No. 52

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The American Hellenic Institute (AHI) summer internship program is designed for college students who wish to gain experience in government affairs and foreign policy issues. AHI prides itself in preparing college students for the next step in their international relations careers, and this past summer, Alexandra Choate and Alexis Tsapralis took full advantage of their time as AHI’s interns.

Alexandra Choate is a rising junior at Queens University of Charlotte where she majors in Political Science. During her internship, Alexandra attended and reported on symposiums and panels located across Washington, D.C. and assisted in editing AHI’s soon-to-be-published book, “The Future of Hellenism in America,” among other important duties. “This internship was deeply meaningful to me in the sense that everyday at work was a chance to do right by my heritage: to push for stronger US support for Greece and Cyprus, to advocate for Greek American interests, to demand real change in the most powerful city in America. Pursuing a major (and, eventually, a career) in Political Science, I feel overwhelmingly grateful for the experience AHI and Washington DC gave me. I was able to apply my knowledge from university into a real world setting, and grow and adapt in real time,” Alexandra said.

Following her internship with AHI, Alexandra plans on applying for AHIF’s 11th Student Foreign Policy Trip. She also plans on applying to graduate programs that will allow her to further explore the field of politics. “I want to thank everyone at AHI for welcoming me into their organization and into their city. This past summer was priceless in terms of both memories and experiences, which will guide me through my education and into a career in politics. There really aren't enough words to express my gratitude, so I'll just say ευχαριστώ για όλα, and I hope to connect again with AHI next summer!”

Alexis Tsapralis is a rising junior at Barnard College of Columbia University where she majors in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations. Following her participation in AHI Foundation’s Foreign Policy Trip to Washington, D.C., Cyprus, and Greece, Alexis returned to AHI where she drafted press releases, attended panel events, composed Capitol Reports, and conducted research on relevant breaking news pertaining to the Eastern Mediterranean. “This internship was an invaluable experience. Not only was I able to put into practice the knowledge I gained while on AHIF’s Foreign Policy Trip, but I was also able to deepen my understanding of the core issues affecting the Eastern Mediterranean. It was incredible to watch firsthand the effectiveness of AHI’s work in shaping foreign policy and this opportunity only strengthened my passion for international relations,” Alexis comments.

Following her internship with AHI, Alexis hopes to achieve a Masters in International Affairs where she plans to focus on Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy, and International Security. “I can’t begin to express my most sincere gratitude for all the opportunities AHI has afforded to me through this internship. This experience has made me a more well-rounded student of international relations and confident hopeful-future politician. Thank you to everyone at AHI for making this internship experience a successful and memorable one!”

AHI’s internship program is designed for college students who are interested in learning more about U.S.-Greece- Cyprus relations and how foreign policy is formulate in Washington, DC. Students who are chosen for the program spent weeks to months working on various assignments comprising of research projects, attending events in area think tanks and in congress, and assisting with an assortment of educational events sponsored by AHI.

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