The Washington Leadership Program (WLP) is pleased to announce that it is accepting applications from high-potential South Asian college students for the 2010 summer leadership program scheduled to take place from June 12, 2010 to August 6, 2010. The WLP cultivates the South Asian American community's next generation of leaders by placing them in Congressional offices for eight-week summer internships and a structured leadership training curriculum.  The students gain a firsthand view of the process behind creating tangible change in America. An online application is available and a downloadable application form can be found at www.thewlp.com. The deadline for submitting applications is February 8, 2010.

The WLP is a new nonprofit organization founded in memory of the late publisher-philanthropist Gopal Raju by alumni of Raju's acclaimed Capitol Hill internship program. The new program is very similar to the original and succeeded in its inaugural year in placing five promising students in Democratic and Republican congressional offices for the summer of 2009.

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 social work. Interns will receive a total stipend of $1,500 and will be required to complete 2-3 short writing assignments during the internship.

The WLP has over 180 alumni who have interned for notable elected officials  including Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN), and Rep. Bobby Jindal (R-LA). 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 2009 program received generous support from alumni, the community-at-large, and community organizations such as the Asian American Hotel Owners' Association and Landis-Gyr.

For more information about the program, visit the WLP's website at www.thewlp.com.

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