By JOSHUA JOHNSON

The BYU Political Affairs Society will host a two-day event at the capitol to help students connect with the Washington, D.C., network.

The event, called “Beyond BYU: Washington, D.C.,” will feature speakers and breakout sessions on May 6 and industry visits throughout Washington on May 7. Current BYU students, recent graduates and friends of the university are welcome at the event, which will focus on such topics as national defense, Capitol Hill, law and non-profit organizations. Students from any major are welcome to attend the event.

“The event will allow current junior and senior students, as well as recent graduates and friends of the university an opportunity to come out to Washington and interact with as many industries as possible,” said Mat Waldrip, chairman of the Washington, D.C., chapter of the BYU Political Affairs Society. “The real purpose is to help students get a foot in the door.”

“We are interested in helping any student,” said Paul Lambert, director of the mentoring program. “We are very confident this will be a fantastic opportunity for any student involved.”

Lambert also said speakers on the first day of the event will include influential members of the D.C. establishment such as CEOs of top companies, as well as political figures such as the chief of staff of Capitol Hill, who will speak to students about potential careers in the D.C. area. On May 7, attendees will be hosted by leaders of those organizations to experience what it would be like to get a job with that particular organization.

Waldrip said the purpose of the BYU Political Affairs Society is to provide opportunities to BYU students and alumni, as well as friends of the university, to be involved in domestic and international political affairs.

“I think it’s interesting the choice of the word ‘society,’ ” Waldrip said. “The organization chose the word society, not ‘association’ or ‘club’ or anything else.  I think that means that the organization is more open to not just students, but any friend of the university.”

“The event is a win-win situation for both students and alumni,” said Sarah Johnson, a former BYU student and member of the BYUPAS Washington, D.C., chapter committee in an e-mail. “BYUPAS allows students and alumni an excellent opportunity to not only give back to BYU, but to increase their professional networks.”

Students interested in signing up for the May 6 and 7 event, or obtaining more information about mentors, can visit byupas.org.