Linda Lau of Flushing, NY. and Cathy Tsai of Westminster, Colo. Chosen for U.S. Labor Department Internship

NEW YORK--U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao has announced that Linda Lau of Flushing, N.Y, will serve as an intern at the U.S. Labor Department in Washington, D.C.  Linda will work in the Office of Public Liaison assisting with community outreach.

The U.S. Department of Labor's competitive internship program allows students to learn from agency heads, White House officials and other leaders in the nation's capital.  They gain first-hand experience in learning about the functions and processes of the federal government.

"I am committed to increasing opportunities available to young Americans and developing a pool of future leaders for our community and our country," said Secretary Chao.  "Our internship program provides students from all across the United States with the opportunity to gain valuable experience and insights about government service and life in the nation's capital.  It is my hope that this opportunity will help cultivate a new generation of American leaders."

Ms. Lau is a junior at Cornell University, majoring in economics with a concentration in East Asian studies.  Fluent in Cantonese, she is an active member of the Hong Kong and Chinese Student Associations.  Ms. Lau has previously carried out research with the Asian American Federation of New York, organized events for Cornell Career Service, and volunteered at the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival.  She was chosen to serve as a student delegate for the 3rd China Synergy Program for Outstanding Youth and is a Pauline and Irving Tanner Dean's Scholar.  Ms. Lau is a graduate of Stuyvesant High School in New York City.

Ms. Tsai, a sophomore at University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business, is a finance major and a Joseph Wharton Scholar.  She is active in student government and volunteering organizations including the PennPals mentoring program, Habitat for Humanity, the Step One tutoring program, and the Ronald McDonald House.  Ms. Tsai speaks Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.  She graduated from Thornton High School as an International Baccalaureate Scholar and Presidential Scholar.

The U.S. Department of Labor currently boasts the largest number of Asian Pacific-American appointees-16, including three Presidential appointees with Senate confirmation.  President George W. Bush has appointed a historic number of 18 Americans of Asian Pacific descent to serve in Cabinet or sub-cabinet positions and more than 95 appointees throughout his administration.