2009 Capitol Hill Summer Internship Program

Washington DC | June 30, 2009 - Tuesday, June 23 marked the end of a two-day orientation the Turkish Coalition of America co-hosted with the US Representative Office of the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD-US) in honor of the 18 Turkish American interns in Washington, DC. The summer internship program lasts up to 8 weeks and is designed to expose Turkish American students to US governmental bodies and policymaking processes.

TCA, through the orientation program, intends to introduce interns to prominent institutions in Washington, DC. The two-day program began on Monday, June 22, with a luncheon at the Turkish Embassy and continued with a briefing from the State Department’s Turkey Desk Officer. The program resumed on Tuesday with a series of roundtable discussions with NGO Representatives, Think Tank scholars and the Turkish media.

The 2009 Turkish American Capitol Hill Summer Interns are Adam Akant, Ece Aygar, Jeffrey Bishku-Aykul, Rahmi Cemen, Nicole Dermond, Aylin Dirioz, Parla Duman, Hasan Eygoren, Selcuk Kyle Inan, Emine Elif Kasapoglu, Duygu Kavas, Arda Ozdinc, Berkend Pura, Furkan Unal, Nathan Yalcin, Lara Yegenoglu, Suna Yeltekin and Fuat Yurekli.

2008 Capitol Hill Summer Internship Program

Washington DC | December 8, 2008 - The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) and the US Representative Office of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD-US) are pleased to announce that 10 young Turkish Americans and one Azerbaijani American were elected as part of the Turkish American Capitol Hill Summer Internship Program to intern in Congress this Summer. The students' internship lasts up to 8 weeks. TUSIAD-US and TCA sponsored each five interns as part of this joint program.

The program is designed as an opportunity for Turkish American students to live and work in Washington DC and become exposed to U.S. governmental bodies and policymaking processes. TUSIAD-US and TCA, through this program, intend to contribute to the preparation of future Turkish American political leaders, and enhance the participation of the Turkish American community in the American political life. Internship responsibilities in congressional offices usually include monitoring congressional hearings, performing data entry, answering constituent mail, researching legislative issues, and performing other administrative duties. The interns will have opportunities to meet with House and Senate members and engage in dialogue on matters important to Turkish American relations.

TCA and TUSIAD-US will host a seminar for the interns to learn about institutions in Washington , DC and their contribution to policymaking. The seminar will include briefings from the Turkish Embassy, the State Department, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Washington Representative Office, and roundtable discussions with NGO Representatives, Think Tank scholars and the Turkish media.

The 2008 Turkish American Capitol Hill Summer Interns are Eren Akyar (PA), Leman Basak Ari (TX), Reyhan Bilici (CA), Erim Canligil (FL), Elif Selin Cila (MI), Tulin Gurer (CA), Derya Kirca (PA), Yenal Kucuker (NY), Emre Mangir (CA), and Deniz Polat (VA).

In addition to the 10 jointly sponsored interns, TCA has also sponsored an Azerbaijani-American student, Ulduoz Berenjforoush (CA).

Whitfield Hosts Turkish American Summer Intern in DC Office

Washington, DC | August 12, 2008 - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01), co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Turkey , is hosting a Turkish-born student this summer as an intern in his Washington , DC office.

“The ties that bind Turkey and the United States are strong and will continue to be strong as we combat threats to both our nations and work to bring stability to the Middle East ,” Whitfield said. “I have enjoyed having Yenal as a part of my Washington , DC office and look forward to continuing our discussions on the important relationship between Turkey and the United States .”

Yenal Kucuker, a second year graduate student at Binghamton University , is serving as an intern for Whitfield through the end of July. Kucuker, who received a Bachelor of Science from SUNY Geneseo in 2005, is currently studying geography of the Middle East in Binghamton . He has served as an interpreter and translator for four different organizations in New York and has completed an International Relations program in Moscow .

Kucuker comes to Whitfield’s office as part of the Turkish American Capitol Hill Summer Internship Program. The Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) and the U.S. Representative Office of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD-US) elected 10 young Turkish Americans to serve as interns in Congress this summer and Kucuker was selected as part of this exclusive group.

The program is designed as an opportunity for Turkish American students to live and work in Washington DC and become exposed to U.S. governmental bodies and policymaking processes. Through this program, TUSIAD-US and TCA intend to contribute to the preparation of future Turkish American political leaders and enhance the participation of the Turkish American community in American politics.

Whitfield has been an outspoken advocate for building a strong relationship with Turkey , a strategic ally in the Middle-East, and has worked to improve relations with the country through the Congressional Caucus on Turkey and the Congressional Study Group on Turkey . He welcomed the opportunity to host Kucuker for the summer to attend briefings, meetings and Congressional hearings on a variety of topics.