RADFORD – Bakir Poljac, a Radford University criminal justice graduate from Roanoke, recently returned from a trip to Richmond where he joined 25 students selected to participate in the prominent Virginia Governor’s Fellows Program.

It’s an opportunity that Poljac could only describe as unforgettable.

“This was such a great opportunity,” he said. “It’s one of the best things I’ve done in life. None of us will ever forget this.”

Established in 1982, the Virginia Governor’s Fellows Program offers a select group of individuals the opportunity to experience firsthand the administration of state government by placing participants within executive branch offices based on academic interest.

Poljac (right) was placed in the office of the Secretary for Public Safety, a division that oversees 14 state agencies. He was assigned three major projects. The first involved the creation of a booklet designed to address children and safety/crime prevention. He worked in a team environment to produce the content, design, printing and funds for the publication.

Poljac was then asked to work independently on two other key projects. In 2006, Gov. Tim Kaine formed a commission on sexual violence co-chaired by the secretary for public safety. Poljac was assigned to read a 200-page commission report sent to the commission by the Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance, condensing it into a two-and-a-half page analysis and summary. Poljac was asked to include his opinion on the report recommendations in the summary.  He was then assigned to compare each state policy concerning inmate accessibility, such as media interview regulations and restrictions.

Although a mentor was available to answer any questions Poljac had about his assigned tasks, he and his peers were expected to work on their own.

“It can be intimidating at first, but it’s a huge accomplishment at the end of eight weeks,” he said. “This program helps you gain confidence. To hear the deputy secretary say you did an excellent job means a lot.”

The program also helped Poljac realize that what he studied in college will serve as a catalyst in his career. “College prepares you—you’re able to use what you learn in college in the real world,” he said. “Everything you learn in college, you start using.”

During the course of the program, Poljac had the chance to interact one-on-one with key government administrators, including Gov. Kaine himself. “The governor is a wonderful man—very sincere and caring,” he said. “He’s one of the best people I’ve ever met.”

Poljac also met cabinet secretaries during brown bag lunches, which were designed to not only educate but also to encourage an open dialogue between the students and cabinet secretaries.

Poljac’s experiences were not limited to the office, though. Participants took several trips designed to enhance the overall understanding of state government. Fellows students were able to travel and tour several locations, including the state police academy, Capitol Hill and the Virginia liaison office in D.C., the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the Virginia Port Authority and the USS Wisconsin.

It is obviously an experience that will remain with Poljac all of his life, and he’s working hard to encourage fellow RU students to apply for the program. In fact, he’s planning on establishing a scholarship in the near future that will help RU students attend the program.

“I certainly hope that other people will apply,” he said. “If you’re looking for a career in politics or public service, this is the way to go.”

Poljac, who attributes his participation in the Fellows program to RU, says that students who apply are sure to gain new friendships, a greater level of confidence, the ability to network and a prestigious addition to their résumé. “You have the opportunity to serve the state. You are serving 7.5 million people.” Participation in the program can also lead to a major job opportunity: shortly after the completion of the program, Poljac was offered a job with the Virginia Department of Military Affairs.

To learn more about the Virginia Governor’s Fellows Program, contact GovFellows@governor.virginia.gov or Bakir Poljac at bpoljac@radford.edu. Interested students may also visit the program website at http://www.governor.virginia.gov/ServingVirginia/fellows.cfm to learn more about eligibility and the application process.