For the thirteenth year, the International Leadership Foundation (ILF) will award over 30 fellowships to Asian Pacific American college students who exhibit the qualities and potential of a future business, community or professional leaders.

Any Asian Pacific American undergraduate student with at least a 3.0 GPA is eligible to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Interested students can visit ILF’s website at www.ILEADER.org to apply online or to obtain more information.

The ILF works with government agencies to place each Fellow in his or her area of interest. Students who wish to apply must submit their applications not later than February 1, 2012.

“The ILF promotes public service, involvement and effectiveness of Asian Pacific Americans,” said ILF Chief Executive Officer Chiling Tong. “Our purpose is to teach our future leaders how to use the government to serve the community.”

ILF Senior Advisor Tim Wang said, “The ILF Civic Fellows will spend eight weeks in the summer interning for a federal government agency in the nation’s capital, gaining firsthand knowledge of the workings of the government.”

Each Fellow receives a stipend of $1,500, funded by the ILF and its sponsors. Students must pay for their own travel, housing and living expenses during their fellowships. ILF Fellows attend weekly seminars and other events to learn about government, in addition to their internships.

Norman Y. Mineta and Elaine Chao serve as the Honorary National Chairman and Chairwoman of the ILF. Former Commerce Secretary Mineta and Labor Secretary Chao were the first two Asian Pacific Americans to serve in the President’s Cabinet.

“The ILF promotes and fosters bright APA youth to experience the inner-workings behind this great country’s national government, and provide effective training classes to enhance leadership skills,” said Mineta.

The ILF is a non-profit organization that promotes civic involvement and entrepreneurial spirit of the future leaders of the Asian Pacific American community. Each year at its annual Awards Dinner, the ILF recognizes public service by distinguished APA community leaders.

Over the past several years, ILF has honored Senate Pro Tempore Daniel Inouye (Lifetime Achievement Award) and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Distinguished Leadership Award). California Members of Congress Judy Chu and Mike Honda and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal have been named ILF’s Public Servants of the Year.