“In 1971, when so many young people were disillusioned with their government at the height of the Vietnam War, Congressman Bill Archer started a program to select one deserving junior from each high school in District Seven and send them on an all expenses paid guided trip to Washington , D.C. This program was the first of its kind in the nation, and it allows these future leaders to see for themselves how our government works and that it is led by honorable people sincerely devoted to their States and our Nation,” Culberson said. "When I was elected to succeed Chairman Archer, I pledged to continue this worthwhile program, and I have renamed it the Bill Archer Student Intern Program in his honor. With the help of an all volunteer staff, we raise the money for this non-profit, tax-deductible program."

The Archer Intern selection process is coordinated by a government or history teacher, a prior year’s intern, and the principal from each high school in District Seven. It begins with an application that includes an essay requirement. To qualify, a student must demonstrate all the characteristics of good citizenship and leadership, and maintain no less than a “B” (or equivalent) grade point average. The student must also demonstrate an interest in government and political science and make a detailed report on their experiences to their fellow students. Based on these criteria, a committee comprised of teachers and coordinators will select the two most qualified boys and two most qualified girls (or four girls or four boys if the school is not coed). Then each student in the junior class casts a vote for one of the four elected, and the nominee receiving a majority of the votes is selected as that school’s Bill Archer Student Intern representative.

This program has been tremendously successful over the years, primarily because of the willingness of our nation’s leaders to spend time and share their thoughts, experiences, and insights with these student leaders. Students are exposed to every branch of the government and have the opportunity to develop a working knowledge of our constitutional separation of powers. Each speaker describes his or her role in Washington and allows time for the students' questions. The 2006 Archer Interns spent the week of March 4-11 learning the history and workings of our nation’s capital and listening to a variety of speakers including:

Former House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Archer (founder);
Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns;
Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio);
Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Missouri);
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas);
Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas);
Senator Trent Lott (R-Mississippi):
Congressman Eric Cantor (R-Virginia):
Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-Texas);
CongressmanTom DeLay (R-Texas);
Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-Texas):
Congressman Richard Baker(R-Louisiana);
Congressman Mike McCaul (R-Texas);
Congressman Mike Conaway (R-Texas);
Congresswoman Katherine Harris(R-Florida);
Congressman Randy Neugebauer(R-Texas);
Congressman Dennis Kucinich(D-Ohio);
Congressman Henry Bonilla (R-Texas);
Congressman Michael Burgess (R-Texas);
Congressman Mike Pence (R-Indiana);
Congressman Gene Green (D-Texas);
Congressman Pete Sessions (R-Texas);
Congressman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas):
Chairman Vern Ehlers (R-Mississippi);
Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee);
Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense Larry Dirita;
Secret Service Director Ralph Basham;
Federal Bureau of Investigation Agent Marc Veazey;
Julie Mason from the Houston Chronicle;
Drew Maloney from the Federalist Group;
Don Carlson, former Chief of Staff to Chairman Bill Archer;
Jack Peterson and Mike Talbott with the Harris County Flood Control District.

The interns’ days are filled with substantive meetings, briefings, and presentations as well as question and answer sessions. They also tour the White House, the Secret Sercice Building, the Pentagon, the CIA headquarters, and visit the Smithsonian and the Capitol. Evenings are spent on tours visiting historical sites in our nation’s capitol such as the Lincoln Memorial, Iwo Jima, and the FDR Memorial.

All expenses are paid by the Bill Archer Student Intern Foundation, and applications are distributed annually at high schools throughout the 7th District. Schools and students interested in participating in the 2007 Bill Archer Student Intern Program should contact Congressman Culberson’s Houston office at (713) 682-8828. The 2006 Archer Interns are:

Girls

Rebecca Alard, Briarwood High School
Lauren Ayers Cy-Ridge High School
Cindy Dinh, Spring Woods High School
Roxana Fatemizadeh, St. John's School
Elena Giralt, Duchesne Academy
Gloria Gunn, Jersey Village High School
Leah Holder, Westbury Christian High School
Yejin Kang, Cy-Falls High School
Sian Leach, Lamar High School
Julia Lovett, The Kinkaid School
Alicia Nino, Northbrook High School
Greta Ralston, Houston Christian High School
Adelina Solis, High School for Performing and Visual Arts
Audrey Tusing, Spring Branch School of Choice
Fiona Wylie, Stratford High School

Boys

Derek Chu, Langham Creek High School
Neat Clark, Episcopal High School
Samuel Espinoza, High, School for Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement
Patrick Glover, Westchester Academy
Angel Gonzalez, Texas Christian High School
Gustavo Herrera, Bellaire High School
Travis Jones, St. Thomas Episcopal High School
Cesar Lima, Cy-Creek High School
Patrick Moreno-Covington, St. Thomas High School
Timothy Obenland, Cypress Christian High School
Christopher Rogers, Second Baptist High School
Chris Roznovsky, Cy-Fair High School
Carl Thorne-Thomsen, Memorial High School
Jose Villa, Westside High School

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