Ask any teacher or parent or college student and they’ll tell you there is nothing unusual about the scene.

Julia Krieger, a college junior from Minnesota, gazed at the computer screen, an iPod earbud dangling from one ear and a phone pushed up against the other. As part of a generation of hi-tech multi-taskers, Julia seems typical enough. Until you hear what she hears.

Until you hear her.

As she combed through congressional voting records online and listened to an MP3 recording from a Capitol Hill briefing, Julia, a self- described political junkie and pro-Israel activist, spoke confidently with a fellow student leader from her University of Minnesota campus, guiding him through the steps he would need to take as they prepare for a series of political and foreign policy programs this fall.  Soon you realize there is nothing at all typical about Julia.

She and 43 AIPAC Diamond Summer Interns are among the best, brightest and most committed pro-Israel activists on college campuses today. Hailing from 33 universities and 39 different hometowns, the students are Jewish, Christian, African American—all sharing a common interest, some would say “passion,” for Israel. They each go through a rigorous selection process during the school year, ending in an eight to ten week internship in one of AIPAC’s regional or satellite offices or its Washington, D.C. headquarters.

“So many of my friends working for their members of Congress on Capitol Hill would just dread Mondays,” said AIPAC Diamond Intern Erin Spiegel, a sophomore at the University of Maryland. “They were stuck filing and answering phones and felt very little sense of belonging. I couldn’t wait for Mondays,” the Los Angeles native stated emphatically. “At AIPAC, you have a deep sense that you are part of something, that you belong, and that whatever task you are given, you are helping.”

Amy Berelowitz, a University of Georgia senior who interned in AIPAC’s Atlanta office agreed. Amy helped organize a student luncheon, briefings at area law firms and parlor meetings in people’s homes. “It felt great to be able to tell people in very specific terms how they can help affect American policy.”

In addition to long-term projects and day-to-day responsibilities, AIPAC interns take part in an extensive curriculum that includes luncheons with senior members of the AIPAC staff, Capitol Hill briefings with leading members of Congress and a host of workshops to enhance their advocacy skills and increase their knowledge about Israel and American foreign policy.

“Even when I was just scanning documents, the history I was reading as I did my work was fascinating,” explained Florida A&M junior Mario Henderson, who interned in Washington.

Mario and his fellow interns also took part in a three-day retreat in D.C. to ready themselves for their leadership roles back on campus, and helped plan AIPAC’s highly acclaimed Saban Leadership Seminar, a four -day program that takes place twice a year to educate and motivate hundreds of student leaders toward pro-Israel activity on campus.

Talking to the interns, one gets the feeling that their aspirations go well beyond their campus leadership roles. Mario smiles. “I definitely want to run for office one day, and advocating for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship will be among my top priorities.”

To apply to the Diamond Summer Internship Program, click here.