An Elon University student with the goal of one day running for public office is taking part this summer in the Virginia Governor’s Fellows Program, a highly selective internship for rising college seniors, recent college graduates or graduate students from Virginia that places them in the governor’s office and other state agencies.
Cameron Scales, a political science and public administration major from Richmond, Va., joined the office of the Secretary of Natural Resources in early June and works through the end of July. So far, he’s mapped and categorized every power plant in the commonwealth, with plans for additional research projects still being finalized.
“It’s pretty prestigious in the state of Virginia, for students who want to do research and contribute to government right now,” Scales said of the program. “That’s always been an interest of mine – politics – and I’ve already interned with a state senator in my district.”
Started in 1982 with no more than 15 fellows named each year, the state markets the program as something that “brings exceptional students with creative ideas to state government.” The experience often leads to public service, according to the program’s website, and Scales doesn’t expect to be an exception. Politically engaged since high school, the former high school baseball star hopes to eventually enter politics with a run for the Virginia state legislature.
“Right now my plan is to finish out school and hopefully go to law school. I just took the LSATs and am crossing my fingers,” he said. “My ultimate goal would be to be governor of Virginia, but that’s pretty lofty, so we’ll see what happens.”
Scales is quick to credit the academic rigor at the university for helping him to excel in the program. He said that his professors’ expectations for quality writing have already assisted him in conveying complex ideas in clear and concise language.
“I’m at an advantage when I step into an internship,” he said. “Writing is so important, and we do so much writing at Elon with professors so talented at making sure we learn the proper way to express our ideas in a manner that gets across exactly what we’re trying to say. I give all the credit to the academic environment at Elon.”
On campus, Scales has made a name for himself both in and out of the classroom. Originally a student athlete recruited for the baseball team, Scales injured himself the summer before arriving on campus, and another surgery the following year ended his involvement with the varsity program. Instead, he’s enjoyed playing club baseball, and he’s active with two academic honor societies, Pi Sigma Alpha and Pi Gamma Mu. Scales said he plans to explore the College Republicans this fall.
“Cam is a wonderful student. He seeks challenge in the classroom and is very hard to rattle,” said Adam Short, an instructor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration who has mentored Scales. “When he encounters something new or difficult, he just rolls up his sleeves, thinks about it, asks questions, and finds a way to work through it.
“He gives his best effort all the time, and I think that helps him get along with his peers. He is calm and confident, and I think that encourages students to follow his lead.”
Scales is the son of C. Richard and Diane Scales of Richmond, Va. He is a 2008 graduate of The Steward School in Richmond.