Promise Spring 2011 8

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Promise Issue 3 | Spring 2011 | A Magazine for Alumni of e Washington Center Internships and Academic Seminars

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SHARE YOUREXPERTISEPAGE 3

OUR VISIONTOWARD 2016 We hope that you noticed how strongly weve stepped up our outreach toalumni like you. Today, over 5,500 alumni have joined our online community,and thousands more are members of e Washington Centers Facebook andLinkedIn pages. Real progress, but theres a long way to go if were to moretightly connect with the more than 45,000 of you who receive mailings likethis issue of Promise . Its all part of a broader plan to improve and extend

e Washington Center experience.Over the last two years, e Washington Centers board, alumni, students,donors, sta , college and university partners, and internship sites have beenre ecting on our history and track record and have begun to chart a course forthe future. More than 240 alumni from around the world participated in ouronline strategy plan survey, and some 20 local alumni participated in a focusgroup to help set goals. e result is an ambitious 20112016 strategic plan.

Over the next ve years we intend to solidify our foundation to support a muchlarger and more diverse program; dramatically improve the discipline, reach,and e cacy of our e orts; and, ultimately, set an ambitious new standard forexperiential education. Our board, sta , educational and employer partners,loyal supportersand you, our extraordinary alumnimust all work togetherif we are to succeed.

JOIN OURONLINECOMMUNITIES

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ENVISIONTHE FUTUREOF THEWASHINGTONCENTERPAGE 4

is issue of Promise outlines the three stages of that plan: solidifying ourfoundation, leveraging our strengths, and imagining whats possible. We want your feedback, your support, and most of all, your participation in realizing these goals. is is an ideal time to get involvedto improve, not just passon, the experience that you had at e Washington Center.

e work ahead will materially a ect the lives of generations of students and provide a great way to connect with an in uential alumni group that cuts acrossdiverse academic, geographic, and professional boundaries. e more closely we work together, the more valuable the networkyour networkwill become.

Our goal to advance experiential education is audacious. As audacious as whenBill and Sheila Burke set out 36 years ago to found e Washington Center.

ey took a bold step into the unknown and opened up a new world for collegeand university students. Were ready, with your help, to take that step forwardagain.

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Michael B. SmithPRESIDENT


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Promise | Spring 2011 | PAGE 2

Students from the fall 2010 class return from a visit

to the Canadian Embassy.


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THE OPPORTUNITY IS THERE. UNTAPPED. A CHANCE TO AFFECT THE LIVES ANDCAREERS OF A FAR DEEPER ANDBROADER POOL OF COLLEGE ANDUNIVERSITY STUDENTS ACROSS AMERICAAND BEYOND. When we began pursuing our mission 36 years ago, experientialeducation was more an idea than a reality. Internships werearranged ad hoc for a privileged few. e working experience wasnot tightly linked to an academic program. e barriers to creating and gaining support for innovative programs were signi cant. e Washington Center helped change all that. But some of what wasonce pioneering is now routine.Today, over 80% of college and university students will participatein an internship. A web-connected world has lowered the barriersto creating and promoting experiential education programs. Schoolsand their students have many opportunities to enhance their coreacademic experience. Employers can tap into online forums or reachout directly to potential interns.

With your help, we intend to raise the standards for experientialeducation. To advance our vision of an integrated living, working,

and learning experience that positively transforms the lives, careers,and mind-set of students. To lead.

Our immediate priority is to gather and solidify e WashingtonCenters base. e journey ahead will require more diversi edsources of funding; deeper collaboration with schools, employers,alumni, and legislators; new talent and partners; and the completionof the work to re ne our processes and infrastructure so they are fullyintegrated and scalable. We have hard work ahead of us, but therewards for success are substantial.

HERES HOW YOU CAN HELP:

We see alumni as a key to e Washington Centers future andare focusing on building the alumni organization on a regional,national, and international basis. You and your fellow alums

are the best way to extend our reach. You bring hard-earnedexpertise and resources to advance and mentor students. Youare a gateway into government and the worlds leadingcommercial, not-for-pro t, and educational organizations.You understand and can attest to the value of e WashingtonCenter experience.

If you are not an active member of the alumni community, wed like to talk to you about how you can get involved.For some, the alumni community is a way to give back by enabling others to share the TWC experience; for others, it is

a way to share a lifetime of experience and accomplishments with a new generation; and for many, it is a way to leverage anamazing cohort of 45,000 people around the world. Whatever your reasons, take a rst small step today and connect through:

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TWC ALUMNI COMMUNITYhttp://alumni.twc.edu

THE OFFICIAL TWC ALUMNI GROUP www.facebook.com

TWC ALUMNI COMMUNITY GROUP www.linkedin.com
http://alumni.twc.edu/http://alumni.twc.edu/http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6068814474http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6068814474http://www.linkedin.com/http://www.linkedin.com/http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6068814474http://www.linkedin.com/http://alumni.twc.edu/


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EVERY FIVE YEARS, WE STEP COMPLETELYOUT OF THE DAY-TO-DAY TRACK TO TAKE STOCK OF WHAT WERE DOING AND

CONSIDER BETTER APPROACHES.


