Three PLS students awarded Michigan Government Semester Program scholarships

April 28, 2026 - Karessa Weir

A'Nyah Banta, Esther Waller and Victoria Bucher with Dr. Marty Jordan. Photo by Jackie Belden Hawthorne, College of Social Science

Three Political Science majors were awarded Michigan Government Semester Program scholarships this year.  
 
The undergraduate internship program, overseen by PLS Associate Professor Dr. Marty Jordan, pairs students with mentors in legislative, government, public policy, non-profit and advocacy groups around the Lansing region. The students work 18 hours a week as an intern and attend weekly lectures as well. The current class marks more than 300 students who have gone through the program.  
  
A’Nyah Banta is a Political Science Pre-Law sophomore who interned with Michigan Legislative Consultants. Her work included attending legislative committees, performing research for clients and getting to know the needs of the clients. 
 
“I was amazing and grateful for the scholarship and for the internship as well,” Banta said. “I am so fortunate because it is hard to get an internship and I really appreciate (Dr. Marty Jordan’s) help and guidance.  
 
She strongly feels everyone would benefit from a semester with MGSP for the professional connections but also for the personal networking it provides.  
 
“I got to meet so many people. We really bonded as a class,” she said. 
 
Victoria Bucher interned with Judge Rosemarie Aquilina (MI 30th Circuit Court) and, after a semester with Judge Aquilina, is more determined than ever to become a judge. 
 
“She’s fantastic. I have learned so much about her judicial philosophy and about the entire legal system,” Bucher said. “It has really defined the direction of my career.” 
 
Bucher appreciated Judge Aquilina’s focus on victims. Her advocacy for victims was very important to Bucher, who interacted with all the players in the courtroom. 
 
“MGSP is an incredible opportunity to grow my professional writing and to make friends with other political science majors,” Bucher said. “Dr. Jordan is an incredible mentor. He cares so deeply about student success. It’s very intense but so worth it. I would do it again in a heartbeat.” 
 
Esther Waller, intern with S.A.F.E. Place shelter, found her placement was a perfect fit for her interests in social work and social policy.  
 
The MGSP scholarship made a big difference as Waller had to travel to Charlotte for the position. There she was based at the Eaton County courthouse where she helped victims apply for personal protection orders, working with law clerks and assisting people who are going through “a pretty hard time,” she said.  
 
“Seeing this side of the justice system has been really great,” Waller said. “It can be so hard to contextualize in a classroom but MGSP puts you directly on the path of helping people.” 
 
She also appreciated Jordan’s enthusiasm and inspiring.  
 
“Marty got me to really see what I want to do,” Waller said.  
 
After graduation, Waller plans on moving to England and volunteering with a shelter, ideally in an urban situation and working with women who are victims of violence, people who are unhoused and at-risk youth. She is also planning to get a master’s degree in social work and figure out how to tie that back into political science and government.