Travel abroad leads student to U.S. Embassy internship in Uruguay
11/23/2012
 
Hard work, persistence and a passion to embrace other cultures has earned a University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student a prestigious internship at the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Megan Van Sambeek, a native of Darboy, will begin a 10-week internship in January 2013 through the U.S. State Department, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. She is pursuing majors in international studies and Spanish, and a minor in business at UW-Stevens Point.
Her internship will support Public Diplomacy, the office responsible for disseminating information to the Uruguayan public, organizing cultural events and acting as the official liaison between the Uruguayan press and the U.S. government. They create news releases, hold news conferences and are involved in programs taking place off embassy grounds, such as the U.S.-Uruguayan Fulbright Program, the U.S.-Uruguayan Alianza English immersion program for Uruguayan schools and a series of prominent speakers at universities throughout the city.
“I applied for a U.S. Department of State internship thinking it would be an excellent opportunity,” said Van Sambeek. “But I never dreamed I would actually be chosen. I was completely shocked when I received an email stating I had been selected as a primary and was surprised again when I found out my internship would be almost 6,000 miles away in Montevideo, Uruguay. My life has taken a bit of an unexpected turn, but I couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity and I hope to make the most of this experience.”
Following the footsteps of her older sister, Van Sambeek began traveling abroad with her parents and then eventually on her own. As a high-school junior she traveled to Xalapa, Mexico, with the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. While attending UW-Stevens Point, she completed a semester abroad in Valladolid, Spain, and is currently enrolled in a groundbreaking study abroad experience in Cuba January 6-20, 2013.
Outside of the classroom, Van Sambeek spent 10 years in competitive swimming and works in the transportation office on campus. She has her sights set on graduating from UW-Stevens Point in less than four years.
For more information about a major or minor in international studies, please contact International Studies Coordinator Sarah Kent, 715-346-4442 or skent@uwsp.edu.

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Admissions; CPS; COLS