Good news for Latino undergraduates looking for internships. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), the nation’s premier Latino youth leadership development and educational organization, has announced the addition of fall and spring semesters to its Congressional Internship Program. The new semesters are made possible by a $1 million donation by Wal-Mart over a period of three years.

CHCI’s Congressional Internship Program currently operates in the summer, providing hands-on work experience in Congress for 30 Latino college undergraduates. Wal-Mart’s support allows CHCI to double the number of Latino youth who have the opportunity to work on Capitol Hill throughout the year during twelve week sessions in the fall and spring semesters. The first new class of congressional interns will be in Fall 2010.

“CHCI is very excited to work with Wal-Mart to increase the number of young Latinos who can experience working in Congress and learn first-hand how laws are made and how they as individuals can impact their communities and the nation,” said Esther Aguilera, CHCI President & CEO. “Many internships are unpaid, limiting the number of Hispanics that complete internships in Congress. This partnership will increase the pipeline and address Hispanic under-representation by doubling our capacity to offer these once-in-a-lifetime paid internships. These individuals will be the Latino leaders of tomorrow and we are excited to partner with Wal-Mart in this important endeavor.”

CHCI’s Congressional Internship Program places college undergraduates in Congressional offices where they are responsible for conducting extensive legislative research, monitoring day-to-day hearings, managing constituent communications and assisting with general office matters. Additionally, interns participate in weekly CHCI leadership and professional development sessions and meet with corporate representatives, national elected officials and foreign dignitaries. Interns are provided with housing, roundtrip transportation to and from Washington, D.C., and a stipend.

“Internships on Capitol Hill are an important part to getting your career started in Washington, D.C.,” said Miguel Ayala, 1998 CHCI Congressional Intern and current communications director for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “CHCI’s summer program has proven to be successful in getting more Latinos on the Hill, and expanding those opportunities year-round will only help that success grow exponentially.”