AUGUSTA — Sen. Rod Whittemore, R-Skowhegan, recently announced that one of his constituents is serving as an intern in the Senate Republican Office at the State House. Samantha Turcotte, of Cornville, began work at the State House in January, according to a news release from the Senate Majority Office.

A student in her junior year at the University of Maine, Turcotte is pursuing a double major in psychology and political science. She sought out the internship in order to gain real world experience in government.

“I’m grateful for this opportunity, and have already learned a lot about the legislature and state government in general,” said Turcotte in the news release. “There is much more to the State House and legislative work than what we see and hear from the news.”

Turcotte’s duties in her internship change day to day, but she is largely assisting with constituent outreach activities. She also sits in on the Senate Republicans’ caucus meetings, during which she is able to get a behind the scenes look at the legislative process.

“Samantha has proved herself to be an asset to the office in the short time she has been at the State House,” said Whittemore in the release. “She is ready and willing to assist with any task, and is a quick and eager learner. Her work and attitude is admirable, and she makes our region proud.”

Turcotte is scheduled to continue as an intern through the remainder of the 2015 spring semester.