Bertha Ilana Spath 10 (Emerson College),le ,and Jocelyne Bwatu Mbuy 10(University of Antwerp, Belgium) at Voice of America, their internship site.


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is past year, as we discussed and dra ed the 20112016strategic plan, we came away with clear insights andambitious goals:

First, we resolved to better articulate and measure the short-and long-term e ects of our programs. A er all, it isnt possible to optimize, much less advance, what isnt measured.Our 36-year history is a unique legacy that guides ongoing operations as well as the testing of new approaches.

Second, we serve just a fraction of the U.S.-based schools,students, and employers that would bene t from ourapproach to experiential education. And when you considerother countries, we havent even scratched the surface. Weintend to growsurely and quicklyto meet those needs.

ird, a more interconnected world requires that we bring atruly international perspective to our programs, actively seeka diverse group of students, expand internship opportunities,and incorporate technological advances into our process. isapproach will make e Washington Center more relevantand e ective.

Fourth, there are still nancial barriers for many worthy students

who would like to be part of e Washington Center. We need to eliminate those barriers.

WED LIKE YOUR HELP IN FOUR AREAS:

FIRST , we need your insights on the e ectiveness of our programs and the processes (such as applications and internshipmatching) that guide students, from learning about e Washington Center to becoming alumni.

SECOND , we need your help in strengthening e WashingtonCenters connections with schools, employers, and government. We know that our 45,000 alums represent a powerful force insigning on new a liate schools, identifying amazing internshipopportunities, opening up new sources of funding, and actingas passionate advocates at a national, state, and localgovernment level.

THIRD , we need youhere. Alumni as mentors, speakers,strategists, recruiters, and more have the potential to most

dramatically improve the quality and value of the experiencefor our students. You know what its like to enter a new worldin D.C., and you can add depth and context for the students who are in the midst of that experience.

FOURTH , as you know, civic engagement is one of the three pillars of e Washington Center. We hope you will sharestories of how you are giving back to your community with otheralumni and current students.

You can connect with e Washington Center on these areasand more athttp://alumni.twc.edu/Promise.

INSPIRE US.

S H A R E Y O U R S T O R I E S
http://alumni.twc.edu/Promisehttp://alumni.twc.edu/Promise


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WE WERE BORN OF AN ENTREPRENEURIALSPIRIT AND HAVE THRIVED BY TAPPING INTOTHAT SAME SPIRIT IN SCHOOLS, STUDENTS,

AND EMPLOYERS WHO, LIKE US, WANTED TOOPEN NEW VISTAS OF OPPORTUNITY ANDCHANGE WHAT WAS POSSIBLE.



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Washington, D.C. will stay at the center of our programs,but what if we could amplify that experience? Imagine asojourn to Camp David that evokes the drama of MiddleEast diplomacy, a journey to Wall Street that steps behindthe curtain of global nance, or an immersion in the cultureof Silicon Valley that viscerally connects students to thefount of technical innovation.

Imagine extending student experiences beyond Americato cultural, political, scienti c, and commerce touchstonesacross the planet. e logistical barriers are daunting,similar to the challenges we faced in opening the path to Washington, D.C. But this time we have the experience andnetwork to avoid pitfalls and move forward more surely.

Adriana Velez Leon 10 (University of Puerto Rico)in front of the Capitol Building.

J O I N I NHERES HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Were putting out a call for our alumsthinkers, leaders,teachers, artists, businesswomen and -men, theorists, realists,and more. If you have expertise, insights, and dreams for what e Washington Center can becomewhat experientialeducation can dowe want to hear from you. Together, we will set a new standard of academic rigor and quantitativemeasurement for our programs and become a stronger voicefor innovation in experiential education.

Contact us at http://alumni.twc.edu/Promise.
http://alumni.twc.edu/Promisehttp://alumni.twc.edu/Promise


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ALUMNINOW

Most alumni programsbegin the day after you leave ours starts the day you arrive .

e Washington Centers ALUMNI NOW program is designed to connect new students toour amazing pool of alumni right from the start. e advantages are clear. Students getexperienced guides to our programs, Washington D.C., and their chosen careers. Alumni get toconnect with a new generation of TWCersgiving them an opportunity to give back to theirown community and be the rst in line to tap into new talent. e Washington Center hostsseveral ALUMNI NOW events each semester.

ese include an alumni speaker panel at orientation, the Alumni Lunch Series, a student-alumni

networking reception, and specialized student-alumni programs that change each semester. Mostrecently, students enrolled in e Washington Centers spring Political Leadership Program participated in a discussion with a carefully selected panel of alumni. e panel shared personalstories of their experiences and o ered seasoned advice on how to get the most out of e Washington Centers programs, leverage internships to secure full-time employment, and navigatelife a er college.

