RaNeshia Monete’ Wimberly, a 21-year-old senior at Grambling State University and currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in social work, was selected to participate in a summer internship in the office of Senator Mary Landrieu in Washington, D.C.
She indicated that it was the most memorable experience imaginable.
“I was excessively excited about all of the events that the other interns and I actually were able to see in person,” said Wimberly.
Wimberly said the group saw things close up that before was only seen on television or online.
“My eyes glued to the TV actually turned into my eyes being glued to the real events. I learned how Congress operates. I also gained knowledge about how laws and bills are passed or denied, and it is an extremely strenuous process,” she said.
Wimberly toured the “Dome” of the Capitol Building, the Library of Congress for orientation and the Supreme Court.
“I saw the Supreme Court Courtroom where all of the major decisions take place,” explained Wimberly.
Some of the jobs that she performed dealt with: running errands to different locations such as, Senate Dirksen, Senate Russell, the Capitol Building, data entry (for Kristen Granier), making copies of phone records and delivering documents to the Capitol floor, answering the phone, filing papers such as telephone bills and much more.
“I was also able to sit in on different briefings/hearings such as; the Youth Promise Act and Martial Arts, CIA, Homeland Security, Energy Band dealing with natural resources on the Klamath River Basin. I also watched a brief film on Keeping African Americans Out of Jail,” she said.
Additionally, Wimberly attended a Code of Ethic Training as well as a Legislative information seminar where I was taught how to write letters and how to respond to constituents.
During the 2013 Spring semester, RaNeshia was one of the students from the School of Social Work chosen to present an article on “Obesity in African American Women” at a conference in Cincinnati, Ohio and also assisted with a poster presentation at ULM (Monroe) on the same topic, accompanied by Dr. Clarence Williams, social work professor.
She has also been a camp counselor/mentor/tutor for the LA Gear Up Program at GSU for the past three summers. After graduation, RaNeshia plans to pursue her M.S. degree in social work and desires to work in a children’s hospital to pursue her passion; working with young children and youth.
She is the daughter of Rickey and Inetha Wimberly and the sister of Ricardo and Re’Chard Wimberly of Jonesboro.
While at GSU, she has been on the Honor Roll, Dean’s List and President’s List and has a G.P.A. of 3.7. She is a member of the Earl Lester Cole Honors College; Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society and also serves on the Social Research Club committee.
Her hobbies include reading, spending time with her family and friends, two special nieces, Kaiden and Kinsley Wimberly, and God- Sister, Trevin Drayton.