Diamond Summer Interns, working closely with top AIPAC professionals, contribute to the work of America’s pro-Israel lobby, while continually learning and training throughout the summer. AIPAC's 45 Diamond Summer Interns hail from 38 campuses and 38 hometowns.
Washington, D.C. interns host AIPAC’s long-standing Summer Seminar Series, which provides students and young professionals an interactive forum with key policy makers who are shaping the U.S.-Israel relationship. AIPAC’s Schusterman Advocacy Institute Summer Saban Leadership Seminar, held July 27-30, teaches the interns and hundreds of other pro-Israel students from campuses across the country how to be more effective pro-Israel political advocates.
“The projects I’ve worked on as an AIPAC intern are substantive and deal with issues I’m passionate about,” said intern Katina Rajunov, a student at the University of Texas. “By working alongside AIPAC professionals, I’ve built relationships with mentors while gaining insight into the execution of AIPAC’s mission and mandate.”
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) addresses Summer Seminar Series event.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) and Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) voiced their strong support for the U.S.-Israel alliance at AIPAC’s first 2008 Summer Seminar Series event on June 26. Nearly 200 interns and young professionals were in attendance on Capitol Hill.
House Majority Leader Hoyer congratulated the students “for involving yourself in this effort to be informed about the dangers posed to Israel.” He also asserted that, “Israel is an issue on which there is almost full consensus in Congress.”
Rep. Pence, just a day before traveling to Israel, emphasized that, “Few things in this country unite us more than a devotion to the people and State of Israel.”
Rep. Engel stressed the value of AIPAC’s work and the importance of youth involvement. “One of the reasons AIPAC is so good is because of you – you’re the future. You will all be affecting… the life of our country and our strong ally, Israel.” The congressman stayed to field a broad range of questions from engaged students.
This was the first event of AIPAC’s 2008 Summer Seminar Series, which consists of three interactive forums with policymakers. For 28 years, the Series has attracted young people interning throughout Washington. The next event will take place on July 9, and features AIPAC Executive Director Howard Kohr.
AIPAC honors pro-Israel student leaders
Outstanding pro-Israel students and campus professionals were honored at an awards ceremony held during the annual AIPAC Policy Conference. Michigan State University students were awarded the top honor, the 2008 Duke Rudman Leadership Award, for their work to mobilize their campus in support of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship. Other campuses recognized for their work included The Alabama State University, the University of Oklahoma and SUNY-Albany.
“AIPAC gave us the tools to make an impact on campus,” said Michigan State University student and Duke Rudman recipient David Mindell. The ceremony also marked the establishment of the Howard Tzvi Friedman Outstanding Leadership Award, honoring activists who strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship by participating in the American political system.
Campus delegates attend Policy Conference 2008.
In a year of heightened political awareness, campus delegates attended a forum at the AIPAC Policy Conference highlighting young Americans’ increased political involvement throughout the 2008 presidential campaign season—a phenomenon Time Magazine dubbed a political “youth quake”—and its implications for the pro-Israel student movement.
The forum explored the challenges and opportunities in harnessing the potential of pro-Israel students to make a difference in the U.S.-Israel relationship. Featuring Jonathan Kessler, AIPAC’s leadership development director, Ethan Eilon, the executive director of the College Republican National Committee, and Lauren Wolfe, president of College Democrats of America, the forum examined the effect of new communication technologies on political involvement and the many pro-Israel initiatives surrounding Campaign ’08 on campuses across the nation
“Campaign ’08 has really gotten students from both sides of the aisle excited–especially pro-Israel students,” said University of Chicago student Elizabeth Scoggin. “And the activity of the pro-Israel movement in both parties is no more evident than here at Policy Conference, where I’ve seen an amazing bi-partisan turnout.”
Student delegates attend Policy Conference 2008
More than 1,200 students from 363 campuses in 50 states gathered at the nation’s capital for the annual AIPAC Policy Conference, the pro-Israel movement's premier event. Students joined a record crowd of attendees to hear from key policy makers and experts—this year featuring Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,all four leaders of Congress and all three U.S. presidential candidates.
The student delegation included more than 175 Student Government presidents, 26 national and state leaders of the College Democrats of America and College Republican National Committee, 200 students from Christian and historically black campuses and 200 high school students.
In addition to joining community delegates for plenaries, breakout sessions, the Gala Banquet, and lobbying on Capitol Hill, student delegates participated in their own leadership development track. Students also attended a campus awards ceremony, in which AIPAC recognized exemplary pro-Israel campus advocates.
"It's so exciting to be surrounded by thousands of pro-Israel activists. I can't wait to meet with my members of Congress and help make a difference in the U.S.-Israel relationship," said University of Maryland student Erin Spiegel.
Diamond Summer Interns peruse briefing materials at AIPAC's D.C. headquarters.
Speaking with members of Congress and organizing programs for hundreds of students were all in a day’s work for AIPAC’s Diamond Summer Interns. As part of their summer experience, interns worked in either the Washington, D.C. headquarters or one of AIPAC’s regional offices nationwide. Although interns’ day-to-day responsibilities varied, their goals focused on engaging Americans on and off campus to become more involved in pro-Israel political activity. Interns got the chance to lobby on Capitol Hill, attend policy briefings, interact with AIPAC senior staff, take part in discussions with key opinion leaders, and research subjects from Hamas to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
“From my first day at the internship, I was treated as a member of the staff. The inclusive atmosphere meant a lot to me and encouraged me to achieve my best,” said Atlanta Intern Amy Berelowitz.
Michellene Marifosque, AIPAC’s San Diego office intern, said she is inspired by her work. “No day is the same as the last. You know that your actions are having a direct impact not only in D.C., but halfway around the world.”
Want to learn more about becoming an AIPAC Diamond Summer Intern next year? Click here.
Want to make a difference? Become an AIPAC Diamond Intern.
AIPAC’s Summer Seminar Series events, held June 26, July 9 and July 29, attract hundreds of students interested in politics and the U.S.-Israel alliance.
Listen in as students share their stories about why they commit to pro-Israel activism on and off campus.
