By Lauren Bluth
Caroline Tung, a senior majoring in history, was one of six students selected for a prestigious internship in Washington D.C. at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
Growing up in Potomac, Md., Tung developed a love for the museums, and specifically the National Air and Space Museum, at a young age.
?That one was always my favorite,? Tung said.
While searching internships online, Tung found the Smithsonian Affiliations Intern Partnership Program, which allows students interested in the museum field to partner with their local Smithsonian Affiliate to gain experience in the museum environment.
Now she has the chance to work in the museum she loves. As an intern with Smithsonian Affilliations, Tung will have the opportunity to develop a new exhibit ?After Apollo? that will explore man?s role in space.
Tung, who considers herself a ?total astronomy nerd,? will be involved in all aspects of its development, such as selecting artifacts for the exhibit, deciding how to present it to school children and writing an exhibit thesis.
When Tung returns from Washington D.C., she will complete an internship at the Museum of Utah Art and History, her sponsoring Smithsonian affiliate. This will give Tung a chance to build on her experiences at the National Air and Space Museum and contribute to a local institution.
?We?re delighted to have her,? said Tom Rugh, Executive Director of the Museum of Utah Art and History. ?Interning at the Smithsonian in D.C. will be a great opportunity and experience for her and she?ll be able to bring that experience here.?
Rugh said while Tung completes her internship at the Museum of Utah Art and History, she will be working on issues of technology and exhibits related to her experience.
Although the Museum of Utah Art and History has had students from BYU intern in the past, Tung is the first to go to Washington D.C. for the Smithsonian Affiliations internship.
Despite the busy schedule she will keep, Tung said the internship is, ?definitely a dream come true because it?s the Smithsonian, and the National Air and Space Museum is the most visited museum.?
Tung, who plans on getting her doctorate degree in history said the internship will help her form ideas for her dissertation as well.
?This will help me through the process to bridge the where the academic world and public come together,? she said.