K-State student selected for internship with National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

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Sources: Max Lu, 782-532-3413, maxlu@k-state.edu;
and Nicole Wayant, 785-395-3341, nwayant@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Megan Wilson, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

K-STATE STUDENT SELECTED FOR INTERNSHIP WITH NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL-INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

MANHATTAN --Nicole Wayant, Topeka, a junior in mathematics and geography at Kansas State University, has been selected for a summer internship with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Wayant will work at the agency's facility in St. Louis, Mo., this summer.

According to Max Lu, associate professor of geography at K-State, the agency's primary function is to collect, analyze and distribute geospatial intelligence for combat support. The agency defines geospatial intelligence as the merging of imagery, maps, charts and environmental data.

Lu said the agency's internship program is highly selective. Lu is Wayant's adviser and wrote her a letter of recommendation as a part of the internship's application process. The process also included a cover letter explaining the program that Wayant was applying for, a transcript, a writing sample and an online application.

"I spoke to representatives of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency about this at a recent conference," Lu said. "They told me that every year, the agency only selects a small number of interns for its Virginia and St. Louis facilities from a large number of applicants nationwide. The selection is merit based and involves pretty extensive background checks. The fact that Nicole was chosen says much about her past accomplishments."

Wayant said her interest in the intelligence sector has been growing since her junior year of high school when she competed in the National History Day contest with a report on Allied women spies of World War II. Wayant said she hopes to be an analyst who gathers and processes information and provides intelligence reports to policy makers and military leaders.

"Since Nicole aspires to a career in the intelligence sector, this internship experience will be a great first step toward fulfilling her dreams. As her adviser, I am very proud of her," Lu said.

Wayant, a 2005 graduate of Topeka's Seaman High School, is looking forward to the internship.

"The most exciting part of the internship is getting to follow my dream of working in intelligence. It will also be exciting to live and work in St. Louis," she said.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency was created in 1996 when the U.S. Congress, the CIA and the Department of Defense agreed to combine the efforts of the country's mapping and imagery analysis efforts, creating the National Imagery and Mapping Agency. In 2003, when President Bush signed the 2004 Defense Authorization Bill, the agency changed its name to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.