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Home | News Archive | Scholarships | WLP

Senator Paul Simon Scholarship

History:
The Senator Paul Simon Scholarship is named in honor of former United States Senator, Paul Simon, from Illinois. Throughout his distinguished Congressional career, Senator Simon was a committed champion for APA issues. He was a leader in fighting for the Voting Rights Act extension of 1992 which protected the right to vote for citizens without English fluency; saving the "fourth immigration preference," the visa most used by Asian Americans to be reunited with close family members; authoring the pioneering Hate Crimes Statistics Act and initiating federal investigations into Asian American "admissions caps" at Ivy League and other top universities. With the proceeds from a 1996 APA community tribute to Senator Simon, CAPAL has established this scholarship to enable promising young APA students reach their full potential as leaders servicing their community.

Description:
This scholarship is intended to make it possible for an aspiring undergraduate leader to benefit from the rich experience of interning in Washington D.C. for a summer. CAPAL seeks a demonstrated leader that has a strong commitment to public service and is willing to work to better the Asian Pacific American community. An ideal scholar has a well-articulated vision of how a D.C. internship experience, the Washington Leadership Program and a Community Action Plan can further her or his leadership development and career goals.

Eligibility:
A continuing undergraduate college or university student (i.e., no graduating seniors).

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 participate in CAPAL's summer Washington Leadership Program and attend all of the weekly public policy seminars.
4. Agree to have a Community Action Plans proposed, approved and rehearsed before her or his departure from Washington, D.C.

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. 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.