Centre News

Jenny Jones ’10 moved to Washington, D.C., after graduation,
and found that it took more perseverance than she had
originally anticipated to stay in the District of Columbia — but
she has stuck with it through the difficulties.

After graduating in 2010, Jenny Jones moved to Washington, D.C., to take an internship position with the Trust for the National Mall, a non-profit partner with the National Park Service charged with raising funds to restore the National Mall. She loved working for the Trust and living in the nation's capitol. But when her internship ended, her future there was unsure.

“[The Trust] treated me like family, and an employee, and I didn't want to leave,” Jones says. “I was determined to stay in Washington.”

Although the Trust offered her a part-time position, Jones had to supplement her income by working in a restaurant. She lived with a friend she had met there and worked 70-80 hour weeks. She applied to the Washington Center, an organization that networked internship opportunities for her. But despite all this, it looked as if her hopes of living and working in D.C. were not to be, and she would have to return to her parents’ home in Kentucky.

“That's when the Trust offered me a full-time position as the database and contributions manager,” she says. “I support all development initiatives through management of the donor database, prospect management, research and gift projections.”

Jenny says there's a moral to this story — stick with it.

“I knew I wanted to be here, and I did what I had to do to stay. I'm thankful for the education I received at Centre that helped to prepare me for that initial internship.

“The Trust has launched its national campaign and it will be chaired by former First Lady Laura Bush,” Jones continues. “I'm receiving extensive training in my job field and will continue with that as long as I'm here. I'm very happy.”

Today it was announced that billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein is donating $7.5 million to the Trust. Click here to read more.

Washington is starting to feel like home for Jones.

“Now that I'm settled in, I volunteer at the SEED School tutoring middle school and high school students, and attend St. Matthews Baptist Church,” she says. “I live about two blocks from the nation's capitol and work about two blocks from the home of our nation's President — so many great opportunities for young adults in D.C!”

Jenny also guest blogs for vaughtsviews.com, the online athletic blog by Larry Vaught, sport's editor for Danville's Advocate-Messenger newspaper.

Have comments, suggestions, or story ideas? E-mail elizabeth.trollinger@centre.edu with your feedback.

Centre College, founded in 1819 and chosen to host its second Vice Presidential Debate in 2012, is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges, at 42nd in the nation, and ranks 27th for best value among national liberal arts colleges. Forbes magazine ranks Centre 34th among all the nation’s colleges and universities and has named Centre in the top five among all institutions of higher education in the South for three years in a row. Centre is also ranked fourth in the nation by U.S. News for its study abroad program. For more, click here.