he said, “I love that group… They became a part of me.” 

Lormejuste is one of more than 1,000 students whose lives have been transformed through EMU’s longest-running intercultural program, which is celebrating its 50th year of connecting students with internships, urban studies coursework, and shared community life. Launched in 1976, the program originally operated as the Washington Study-Service Year (WSSY) until 2002, when it was renamed Washington Community Scholars’ Center (WCSC) as part of a shift from a yearlong format to three shorter terms per year. 

These transitions have allowed the program to stay relevant and responsive. Program staff spent the past two years gathering input for a new name from its alumni, EMU students, and campus faculty and staff stakeholders. In April, the Provost’s Council and President’s Cabinet approved rebranding the program to the EMU Washington Semester. 

The EMU Washington Semester offers fall and spring semester terms and a 10-week summer session. It remains the only urban studies program among Anabaptist-affiliated institutions and draws students from schools across the country, including Bethel College, Bluffton University, Goshen College, and Viterbo University. 

Living, learning, and launching careers

Up to 15 students in the EMU Washington Semester share cooking responsibilities, manage a collective food budget, and work together to maintain their home at the Nelson Good House in the Brookland neighborhood of Northeast DC. Alumni over the past five decades point to their experiences in the program as a highlight of their college careers, if not their lives. 

“I never realized what a great program this was. I learned valuable lessons in adulting, from navigating a large city to living in community,” said Meredith Lehman ’25, EMU’s first Rhodes Scholar. 

Like many students, her internship paved the way to a future career opportunity. She interned at the Institute for Policy Studies this spring and returned to DC over the summer to work as a fellow at the progressive think tank. “Everyone should do this program, no matter their major,” said Lehman, who double majored in political science and biology. 

Cynthia Lapp ’86, a music education graduate and pastor at Hyattsville Mennonite Church in Maryland, has benefited from the program in multiple ways. She was a student from 1983 to 1984, later served on staff for four years, and continues to support program interns at her church. Many of those interns have gone on to become pastors themselves. 

Lapp said her internship at Elizabeth Seton High School opened the door to a teaching position after college. She added that the program is especially meaningful for students new to community living. “Surrounding ourselves with people from different cultures and backgrounds helps us see beyond the way we think and live, including how our decisions impact those around us.” 

Some students find their perfect match through the program—not just professionally, but romantically. Alumnus Micah Shristi ’00, an English major who now works as director of International Student Services at EMU, met his wife, Charlotte Gingerich Shristi, a Goshen College alumna, while in the program from 1998 to 1999. Many of his housemates from that year are among his closest friends, including Nathan Musselman ’00, who now lives next door. 

“What’s wild is that there’s another couple from our year,” he said. “Jenelle Hershey ’99 and Keith Hoover ’00 also got married after their time together in the program.” 

A ‘Good’ start 

In the fall of 1976, a scrappy academic program began immersing students in the cultured community of the nation’s capital. Nelson Good ’68, who came to DC as a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War, founded and directed the program until his retirement in 1987. 

The program, like the city around it, has seen plenty of changes. From the shift to three shorter terms and an accompanying name change in 2002 to a 2005 move from South Dakota Avenue to its current location on Taylor Street, the program has continued to evolve to meet the needs of its students and an ever-changing higher education landscape. 

“The new name more clearly communicates the program as a university-run academic offering, is grounded in the context of our nation’s capital, and is easy to remember and say. It also aligns with common naming conventions used by other universities’ DC-based programs, making it more recognizable regionally and beyond,” said Ryan Good, EMU Washington Semester director and son of the late Nelson Good. 

While evolving, the program has remained committed to supporting students’ personal and career development. Students consistently report leaving the program with improved professional confidence, greater clarity about career direction, more comfort in working with people who are different than they are, and increased awareness of systemic injustices, said Good. 

“Dad would be thrilled to see the ways this program has evolved over the years. Though much has changed, the bones of the program he envisioned remain the same… supporting students as they make sense of who they are in a complex world, both personally and professionally.” 

Two events will celebrate the program’s 50th anniversary: a reunion during Homecoming 2025 on Saturday, Oct. 11, from 1-3 p.m. in the Student Union, and a spring gathering at the Nelson Good House on Saturday, Feb. 21, from 10 a.m. to noon. 

For more information about the EMU Washington Semester, visit:

This story appears in the Summer 2025 issue of Crossroads magazine.

“This renaming is more than a cosmetic change; it’s a strategic move that enhances clarity and reinforces the direct connection between this transformative experience and ��ݮ����’s mission,” said Provost Tynisha Willingham. “The EMU Washington Semester is a vital extension of our campus, embodying our commitment to preparing students for purposeful lives through experiential learning, critical thinking, and ethical leadership. This new name clearly signals that this immersive experience is unequivocally EMU.”

The rebranding follows two years of work by EMU Washington Semester staff, engaging campus faculty and staff stakeholders, program alums, and current students. The new name aims to support effective marketing by communicating more transparently that the program is a credit-earning academic term run by a university. It additionally aligns with common naming conventions used by other universities’ D.C.-based programs, making it more recognizable within the region.

Launched in 1976, the program originally operated as the Washington Study Service Year (WSSY) until 2002, when it was renamed the Washington Community Scholars’ Center (WCSC) as part of a shift from a year-long format to three shorter terms per year

For the past 50 years, the program has been a cornerstone of experiential learning, offering students opportunities to live, learn, and intern in the nation’s capital. Washington, D.C. serves as a dynamic living laboratory where students engage with policy, advocacy, community development, and justice initiatives, directly applying classroom theory to real-world challenges.

Open to students from EMU and colleges and universities around the world, the EMU Washington Semester offers a full-semester or 10-week summer experience that combines internships, urban studies coursework, career development, and community living in the Nelson Good House in the heart of Washington, D.C. 

The EMU Washington Semester will continue to provide a unique educational experience, empowering students to engage with complex societal issues, develop professional competencies, and cultivate a deeper understanding of their role in contributing to a more just world.

For more information about the program, visit or follow the experiences of current students at .