TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- University of Alabama student Chris Otts, a journalism major from Kenner, La., was recently selected to participate in the prestigious Scripps-Howard Foundation’s Semester in Washington program this fall.

Each year, five students from the U.S. and one international student are chosen to spend a semester in the nation’s capital, working in the Scripps-Howard News Bureau and producing stories, most of which pertain to the federal government. The stories are then picked up by newspapers across the country, giving the students broad exposure to newswire writing.

Otts, who was recently named news director of the UA student paper The Crimson White (CW), is looking forward to this unique opportunity. “I am really excited about the Scripps program. When I came to UA, I knew eventually I wanted to make it to Washington as a reporter, so to be able to get there two years into college and report right in the midst of a presidential election should prove to be an amazing experience,” Otts, a junior at UA, said. “Experience is what makes you a good reporter, and hopefully I’ll be able to bring a national perspective back to the CW.”