Robin Perry, Director of Career Services at Catawba College attended the Intern reception at the Executive Mansion in Raleigh as a member of the Governor's Internship Council.
More than 300 interns, agency supervisors and state officials gathered at the beautiful and historic Executive Mansion on Wednesday, July 15, for the Annual Intern Reception. Joining the North Carolina State Government Interns at the Mansion were interns who have spent the summer working in the North Carolina House of Representatives, North Carolina Senate, State Auditor's Office, Office of the Governor, Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Insurance, Ethics Commission, Office of State Budget and Management, Office of Information Technology Services and the North Carolina Department of Justice.
Reception guests had the rare opportunity to float freely throughout the Executive Mansion's lovely and spacious first floor rooms while enjoying the Mansion's famous cookies. Rich in history, the Mansion has served more governors than any other official residence. While Governor Pat McCrory is North Carolina's 74th governor, he is the 30th governor to live in the Mansion.
Following a warm welcome and introduction by former Executive Director Stephanie Nantz, Governor Pat McCrory thanked the interns for their service and welcomed them to the "people's house." He encouraged the group to follow their dreams and asked, "Which one of you will one day be governor of this great state?" Many interns raised their hands in agreement. Governor McCrory challenged the interns to work hard and learn something new every day. He gave many thanks to the great supervisors of the interns, and thanked them for their continued service to the state and their willingness to have an intern this summer.
Perry
Perry said "The students I spoke to all seemed thrilled with their internships this summer, and the experience they are getting-from the governor's office to coastal aquariums- is rich." She also had a chance to visit with Judge Ann Marie Calabria and Judge John M. Tyson, of the NC Court of Appeals, both spoke highly of the interns and this program. Perry will return to Raleigh in September when the council meets to review proposed internships from the state agencies for next summer's intern program.
One of the Mansion's famous guests include President Franklin D. Roosevelt. After his stay, President Roosevelt commented that the Mansion was the most beautiful governor's mansion he ever visited. Because polio limited his mobility, the Mansion's first floor Lady's Parlor was converted to a bedroom so that President Roosevelt could visit comfortably without having to navigate the stairs.
Both beautiful and functional, the Executive Mansion is part residence and part working office. The Governor frequently conducts meetings at the very tables around which the interns sat as they shared their summer internship experiences with their peers. We are hopeful that one of our 2015 interns will return to the Mansion one day to hold their gubernatorial meetings!
