DSU Congressional Fellow Benjamin Lobred and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-MS.(Official U.S. Senate photo by John Klemmer)CLEVELAND, Miss. — Delta State University senior Benjamin Lobred of Vicksburg was recently named the 2024 Delta Research Foundation Congressional Fellow. Each year, DSU’s Congressional Fellows Program provides one outstanding undergraduate student the opportunity to intern on Capitol Hill for a designated Mississippi senator. Lobred will spend the Spring 2024 semester in Washington, D.C. interning for United States Senator Roger Wicker.
DSU, in collaboration with Delta Council and Staplcotn, sponsors the Delta State Congressional Fellows Program, which offers an experiential educational opportunity for one exceptional DSU student each year.
Lobred said that he found out about the fellowship through his advisor, Assistant Professor of Social Studies Education Dr. Justin Krueger. “The idea of living in D.C. is something I’ve always dreamed of,” he said. “The history and importance of the area and the job opportunities really speak to me.”
Lobred is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Education degree at DSU, majoring in Social Studies Education. He is a President’s List scholar and is the recipient of the 2023 Dr. Thomas N. Boschert Memorial Scholarship.
Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Eddie Lovin said, “Benjamin excels both in the classroom and outside the classroom. He is committed to his learning and has been on the President’s List since 2021.”
Lobred will receive first-hand experience with the systems of Congress while gaining valuable insight on public policy issues affecting regions such as the Mississippi Delta. Delta State Congressional Fellows work with Senate staff to help provide constituent services, track legislation, and develop knowledge of policy concerns. On his second day of work, he attended a hearing where the pop star Jelly Roll testified before the Senate about the dangers of fentanyl.
Lobred said, “I’ve been sightseeing as much as possible, which isn’t much, since there’s so much work going on. I’ve attended hearings and briefings and report what was said at them. I’ve helped staff write memos and things of that nature. I haven’t had one yet, but I will be giving Capitol tours for constituents in the coming months.”
Lobred is keenly aware of the opportunity that he has earned. He said, “I feel like I have a reputation to uphold, not just my own, but DSU’s as well. That feeling gives me more pride in everything I do up here.”
For questions or more information about the Congressional Fellows program, contact Delta State University Student Affairs at studentaffairs@deltastate.edu or 662-846-4150.
