Our mission is to continue providing scholarships for students of all majors to participate in Boilers Go to D.C. (BGDC) - Purdue’s flagship experiential learning hub in Washington D.C.
The Boilers Go to D.C. (BGDC) Programs are an opportunity to study up close the historic interconnections of political communication, government, civics, and influential organizations in our nation’s capital. The Boilers Go to D.C. Maymester Program was formed in the CCSE in 2020, with roots in experiential programs through the College of Liberal Arts since 2011. Participants meet with Washington decision-makers, communicators, and visit historic sites that changed the course of our nation. In 2024, the CCSE expanded its dedication to experiential learning and professional development through the BGDC Summer Scholars Internship Program, where students will take their next giant leap with internships across the D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) region. Students have interned in organizations including the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Defense (DOD), NBC News, C-SPAN, UNHCR, on Capitol Hill, at nationally known trade associations, think tanks and more.
Both BGDC courses include foundational career readiness and innovative alumni mentorship components in which students will be matched with a mentor from the Washington, D.C region to learn about career paths in a variety of fields and learn about living and working in DC. Through Boilers Go to D.C., Boilermakers can picture themselves making an impact in their communities, living, learning, and working in the heart of our nation.
Every gift, no matter the size, fuels our ability to make groundbreaking programs accessible to all Purdue students, eliminating the barrier of cost to high-quality, experiential education.
Donations to the Boilers Go to D.C. Scholarship Fund are given directly to students in any major through annual BGDC scholarships, which will support program fee costs for BGDC programming. In doing so, students can focus on the opportunity to engage with Purdue faculty and distinguished Purdue alumni in Washington D.C., rather than the financial burden. By donating to the Boilers Go to D.C. Scholarship Fund, your generosity empowers us to:
- Make students’ dreams of studying or working in Washington D.C. a reality
- Support civically engaged programming and career-changing opportunities for Boilermakers
- Enable Purdue students, regardless of their socio-economic background, to take advantage of immersive experiences in the heart of our nation’s capital
With the overall cost of living in D.C. being roughly 60% higher than in the state of Indiana, the cost of immersions to Washington D.C. is a major factor in students' ability to take part in these once-in-a-lifetime programs. The Boilers Go to D.C. Scholarships and support from you, our Boilermaker family, are essential to the accessibility and affordability of these programs for students. Our annual donation goals are a primary factor in our ability to grow our student engagement, bringing more students to our nation’s capital and ensuring long-term endurance of these programs as living costs continue to rise.