Ambassador Stephen D. Mull and Jerzy Koźmiński, PAFF President & CEO, met on July 10th, 2013 with the participants in the Polish-American Internship Initiative, organized by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation in cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in Poland.
It is the third round of the summer internship initiative in the USA. This year’s interns – a group of fifteen students including the participants in the PAFF’s Bridge Scholarships Program and the “PROJECTOR – Student Volunteers” Program – will be received by: Chevron North America, Citi, General Electric Hitachi, Pittsburgh Glass Works LLC, Raytheon BBN Technologies, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and Westinghouse Electric Company.
The meeting was attended by Minister Jacek Michałowski, Chief of the Chancellery of the President of Poland, Minister Beata Stelmach, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for global economic policy, promotion and culture, Minister Bogusław Winid, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for security policy, Minister Robert Kupiecki, former Ambassador of Poland to the U.S., Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of National Defense responsible for defense policy and Grzegorz Kozłowski, Head of the American Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Among the guests were also: Professor Anna Fornalczyk, Member of the PAFF Board of Directors and Professor Jerzy Dietl, President of the Educational Enterprise Foundation – the institution responsible for the implementation of the Polish-American Internship Initiative, as well as representatives of the US companies offering the internships and other Foundation’s friends and partners.
The meeting was opened by Jerzy Koźmiński, who thanked Ambassador Mull for his, and the Embassy’s, involvement that made the implementation of the Polish-American Internship Initiative possible. PAFF President also stressed the importance of the initiative to the Foundation „It provides gifted Polish students with a rare opportunity to obtain unique knowledge and experience in leading U.S. corporations, along with an interesting intercultural experience. It is also yet another occasion for the Foundation to enrich its programs with valuable elements regarding Polish-American contacts.”
Ambassador Stephen D. Mull congratulated the students on their acceptance to this year’s PAII and wished them a fruitful stay in the U.S. The Ambassador also mentioned that the initiative was recognized by the Presidents of Poland and the United States in their joint statement during their meeting at the White House in December 2010. He emphasized that this initiative is an example of good cooperation between civic organizations and business. Stressing the support of the US Administration for the PAII he thanked the corporations accepting the interns, and expressed his hope that in the 2014 edition new corporations will join those already participating.
In a letter addressed to the participants Professor Barbara Kudrycka, Minister of Science and Higher Education, wrote “I wholeheartedly support this valuable initiative, thanks to which young, talented Poles receive a chance to gain essential experience, develop their skills and deepen their knowledge.”
The Polish-American Internship Initiative is an undertaking that allows outstanding Polish students to get a summer internship in renown U.S. corporations. These companies are joining a group of institutions that by sharing their knowledge and experience teach young people how to derive benefits of living in a global and culturally diversified world. The U.S. internships are offered primarily to participants in the Polish-American Freedom Foundation’s two programs: scholarship holders of the Bridge Scholarships Program and university students of the “Student Volunteers” Program. The Initiative presents the opportunity to apply for a paid 2-3 month-long internship at American companies, traveling expenses are covered as well as assistance in obtaining a visa is provided. The internship is available for fulltime students of the second year and above at Polish universities, with fluent command of English, achieving the highest academic marks, who have already shown outstanding abilities and commitment.
In 2011 and 2012, 44 students completed internships at the following U.S. companies: Chevron North America, General Electric Hitachi, Pittsburgh Glass Works LLC, Raytheon BBN Technologies, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation and Westinghouse Electric Company.
The PAII is a joint venture of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation and the U.S. Embassy in Poland. It is implemented by the Educational Enterprise Foundation in cooperation with the companies offering the internships and Polish universities.
