Q&A with Chris Swonger and Henry Hill
A Sponsor & An Intern
FALL 2018
ThanksUSA spoke with Chris Swonger, Senior Vice President of Government Relations at Smiths Detection, a sponsor of the Pathways for Patriots program, along with ThanksUSA scholar and Smiths Group intern Henry Hill. Henry is studying Computer Science at the Minerva Schools, currently in Seoul, South Korea. His career goals are to develop Education Technology software to improve the effectiveness and accessibility of learning. Because of the Pathways program, meaningful connections like this one are providing our scholars with invaluable work experience and beneficial lessons in career development. Q: You were instrumental in Smiths Group’s participation in Pathways for Patriots. What was your motivation? Swonger: I know the Okun family personally and was inspired by their passion and desire to help military families receive the education they need to succeed. Smiths Group’s values include integrity, respect, ownership, and passion. Participating in the Pathways for Patriots program is a great way for companies like Smiths Group to live our values with the same spirit of altruism that started ThanksUSA. Q: What motivated you to apply for the internship with Smiths Group? Hill: In school I have studied political science, comparative government, and economics to learn more about how these instrumental elements of our society work. And I wanted to take my education beyond lectures and textbooks. When I noticed that a government relations internship was available in Washington, DC, I jumped at the opportunity. Q: What advantages do military families bring to the workplace? Swonger: Military families bring tremendous value to the workplace. Military spouses and children gain valuable skills by supporting an active-duty military member, often moving to different states or countries, and dealing with uncertainty. Those transferrable skills include organization, dependability, flexibility, project management, and networking. Q: What are some of the advantages of being raised in a military home? Hill: I think the challenges that military families face can also be great advantages. You can find yourself overwhelmed by the stress of PCSing, being uprooted and moved across the country or even the ocean. However, that experience can be turned into an opportunity for personal growth. When I was in high school, the Navy moved us to Germany, making a tough transition between schools and throwing another language into the mix. As hard as it can be to relocate, that experience taught me how to adapt and to prioritize what was important to me, and it led to some of the most memorable and influential moments of my life so far. Q: Tell us about Henry’s role in your office. Swonger: Henry provided invaluable research into critical legislative issues that our office is working on. He also attended Congressional hearings that were important to our office and reported back to our Vice Presidents of Government Relations. In addition, he helped write some of our communications and helped to present a webinar on tariffs to employees at our company. He is a very good writer and picks things up quickly. Q: Share with us a funny or interesting experience you had during the internship. Hill: In my final week, there was one blistering day where the outdoor temperature broke 100 degrees. I had to go with another intern up the Hill to the Cannon House Office Building, about a five-block walk. After making it two blocks in our three-piece suits, we decided to go the underground route. Ten minutes later, we were lost in the subterranean labyrinth. We made it back above ground only to discover we were farther away than when we started, and at this point drenched in sweat. Upon arriving back, we were asked why we didn’t just take a taxi. Never in my life had taking a taxi five blocks seemed like the sane choice. Q: Tell us how the ThanksUSA scholarship and the Pathways for Patriots internship has impacted you. Hill: “Financial aid” doesn’t sum up the service that ThanksUSA provides. ThanksUSA has helped to give me the freedom to learn inside and outside the classroom. ThanksUSA has helped me go to my dream school, has kept me there, and has opened up opportunities for learning between the spring and fall semesters. Thank you to the generous sponsors! |
Scholar Henry Hill (center) at the 2018 Citi Open along with with Jean Pletchette, Andrew Cashmere, David Lee of CVS Health, Henry's parents Amanda and Navy Commander Craig Hill, and Rear Admiral Sean Buck
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