On May 4, The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) honored the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) Foundation with the Outstanding Internship Site award during their Spring 2017 Semester Programs Closing Ceremony.
The Fund for American Studies is a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. that seeks to support and develop future leaders through a world class internship experience. TFAS’ Capitol Semester program affords students from around the world the opportunity to live in Washington D.C., take 12 credit hours at George Mason University, conduct site briefing visits, tour D.C. landmarks, attend professional development seminars, meet top experts in their field, in addition to providing mentorship.
It was through the Capitol Semester program that the USHCC Foundation hosted fellow Richard Garcia-Guerrero. Richard has assisted the Foundation by providing auxiliary support for Foundation programs and taking on his own projects. His most recent project revolves around chamber membership and outreach, as he focuses on developing relationships with Chambers who are not yet part of the USHCC network.
“When I landed in Washington D.C., I was afraid that my work would consist of stapling paperwork and bringing coffee. My experience has been exactly the opposite of that. I’ve met Hispanic chamber of commerce leaders from around the country, sat in on the past Presidents’ round table…The USHCC Foundation is far and away the best internship site I know of, and I am excited at the opportunities looming on the horizon.” — Richard Garcia-Guerrero, USHCC Foundation Fellow
When Garcia-Guerrero found out about the Outstanding Internship Site award, he immediately knew the USHCC Foundation would win: “When I heard that TFAS was going to give an ‘Outstanding Internship Site’ award, I immediately knew that it was going to go to the USHCC Foundation. It was thanks to the team that I have been afforded the opportunity to play a vital role in the organization’s operations. When I landed in Washington D.C., I was afraid that my work would consist of stapling paperwork and bringing coffee. My experience has been exactly the opposite of that. I’ve met Hispanic chamber of commerce leaders from around the country, sat in on the past Presidents’ round table, helped coordinate our At the Table Speaker Series, and am most happy to help operate the BizVenture program, which directly results in providing scholarships to Hispanic students from across the country. The USHCC Foundation is far and away the best internship site I know of, and I am excited at the opportunities looming on the horizon.”
USHCC Foundation Vice President, Eliza Hernandez said: “The USHCC Foundation is honored to have received the Outstanding Internship Site award from The Fund for American Studies. Richard has become an integral part of the Foundation team. Through his work ethic and attention to detail, Richard has demonstrated his resolve to always fulfill his commitments and exceed expectations in the workplace. He has now transitioned into taking on larger projects on his own, and are excited to see his work moving forward. We could not be happier to have him as part of our team.”
“The USHCC Foundation is committed to empowering the next generation of leaders through education and real-world experience. Our fellowship program is an important component of that commitment to America’s business future…” — Javier Palomarez, USHCC Foundation President and CEO
Javier Palomarez, President and CEO of the USHCC Foundation also commented: “We are honored The Fund for American Studies would choose us for this award. The USHCC Foundation is committed to empowering the next generation of leaders through education and real-world experience. Our fellowship program is an important component of that commitment to America’s business future, and we are delighted to have a talented young man such as Richard as part of our team. Programs such as this are instrumental in young leaders’ personal and professional development, and we look forward to hosting future fellows who will benefit from this experience with our Foundation.”
The USHCC Foundation is excited to say that Richard will be extending his fellowship through the summer as he hopes to capitalize on all D.C. and the USHCC Foundation has to offer.
