News / Announcements
January 14, 2026
B-CU students Sagal Z. Buchanan and Benjamin McDonald were selected to intern for Florida state Rep. RaShon Young. Credit/rights: Bethune-Cookman University official LinkedIn graphic; confirm reuse of the original high-resolution design file.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Two Bethune-Cookman University students have been selected for 2026 legislative internships in the office of Florida state Rep. RaShon Young, representing House District 40.
Sagal Z. Buchanan, a graduating senior, and Benjamin McDonald, a sophomore, will enter a working environment where public policy, research and constituent service meet. Their selection gives both Wildcats a close view of how a legislative office responds to community needs and moves ideas through the state process.
Internships in a House office can include researching policy, monitoring legislation, preparing briefing materials, assisting with constituent inquiries and supporting day-to-day office operations. The pace requires careful writing, discretion, professionalism and the ability to learn quickly.
For Buchanan and McDonald, the experience is also a bridge between campus and public service. Classroom discussions about law, government and leadership take on new meaning when students see how a bill is analyzed, how residents communicate with their representative and how staff balance competing priorities.
Young serves District 40 in the Florida House of Representatives. Working with his office will allow the B-CU interns to observe both the formal legislative process and the relationship-based work that happens outside committee meetings and floor sessions.
The students enter the opportunity at different points in their undergraduate careers. Buchanan brings the perspective of a graduating senior preparing for the next step, while McDonald will be able to carry lessons from the internship back into multiple semesters at B-CU. Together, they demonstrate that professional preparation can begin early and deepen over time.
Their selection also reflects the value of experiential learning. A strong internship does more than add a line to a résumé. It gives students supervisors who can challenge them, assignments that test their judgment and a network of professionals who can help them understand possible careers.
Public service depends on people who can listen carefully and translate community concerns into action. Those habits align with the legacy of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, whose work brought education, advocacy and government together in pursuit of greater opportunity.
As legislative interns, Buchanan and McDonald will represent themselves and Bethune-Cookman in a highly visible setting. Their preparation, curiosity and service will help show what Wildcats contribute when given a seat inside the institutions that shape public life.
The University community congratulates both students and looks forward to seeing how the experience influences their academic goals, professional plans and commitment to serving others.
The Florida legislative calendar gives interns a concentrated view of public decision-making. Hearings, amendments, constituent communications and shifting schedules can place several assignments in motion at once. Students learn to organize information, meet deadlines and communicate accurately when circumstances change.
Constituent service is another essential part of the experience. Residents contact legislative offices with questions and problems that may involve state agencies or public programs. Helping staff respond shows interns that government is not only debate in a chamber; it is also the daily work of connecting people with information and solutions.
When the internship ends, the strongest learning will come from reflection. Buchanan and McDonald can identify which responsibilities challenged them, which policy areas captured their attention and which skills they want to strengthen. Sharing those lessons can also help other Wildcats pursue public-service opportunities.
