A Decade on the Hill
Delta Hall, UGA’s home in Washington, D.C., celebrates a milestone.
Bryson Henriott (AB ’23, AB ’23) has lived in Washington, D.C., for two years, working in various roles on Capitol Hill — from the offices of former Georgia Rep. Drew Ferguson (BS ’88) and House Speaker Mike Johnson to his current position as floor assistant for House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.
But this isn’t his first stint in Washington. That came in 2022, when an internship brought him to the University of Georgia’s home in D.C., Delta Hall.
Bryson Henriott lived in Delta Hall while attending UGA. The Double Dawg now works in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Grace Kerner)
“Living in Delta Hall as an intern was truly an unforgettable experience,” Henriott says. “It was incredible to learn from such accomplished people but also have a unique space where your classroom was in the same building you lived in. And I will always be thankful for the camaraderie and friendships I made there.”
In 2015, UGA dedicated Delta Hall, the culmination of a multiyear effort to create a permanent residential learning facility in the nation’s capital. Thanks to generous contributions from nearly 80 individuals, corporate partners, and foundations — most notably The Delta Air Lines Foundation’s $5 million gift — UGA purchased a three-story building in the heart of Capitol Hill, renovated it, and expanded the programming available for students interested in living and learning in D.C.
“Our rise as a national university is tied directly to the support we have received from Delta Air Lines. They have been a critical part of our continued success.”
Jere W. Morehead (JD ’80), UGA President
“I think before coming to Delta Hall, I just assumed other universities had similar programs, but once I got to D.C., I realized just how special that place is,” Henriott says. Henriott’s political history stretches back to 2018, when the Vidalia native interned with Georgia State Sen. Blake Tillery (AB ’06, JD ’10) before enrolling at UGA in 2019. Throughout his UGA experience, he held leadership positions: orientation leader, president of the Rural Students Igniting Success in Education organization, and student body president during his senior year, to name a few. Unsurprisingly, living in Delta Hall and interning full-time in Washington, D.C., was attractive to Henriott.
“In 2015, we went up to D.C. with UGA, and we immediately understood. It was a bold idea, it was an innovative idea, and it has just been phenomenal.”
Tad Hutcheson, Senior Vice President, The Delta Air Lines Foundation
“The Delta Hall experience was so impactful that I knew I wanted to come back after graduation — and so did most of the students I lived with,” Henriott says. “In fact, three guys I lived with in Delta Hall became my roommates when I moved back to D.C. Interning on the Hill and living in Delta Hall is something I would recommend to any student, regardless of their major or what they want to do after school.”
Delta Hall allows UGA students to combine the experiences of living and working in Washington, building relationships with fellow students, and learning from UGA faculty, government officials, and policy experts.
“Our older son struggled to locate housing in Washington during a college internship, so when UGA approached us to support the development of what is now Delta Hall, we knew firsthand that there was a need.”
Nancy Juneau (BSED ’82), UGA Foundation trustee, Delta Hall donor, CEO of Juneau Construction
Beyond work and study, students have the opportunity to explore a historic, dynamic city and connect with influential UGA alumni in the area, alumni like Henriott.
“From my D.C. internship to deciding to come back to Washington for my first job to my current job, all of it was made possible by UGA alumni,” Henriott says. “I would not be where I am today if not for their mentorship, so I try now to do the same for the students I meet.”
