Asha Jaini Memorial Graduate Leadership
Fellowship
History:
The Asha Jaini Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1991 in memory of one of our founders, Asha Jaini. An active member of many communities, she worked for ten years as a public interest lawyer and U.S. Senate Counsel in the Washington DC area. Asha was a spirited leader in guiding and nurturing the development of CAPAL, and her dedication played a vital role in encouraging more young Asian Pacific Americans to become actively involved in community advocacy. She was devoted to addressing the needs of disadvantaged communities and had a special interest in promoting leadership in the South Asian community. Through the generosity of her family and friends, CAPAL has established this scholarship in Asha's memory. Asha's fund will sponsor two students for the summer of 2004.
Description:
This award is intended for a strong leader with demonstrated skills and experiences to learn from a summer experience in Washington D.C. and to pass along some of her or his know-how and leadership abilities to other motivated leaders to build for the future of the APA community. It is hoped that the experience of mentoring undergraduates and helping facilitate the CAPAL's summer Washington Leadership Program will challenge the intern's abilities, hone existing leadership skills and develop new ones.
Eligibility:
Graduate students, employed or graduating seniors in any field, including but not limited to, non-profit management, education, public policy or public interest law.
Requirements:
1. Secured a public sector internship in the Washington, D.C.
Metropolitan Area within any of the three branches of federal
government (Executive, Legislative or Judiciary), with a state
or local official or government agency, or at a non-profit organization.
2. Agree to work at the internship assignment full-time during
the summer for at least six weeks.
3. Agree to help organize, facilitate and write a written evaluation
of CAPAL's summer Washington Leadership Program and attend all
of the weekly public policy seminars.
4. Agree to mentor the other CAPAL scholars and facilitate and
advise their successful outline, proposal and rehearsal of their
Community Action Plans.
Download the application in PDF Format
Download the application in Word Format
General Application Requirements
Please submit the following:
1. Resume.
2. Statement of Purpose. (In the context of the Selection Criteria,
answer the following questions in a total of 750 words or less.)
a. What are your long-term goals? How will your summer internship
experience advance them?
b. Describe your educational, community work and internship experiences.
Please explain:
i. How these experiences have influenced your long-term career
goals; and
ii. How you demonstrated leadership during those experiences.
c. How will you use the experiences and knowledge that you gained
during your summer in Washington, D.C. to better the APA community
and your local community?
3. Financial Need Summary. Give a brief statement of your financial
need. List summer income sources, including internship stipend,
if any. Please provide documentation for all loans, grants, scholarships
and other sources of financial aid that you received for 2002-2003
school year.
4. Two (2) Letters of Reference
In addition to the general application requirements, please submit the following:
1. Please describe, in 250 words or less:
a. What skills and experience you bring as a mentor;
b. What skills you would hope to encourage in the younger CAPAL
scholars; and
c. What you might gain from the experience?
2. Summer Internship Information. Please include the organization’s
or agency’s name and address, internship responsibilities,
length and dates of assignment, contact person and phone number.
If internship placement is pending, please indicate.
