If you’re fortunate or unfortunate enough to take the Metro into DC for work in the morning during the summer, you’re probably used to seeing them – young guys in their standard issue blue blazer, khaki pants, and two-tone wide striped ties, usually in their school colors, and young girls in outfits that are cute to the point where you ask yourself are they going into work or straight to happy hour. These are your classic DC summer interns disbursed throughout Congress, government agencies, and non-profits. As August wears on these interns will soon disappear and be replaced with droves of equally as young but more shabbily dressed college kids at our local colleges and universities. One of the unique opportunities afforded to the young and Greek in the DC area while in college or grad school, either during the summer or the school year is the chance to be one of these unpaid or underpaid but highly appreciated interns for the several national Greek and Greek-American organizations that are headquartered here.

It was surprising to learn that one of the best summer internships for one of the most-active Greek-American organizations went unfilled this year. The American Hellenic Institute, located only blocks from the White House, has for years offered multiple full time summer internships to college students from all across the country as well as part time internships during the school year. It’s a chance to be involved in the most American and at the same time Greek of all endeavors, U.S. politics, from a Greek perspective. From trips to the Hill to cover hearings, to grassroots constituent mobilization, to welcoming dignitaries from Greece and Cyprus, a summer at AHI not only looks great on a resume but it prepares Greek-American college students for the real world ahead. The contacts alone that working at AHI fosters, both in DC and all across the country are invaluable.

While it’s too late for this summer, local college and grad students can still apply for internships at AHI during either semester of the school year by visiting http://www.ahiworld.com/interns.html.