The Washington Leadership Program (WLP) is now accepting applications from high-potential South Asian college students for the 2016 summer leadership program scheduled to take place from June 11, 2016 – August 5, 2016.
The WLP cultivates the South Asian American community’s next generation of leaders by placing them in Congressional offices or Government Agencies for eight-week summer internships and a structured leadership-training curriculum. The students gain a firsthand view of the policy-making and legislative process, as well as gain access to high-profile South-Asian leaders in the nation’s capitol. Applications are available at www.thewlp.com .
The deadline for submitting applications is January 19, 2016.
All students who are either US citizens or legal permanent residents are encouraged to apply. Selection to the WLP is highly competitive and not limited to students pursuing majors in social sciences. The backgrounds of past participants have ranged from medical school to art and business.
Interns will receive a total stipend of $2,000 and will be required to complete 2-3 short writing assignments during the internship.
The WLP has over 200 alumni who have interned for notable elected officials including Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Rep. Bobby Jindal (R-LA). Alumni from the program have gone on to win Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, and Mitchell Scholarships, as well as acceptances into top-flight medical, law, public policy, and other post-graduate programs. Several alums are currently senior advisors to government officials, and one is an elected representative from the State of Ohio.
The original program built a strong reputation on both the Hill and in the community and continues to receive favorable reviews from former participants. Former House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO) called the WLP “the best program of its kind on the Hill.” The program has continued to receive generous support from alumni, the community-at-large, and community organizations and corporations.
