Summer 2025 Internship Program at the Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth

The Royal Thai Consulate General in Chicago, in collaboration with the Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, is offering a full-time internship opportunity for Thai-American students in the Midwest.

This program will provide hands-on experience in public service, federal agencies, and related projects, helping students gain valuable insight into community service and government work. Additionally, the program encourages reflection on the role they, as future leaders, might play in enhancing the voice of the Thai community in the Midwest.

Sponsored by the Royal Thai Consulate General in Chicago, in consultation with the Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, the Summer 2025 Internship Program is designed to place two interns with Senator Duckworth's office—one in the Chicago office and one in the Washington, D.C. office.

Upon completion of the internship, interns are required to submit an internship report (letter size, approximately 1,000 words, with photos attached) by August 24, 2025. They must also attend an in-person presentation session on August 29, 2025, at the Royal Thai Consulate General in Chicago.

Acceptance: Thai-American students who meet the qualifications will be accepted into the program.

Format: The summer internships are in-person and will run from June 2 to August 15, 2025 (11 weeks). Full-time interns are required to work between 32 and 40 hours per week, with hours set from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday.

Expenses: Selected interns will receive scholarships from the Royal Thai Consulate General in Chicago ($4,000 for the Chicago intern and $6,000 for the Washington, D.C. intern). Participants will be responsible for any other expenses related to the program. After acceptance into the program, all participants must provide proof of health insurance.

Assignments - Washington, D.C. interns will have the chance to observe the day-to-day operations of the United States Senate. Interns will be exposed to a fast paced and ever-changing environment. Duties include, but are not limited to, answering constituent phone calls, processing constituent correspondence, welcoming guests to the office, assisting with tours, attending hearings, conducting research and drafting memorandums.

   - Chicago interns will gain first-hand familiarity with how elected officials help constituents navigate issues with federal agencies. Interns will experience how legislative activities impact the lives of constituents in their communities. Duties in state offices include, but are not limited to, fielding calls from constituents, researching and responding to constituent correspondence, attending briefings, drafting letters and working on other staff projects. 

REQUIREMENTS

1. Candidate qualifications

• Age 18 to 22 years old by their anticipated internship start date
• Thai American (U.S. citizen of Thai descent)
• Enroll as a full-time undergraduate student at a university in the Midwest (AR, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OK, SD, WI) with a good academic standing
• Undergraduate students in their second, third, or fourth year of college are eligible to apply
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrate an interest in politics, policy, and/or public service

2. Application process

Prospective candidates can access the online application by clicking HERE 

***The online application form and other required documents must be submitted by March 9, 2025.***

The online application form will ask for the following:

    2.1 Checklist items

• Resume and List of Activities
• Cover letter

    2.2 Educational Information

• High School / Secondary Education
• Post-Secondary Education / College / University
• A copy of the most recent transcript

    2.3 References

• A copy of a U.S. passport, U.S. Birth Certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, or Certificate of Citizenship as proof of the candidate's U.S. citizenship
• A copy of the parent's ID, passport, or any official document as proof of Thai descent
• Reference #1
• Reference #2

    2.4  Internship Preferences: Chicago or Washington, DC

    2.5  Essay Questions

• What other skills and interests do you have? (200 word limit)
• Please provide a writing sample about a policy that is important to you, for example,
  a memo or letter to the editor. (250 word limit)
• If you were a policymaker, which policy would significantly benefit the Thai community in the Midwest? (300 word limit)

3. Selection Process

    3.1 A selection committee from the Royal Thai Consulate General in Chicago and the Office of U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth will review the applications. Applicants can expect to receive responses by March 12, 2025. Qualified candidates will be contacted for a video conference interview with the selection committee on March 18, 25 2025.

   3.2 Final candidates will be contacted directly by March 31, 2025, and the results will be announced on the Royal Thai Consulate General in Chicago's social media.

4. Timeline

• March 9, 2025: Application Deadline
  
  
• March 12, 2025: Responses to applicants
  
  
• March 18, 25 2025: Interview sessions (1,2)
  
  
• March 31, 2025: Announcement of results
  
  
• June 2 to August 15, 2025: Summer internship period
  
  
• August 24, 2025: Submit internship report
  
  
• August 29, 2025: Presentation session (In-person )

For more information, please contact [email protected] or 312-614-1379