Katherine Allebach believes so strongly in the mission of Girl Scouts that she is melding that passion into a career.
Allebach, a senior political science major from East Greenville, Pa., is working as a public policy intern at Girl Scouts of the USA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office in Washington, D.C. She lives in the city through Susquehanna’s participation with the Lutheran College Washington Semester. Through the program, students from 13 Lutheran colleges around the U.S. live in shared apartments while interning throughout the nation’s capital.
Allebach works to promote Girl Scouts’ legislative agenda.
“We work across party lines to educate and raise awareness about issues important to girls and young women,” she said.
Girl Scouts’ federal legislative agenda calls for increasing access to outdoor activities and reducing bullying; increasing involvement in science, technology, engineering and math; strengthening financial literacy; and promoting global citizenship.
Allebach was introduced to Girl Scouts when, at only 5 years old, she became a Daisy, the youngest level of scouting.
“Because of Girl Scouts, I always saw the value in myself,” Allebach said. “Girl Scouts taught me healthy living and how to be a good person. I do believe we need to be raising girls with a mindset focused less about how they look and more about how they think and act and feel.”
She credits her varied education at Susquehanna—both in the classroom and as a student office employee—with giving her a working knowledge of legislative function and language, and instilling strong organizational skills and an understanding of office etiquette.
Following graduation, Allebach hopes to eventually pursue a career in education or public policy.
“When I was 5-year-old Daisy Girl Scout, I was having fun, sewing and camping with my troop. I did not know that I was learning the fundamental qualities of leadership, perseverance, and grit,” she said. “Today, interning for the Girl Scouts Public Policy and Advocacy Office, I get to demonstrate to policymakers that Girl Scouts is a resource—and an authority—on issues affecting girls and Girl Scouting.”
