University of Virginia Economics Major Named Student Ambassador

October 21, 2011 – Julie Yee, a second-year economics major in the University of Virginia's College of Arts & Sciences, has been selected to serve as a Department of Energy Student Ambassador during the current academic year.

Yee, of Vienna, is one of eight students nationwide to be selected by the nonprofit group Partnership for Public Service and the Department of Energy to be an ambassador, part of the department's efforts to expand its presence on U.S. college and university campuses and offer students job and internship opportunities.

Her responsibilities range from conducting presentations and workshops to collaborating with campus career services representatives and faculty members.

"As a DOE student ambassador, I will be increasing awareness of student opportunities available at the U.S. Department of Energy," Yee said. "There is a wide range of programs and positions available for students of all disciplines who want to make a positive impact on energy's future. I am very excited to be a student ambassador for an organization characterized by constant innovation and devotion to solving today's and tomorrow's energy and environmental issues."

Yee, 19, is an Echols Scholar, an Honor Committee counsel and a member of Honor's Diversity Advisory Board, as well as the Ballroom Dance Club and the Chinese Student Association. She is a graduate of the James Madison High School.

"There is no better place to work on critical issues that affect our country on a grand scale than the federal government," said Amanda Davis, the partnership's ambassadors program manager. "The Energy Ambassadors are on campuses now, helping classmates find jobs where they can make a difference working on a wide range of energy issues."

"The Energy Ambassadors program is one of the most effective mediums for recruiting the entry-level talent that the Department of Energy needs," said Edwin Luevanos, program manager at the Energy Department. "This peer-to-peer recruitment strategy helps the ambassadors introduce students across their campuses to DOE job and internship opportunities in a variety of competitive fields."

Ambassadors must have a strong interest in the Department of Energy's mission and energy-related career and educational opportunities. This year's ambassadors have recently completed internships at the department, its national laboratories or the Nuclear Security Administration.

The Energy Student Ambassadors program is conducted in collaboration with the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, a Department of Energy institute focusing on educating the next generation of scientists, among other initiatives.

The program is affiliated with the Partnership for Public Service's Federal Service Student Ambassadors program. Through the Partnership's "Call to Serve" initiative, the organization partners with more than 720 campuses and 75 federal agencies to encourage a new generation to serve.

— By Matt Kelly

Media Contact

Matt Kelly

Office of University Communications