ALUMNI NOW is attracting more and moreof our alumni talent. Michael Hutshneker 07of the Clarus Research Group, Joe Pally 98 of We eAlliance.com, Adrienne Christian 96,Chief of Sta for Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD),

and Mark Simakovsky 01 of the State Departmentrecently participated in a memorable paneldiscussion. Students later told their ProgramAdvisors that it was the best program yet!

To become a part of the ALUMNI NOW program, visit http://alumni.twc.edu/AlumniNOW.

To see such successful TWCalumni encourages me to

work my hardest, to somedaybe on that panel for futureTWC students. Andrea Englert, Dickinson College '12

DONATE TO OUR ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Have an immediate and tangible e ect on the life of a student by giving to the Alumni Scholarship Fund. Visithttps://www.twc.edu/support/donate to make your tax-deductible and secure online donation today.

TAKE ACTION.HERES WHAT YOUCAN DO RIGHT NOW.

FIRST , joine Washington Center s

online communities:

NEXT , visithttp://alumni.twc.edu/Promise

to: Share your SUCCESSES :Have you recently earnedan MBA? Got a promotion?Published a book? Beenhonored?

Share your CIVICENGAGEMENT : Let us know what you re doing togive back to your community and nation.

Share your OPPORTUNITIES :

Post job openings for fellow TWC alumni.

TWC ALUMNI COMMUNITY

http://alumni.twc.edu

THE OFFICIAL TWC ALUMNI GROUP

www.facebook.com

TWC ALUMNI COMMUNITY GROUP

www.linkedin.com

I
https://www.twc.edu/donatehttps://www.twc.edu/donatehttp://alumni.twc.edu/Promisehttp://alumni.twc.edu/http://alumni.twc.edu/http://www.facebook.com/http://www.facebook.com/http://www.linkedin.com/http://www.linkedin.com/https://www.twc.edu/donatehttp://alumni.twc.edu/Promisehttp://www.linkedin.com/http://www.facebook.com/http://alumni.twc.edu/


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Promisemagazine is published twice a year,in the spring and fall, for T WC alumni.You can also read Promiseonline athttp://alumni.twc.edu.

ALUMNI R ELATIONS STAFF

Arleen Ramirez BorysiewiczSenior Vice President, External A airs

Sarah E. JagolinzerSenior Manager, Alumni Relations

2011. e Washington Center for Internshipsand Academic Seminars. All rights reserved.

e Washington Center actively strives for equalaccess to its programs for all, regardless of race,

religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation,age, physical challenge, or veteran status.

e information in this brochure is correct atthe time of printing.

e Washington Center forInternships and Academic Seminars1333 16th Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20036-2205Phone: 202-238-7900Fax: 202-238-7700Toll Free: 800-486-8921Email: [email protected]://alumni.twc.edu

SAVE THE DATE.

A B O L D L O O K

A H

E A D2011 Gala

Monday, October 3e National Building

Museum

Tickets for alumni are ata reduced price of $250(a $500 value).

Purchase your ticket today:http://alumni.twc.edu

1. e Alumni Advisory Board recently addedfour new board members: Donni Turner 89,a principal at Podesta Group; Barbara Merola03, a sales professional at Bloomberg; RobConsalvo 90, Boston City Councilman; andStefan Kalina 92, counsel in the LitigationDepartment at Lowenstein Sandler PC.

2. e National Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA) has partnered with e WashingtonCenter to fund a pilot program that providesselected student athletes an opportunity to takeadvantage of a TWC internship.

3. e Washington Center Alumni of the Yearaward was presented to Bradley J. Kiley 82,Director of the O ce of Management andAdministration at the White House, at anawards luncheon on October 4, 2010.

4. Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Sta , addressed the Inside Washington 10 seminar participants in January.

5. e Washington Center launched a newlyredesigned website as part of its rebranding e orts in the fall of 2010.

6. e Capital Alumni Regional Committeehosted its annual alumni holiday party onDecember 8 at TWC headquarters. Over100 alumni and friends of e WashingtonCenter celebrated together while donating canned goods to a local charity, So OthersMay Eat. e event raised almost $1,000for student scholarships.

7. e Puerto Rico Alumni Regional Committeehosted its annual holiday party on December 20,2010, with over 200 guests. Guests donated toys

for local charities for the holiday season.8. e Chicago Alumni Regional Committee

hosted a networking happy hour on March 2,2011, at Rebar in the Trump Chicago Hotel.A group of alumni gathered to recount theirTWC experiences, share their stories, andsolicit volunteers to help create a sustainablealumni regional committee.

9. Karith Foster 94, comedian, author, andTV/radio personality, kicked o the spring 2011 Student Alumni Networking Receptionon March 31, 2011, at which almost 100

students and alumni came together to sharelaughs and to network.

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H I G H L I G H T S
http://alumni.twc.edu/http://alumni.twc.edu/http://alumni.twc.edu/http://alumni.twc.edu/http://alumni.twc.edu/http://alumni.twc.edu/http://alumni.twc.edu/http://alumni.twc.edu/

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