CONTACT:
Hemi Kim
Phone: (202) 296-6401

Washington, D.C. - Five Korean American college students were recently selected to participate in the Korean American Coalition's college internship program in the nation's capital and they will be introduced to the local media on Tuesday, June 24th, at a news conference.

The students - who were chosen through a competitive application process - are part of a national program aimed at placing undergraduates in fields traditionally underrepresented by Korean Americans. Each summer, KAC sends nearly 20 students to political, corporate, legal, and media offices in Los Angeles and Washington for an interactive nine-week program. The Washington component of the program - now in its fifth year - focuses on government as well as private sector internships.

"We're pleased to welcome this talented group of students to Washington, D.C. this summer," said Gie Kim, Executive Vice President of KAC-DC. "Grooming the next generation of community leaders is a core element of KAC's mission. Through this program, our six interns will have an opportunity to develop practical leadership skills and gain a deep understanding of the current challenges facing the Korean American community."

This year's six Washington D.C. interns are:

Grace Ham, from Northern Virginia, is a junior at New York University, majoring in Politics and Economics. As the Tutorial Services Coordinator for the Higher Education Opportunities Program, she manages student-tutor relations, finances, and various activities. Grace is also a member of her Christian fellowship, Korean Student Association, and NYU's Politics Society. For the next two years, she will serve as a resident's assistant and hopes to gain leadership and interpersonal skills from the experience. This summer, Grace is interning at State Farm Insurance Company.

Alexander Kim, from Centreville, Virginia, is a fourth year student at the University of Virginia. He is majoring in Commerce with a concentration in Accounting. Alex plans on taking the CPA (Certified Public Accountants) exam after graduation and working as an accountant either at an accounting firm or a company's in-house accounting division. Alex is involved with the Korean Student Association (KSA) and Grace Christian Fellowship (GCF) at UVA. He also plays intramural volleyball and was captain for two seasons. This summer Alex is interning with State Farm Insurance in Fairfax, Virginia.

Brian Kim is a junior at American University studying International Relations and Journalism. Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, Brian was a Sunday school teacher for preschool and kindergarteners at his church. This past year, he worked as a public affairs assistant at Washington D.C.'s National Public Radio affiliate, WAMU. Brian has also been active on campus as president of the Asian Student Association and a student mentor for the Office of Multicultural Affairs. He has also worked with admissions as an AU Ambassador, conducting tours and overnights for prospective students. This summer, Brian is interning at the Twenty First Century Group, a lobbying firm on Capitol Hill.

Jane M. Park, from Potomac, Maryland, is a rising senior at Wellesley College. She is pursuing a major in philosophy and a minor in economics. At Wellesley, she serves as the president of the Philosophical Society and manages the finances of several student organizations. In the past, she has worked for Centers for Talented Youth and the National Center for Policy Research and currently serves as the student assistant for the Department of Philosophy at Wellesley. This summer, she is interning in the office of the Committee on Government Reform (chair: Tom Davis, 11th district, VA).

Nathan Hanil Shinagawa, from Santa Rosa, California, is a junior at Cornell University, majoring in Sociology. As Co-President of Asian Pacific Americans for Action, Student Assembly Finance Commissioner, and voting member of the Joint Assemblies Multicultural Issues Committee, Nathan works to improve relations between Asian American community and Cornell University. He also serves as a representative to the Central New York Student Labor Action Committee and Editor-in-Chief of Cornell?s annual guide to student activism. In his freshmen year, Nathan worked as a researcher for Free the Children, an organization in association with the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). Last summer, he worked for the Democratic National Committee and assisted in the implementation of campaign plans for the 2002 elections. This summer, Nathan is interning in the Committee on House Administration within the U.S. House of Representatives.

Each student will supplement their work assignment by spending one day a week working on various KAC-DC projects, including assisting the "Building One Neighborhood" project which focuses on increasing understanding and communication between Korean American merchants and their customers in predominantly African American neighborhoods.

Throughout the summer, the interns will also be attending seminars such as Political and Media Seminar to enhance their internship experiences and explore future goals. They will also have the opportunity to network at various workshops sponsored by the Conference on Asian-Pacific American Leadership (CAPAL) and KAC-DC. As part of the KAC college internship program, all six students will travel to Hemet, CA, from June 15-19, 2003 to attend the annual KAC National College Leadership Conference.

KAC's internship program ends on Friday, August 1, 2003.

The Korean American Coalition is a national membership-based nonprofit community service, education and advocacy organization established in 1983 to facilitate the Korean American community's effective participation in civic, legislative, political and community affairs. KAC was founded in Los Angeles, home to the largest number of Korean Americans in the nation. KAC's Washington, D.C. Area Chapter, formerly known as the Korean American Alliance, began operations in January 2001.

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