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Washington Seminar heads to nation's capital for historic field research

JANESVILLE — Janesville Parker senior Jacob Oldenburg plans to attend UW-Rock County and then UW-Madison to major in bio-medical or mechanical engineering.

Why then, you might ask, is he researching federal budget reform as a scholar with the Parker High School Washington Seminar program?

"My dad is an accountant, and I hear a lot about budgets," said the 17-year-old Oldenburg. "I knew the federal budget would be a hot topic while we are in Washington and there would be a lot of information available, so I chose to study it."

Oldenburg's father, Rod, is the senior cost accountant at Evonik Industries in Janesville.

A team of Washington Seminar scholars will study federal fiscal issues next week as part of the program's 39th annual field study in Washington, D.C.

The fiscal team and its topics include Oldenburg (budget reform), Ryan Schmidt (financial market reform), Oren Feldman-Schultz (tax reform policy), Taylor Utzig (housing foreclosures), Conner Long (federal housing policy), Nichole Barb (college financial aid policy) and Whitney Woodworth (No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top programs).

"Every year there are highlights, but this year is especially significant because of the budget crisis," said Washington Seminar Director Joe Van Rooy.

The Washington Seminar scholars have completed a semester of background research and study of their federal government topics in addition to the required academics of the advanced placement government course Van Rooy teaches. The scholars also must meet requirements for all the other courses they take before being cleared for the field research week in Washington.

A highlight of this year's trip is a group briefing from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

"What a fabulous opportunity for the students to talk with a U.S. Supreme Court justice," Van Rooy said. "The Supreme Court justices seldom offer briefings, so this is a rare opportunity for the students and the Washington Seminar program."

The 2011 Washington Seminar features a foreign policy and security team highlighting the study of South Korean (Dani Kaiser and Tyler Howland-Seger), Israeli (Maria Tordoff), Japanese (Terri Harmata) and Iranian (Matthew Simon) relations. Scholars will also receive briefings at the Japan, South Korea, Israel and Saudi Arabia embassies.

"Our focus at Washington Seminar is on federal government issues, and foreign policy is critical to that focus," Van Rooy said. "Many federal government issues require an international focus such as security, trade and financial markets."

The 24 Washington Seminar scholars and six adult staff were scheduled to leave for Washington at 4:30 this morning. They are scheduled to return mid-afternoon Saturday, March 12.

Seminar partners

Local businesses and organizations partner with Washington Seminar to provide funding and other resources.

"These organizations are so valuable to our success and continuing programming," said Joe Van Rooy, Washington Seminar director. "Their continuing support makes all the difference."

-- Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin

-- Bliss Communications

-- Janesville Noon and Morning Rotary clubs

-- George Tallman Trust Fund

-- The Janesville Education Association

-- Parker Closet

-- The faculty and administration at Parker High School, the school district administration and the Janesville School Board.