Bernie Nguyen, Leslie Rott Working as Town Crier Summer Interns
By Ryan Schlehuber

Interns Leslie Rott (left) and Bernie Nguyen make up Mackinac Island Town Crier's 2006 summer staff. Both are seniors at the University of Michigan. The Town Crier has offered the program to students at the University of Michigan since 1959, giving them the opportunity to learn hands-on about journalism and the life and functions of a typical community.

This summer, Mackinac Island Town Crier welcomes Bernie Nguyen to the summer staff, as well as Leslie Rott, who returns for her second consecutive summer as an internship writer.

It is the Town Crier's 47th year offering an internship program to students from the University of Michigan, a program funded through the Harry and Helen Weber Fund at the university. Both Miss Nguyen and Miss Rott continue the tradition of students learning about Mackinac Island and community journalism, which provides a great hands-on educational experience in journalism, governmental functions, and community life.

Leslie Rott, a senior double majoring in sociology and English at University of Michigan, is the first intern to work consecutive summers at Town Crier since Jeff Kosseff did so in 1997 and 1998.

Miss Rott, 20, is from Huntington Woods and is a graduate of Berkley High School. After earning her degree, she plans to attend graduate school to earn a doctorate degree in sociology. She then hopes to become a professor and write books.

"I really enjoy the people I have met on the Island and was touched by the excitement of many to see me back for a second summer," she said.

Her passion for journalism stems from her love of writing, in which she has enjoyed honing her interviewing and communications skills.

"Practicing journalism on the Island allows me the unique opportunity to be a journalist while also being a member of the community," said Miss Rott.

Miss Rott has one sister, Molly, 11. Her father, Neal Rott, is an office manager for Rafal Spice Company, a retail and wholesale store in Detroit, that sells items like coffee, tea, and spices. Her mother, Susan Rott, is a book seller for Border's Book Shop in Beverly Hills, Michigan.

Miss Rott will celebrate her 21st birthday in August.

Thy Nguyen (pronounced "win"), known as "Bernie," just celebrated her 21st birthday in May. She is going into her senior year at the University of Michigan with a double major in English and political science. She plans to attend law school while continuing to pursue her love of writing in her leisure time.

Miss Nguyen is from Kalamazoo, where she was graduated from Portage Central High School. She has had the opportunity of traveling and living in many places across the country, including New Jersey, Connecticut, Arizona, and Ontario, Canada. She attended three high schools in Arizona and Michigan.

Miss Nguyen was excited when she was selected for the internship this summer.

"I'm really grateful for this opportunity," she said, about her internship. "I never thought I would be living on an island, or that I would learn so much about journalism. Living in a small community is such a new experience, and I've been having a great time."

She said she plans on making the most of her experience on the Island and that she is enjoying the opportunity of getting to know the people of the community while learning how a small town community functions.

Family is a big part of Miss Nguyen's life, especially her two dogs, Honeycomb and Lucky, who she wishes could spend the summer with her on the Island. Miss Nguyen has one sister, 13year-old Kristine.

Her father, George, is vice president for Eaton Corporation, a truck building company, while Mary, her mother, is a homemaker.

The internship program was established in 1959 by Wesley H. Maurer Sr, who was the chairman of the Department of Journalism at the University of Michigan. His vision of the program as a laboratory with which to train graduate students interested in owning their own newspapers now transcends students' experience in real life functions, honing their communication skills while learning the complexities of a community and its members.

Mr. Maurer and his wife, Margaret, and their son and daughter-in-law, Wesley Jr. and Mary, purchased The St. Ignace News and the Les Cheneaux Weekly Wave in 1975 and continued to operate the Town Crier as a training ground for undergraduate students at the university.

Professor Maurer died in 1998 and Mrs. Maurer passed away in 2002.

The university's Department of Journalism was phased out from 1979 to 1986, and students are now recruited for the Town Crier through the Department of Communication Studies. The program attracts bright, motivated students from all the university's areas of study.

Assisting in all aspects of the program this summer are St. Ignace News reporters Ryan Schlehuber and Karen Gould.