Ready to apply her studies to a high-profile, professional position, a Cal State San Bernardino student will take a prestigious internship position at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum this summer.

Natalie Bedney, 21, a senior with a dual major in communication studies and Arabic language, will be heading to Washington, D.C., to work for the Smithsonian’s communications department for media relations.

“I was in the process of applying to dozens of internships and the Smithsonian was one of the national internships I figured I probably wouldn’t get, but should strive for anyway,” said Bedney. “So when I got a call a few months after submitting my application, I wasn’t fully convinced that they had contacted the right person.”

The San Bernardino resident believes she might have gained an edge over other applicants because of her participation in CSUSB’s Arabic Summer Language Institute.

“Because of the program, I’ve made strides and had experiences I would have never imagined I could have, and it’s taught me perseverance and the importance of taking a leap,” she said.

An internship opens the door for a student, said Astrid Sheil, one of Bedney’s communications professors. But it is then up to them to prove themselves in hopes of being offered a position, Sheil added.

“Because Natalie demonstrates a high level of emotional intelligence and academic capability, I believe the sky’s the limit for her,” said Sheil. “In other words, I have every reason to believe that Natalie will do very well in this position and will probably make quite a favorable impression on the department.”

An internship at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is just one of the steps Bedney is taking to find her desired career path. Upon graduation in June 2013, Bedney plans to apply for CSUSB’s National Security Studies master’s program, one of only three such programs in the country.

“With the guidance of my professors and my current internship at California Steel Industries Inc., I feel confident in my ability to learn and perform so that I can take on challenges and tasks the Smithsonian internship may present,” said Bedney. She leaves for Washington June 3.

For information about CSUSB, contact the university’s Office of Public Affairs at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.