Highlighting Spring 2026 Lacy Internship Program Recipients
March 17, 2026 - Features
by Abby Jones | Marketing and Communications Intern
Created in 2012, with support from Chuck and Diane Frickey in honor of Director Emeritus Bill Lacy, who served as the Director of the Dole Institute from 2004 to 2022, the Lacy Internship Program provides financial assistance for KU students pursuing a career in public service, politics, museum studies, or related fields.
This semester, three students were chosen for the program. Of those chosen, all three students serve as interns within the Kansas Legislature.
Ugo Oyefia, a sophomore, currently serves as an intern for the Kansas House Democrats in Topeka. In this role, he attends committee hearings, tracks legislation, and conducts policy research.
“This opportunity [Lacy Internship Assistance Program] has helped me connect my academic work in population research and public health to the day-to-day work of state government,” Oyefia said.
Ugo Oyefia, a recipient of the Lacy Internship Program for his Spring Internship for the Kansas House Democrats. Oyefia is pictured outside the Kansas Capitol in Topeka, Kansas. Photo courtesy of Ugo Oyefia.
Also chosen for the program, Arjun Mohan, a freshman, serves as an intern for the House Democratic Leadership office. Mohan engages in caucus-level research, attending committee hearings, and communicating constituent perspectives on pending legislation. As a political science major interested in public service, Mohan expressed the importance of this internship to his future work in law and government.
“The Lacy Scholarship has provided me with early exposure to the political environment through the Kansas State Legislature. Additionally, I am forging connections and developing skills that I will carry into my future in law and public service,” Mohan said.
Arjun Mohan, a recipient of the Lacy Internship Program for his spring internship with the House Democratic Leadership Office. Mohan is seen posing at a podium in the Kansas Legislature. Photo courtesy of Arjun Mohan.
This program also provides opportunities for graduating seniors to get a glimpse into the workforce come May. Jacob McCarty, a senior, is an intern in the Kansas Legislature for Paul Davis, a lobbyist and lawyer. In his time interning for Davis, McCarty said his work aligns with his goals for future career endeavors and gives him a glimpse into the legislation process.
“The Lacy Internship program is helping me reach my academic and professional goals as it is providing me extra financial assistance alongside my journey into the professional world,” McCarty said. “I am very grateful to have been awarded this assistance as it aligns with my current goals to experience the legislative process.”
Jacob McCarty, a recipient of the Lacy Internship Program for his spring internship with Paul Davis. Photo courtesy of Jacob McCarty.
Abby Jones serves as the Marketing & Communications Intern for the Dole Institute of Politics. Through this role, Abby works closely with student workers and the institute to prepare marketing materials and event photographs. She is a junior studying Digital Marketing Communications, Advertising, and Public Relations with a minor in Communications.
About the Dole Institute
Inspired by the leadership legacies of Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole, and the enduring civic contributions of the Greatest Generation, the Dole Institute of Politics strives to promote a new era of leadership that uses politics to bring people together through opportunities that emphasize bipartisan cooperation, public service, and civic education and engagement.
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