Waimea student visits state Capitol

O‘AHU – Waimea High School senior Tanim Zunaed Alam traveled to Honolulu this month to participate in a one-day Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program internship.

For his internship, he spent Jan. 20 shadowing state Sen.  Ron D. Kouchi, D-Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau, the state senator’s office stated in a news release.

“Spending the day with the senator at the Capitol is one of the most unique experiences I have had in the U.S.,” Alam, who is originally from Bangladesh, said in a statement released by the state senator’s office. “I have learned a lot.”

Alam is staying with a Kaua‘i family while he attends high school on the island. In addition to school, he is a member of the  West Kaua‘i Bike Path Advisory Committee.

The YES program is an international exchange program between the United States and countries with large Muslim populations. In Bangladesh, more than 16,000 students applied for the 2011-2012 program. Of 23 finalists, only Alam was awarded the YES Program Scholarship.