On June 27, 2003, at a dinner hosted at the home of Sherry Mueller for the 2004 NCIV National Meeting Planning Committee, Ann Bauersfeld Valuchek announced her contribution of $10,000 to NCIV. This generous contribution was made in memory of Andrew J. Valuchek and was the foundation gift for the NCIV Andrew J. Valuchek Internship Endowment. The NCIV Board of Directors matched the initial gift. Additional contributions have been received as part of NCIV’s Annual Fund drive. Interest from the endowment is used to fund a stipend for the NCIV Andrew J. Valuchek intern.
The National Council for International Visitors will offer the internship once a year during the spring, summer, or fall semester, as funds permit. The first Andrew J. Valuchek Intern, Ina Archaya, was selected in the spring semester for the summer of 2004. The most recent Valuchek intern, Mory Pagel, has worked with NCIV during the spring semester of 2007. Valuchek interns assist NCIV in its advocacy efforts helping the U.S. Congress understand the value of citizen diplomacy, the work of NCIV members, and the impact of official exchange programs including the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program.
NCIV believes the internship endowment is an extraordinarily appropriate way to honor Dr. Valuchek’s memory and extend the Valuchek legacy. In so many ways, he embodied the qualities NCIV training programs are designed to develop. Dr. Valuchek briefed literally thousands of foreign leaders participating in the IVLP on the U.S. political system and democratic principles. He did so voluntarily, with candor, clarity, and a remarkable ability to relate to his audience. He had an approach characteristic of people who communicate well with foreign leaders – the ability to listen, to ask perceptive questions, and to learn from his interlocutors.
The Andrew J. Valuchek Internship, while given a very generous beginning by Ann Valuchek, requires additional funding. The National Council for International Visitors is raising additional funds for this purpose, soliciting help from those who knew and worked closely with Dr. Valuchek. A Task Force was formed to help NCIV in this effort. The Task Force has set an endowment goal of $75,000. Task force members include Jim Hancock, Charlotte Hrncir, Hugh Ivory, Sheila Kast, Sherry Mueller, Ambassador James Rosapepe, Julie Bres Slavik, Juraj Slavik, Ann Bauersfeld Valuchek, and Dan Wyatt.
On February 8, 2004, friends of Dr. Valuchek celebrated his life and legacy at the home of Julie and Juraj Slavik. The dinner was held to raise awareness and funds for the NCIV Andrew J. Valuchek Endowed Internship. The evening, complete with thirty guests including five ambassadors, was truly magical in terms of the group’s shared fondness of the late Dr. Valuchek. Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Tom Foley, attended the dinner with his wife, Heather. Ambassador Foley spoke movingly about Dr. Valuchek and the far-reaching impact of the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). When Ambassador Foley served in the House of Representatives, Dr. Valuchek served for many years as his chief of staff.
To apply for this internship, e-mail or fax a cover letter detailing your interest in citizen diplomacy and internship objectives, a resume, a 2-4 page writing sample, and two references (with email address and telephone numbers) (when submitting by e-mail, please put all information into one MS Word document) to:
Monya Hudsick
Program Associate
National Council for International Visitors
1420 K Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20005
202-289-4625 (fax)
NCIV Southern Regional Meeting - August 6-8, 2008 - 
