Two University of Limerick students have been selected onto the Washington Ireland Program (WIP) - an organisation designed to give students a rich insight into America's professional and social culture, through a two-month internship and an intensive training course in leadership and service. Louise Mackey and Victoria Kiely, were chosen from more than 270 applicants from Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK. 
 
The programme aims to select promising individuals who will ultimately use their unique talents to contribute back to their home communities. Each student selected to take part in the programme benefits from a prestigious internship including placements on Capitol Hill, government agencies and the private sector. UL students Louise and Victoria will be working with Senator Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire and with the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities respectively.

Victoria Kiely is a final year History and Politics student at the University of Limerick. A past patient of Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, she is an active fundraiser for the hospital and the Irish Cancer Society. To date, Victoria has raised in excess of €6,500 for Crumlin children’s hospital through the events she has organised, both at the University of Limerick and in her local community of Tramore, County Waterford. Victoria is dedicated to improving the lives of sick children in Ireland and the building of a new national children’s hospital, which she believes will bring Irish children’s healthcare services into the twenty-first century.

Louise Mackey is a fourth year Law and Accounting student at the University of Limerick. In 2011 Louise completed an eight month internship in the tax department of Matheson Ormsby Prentice whilst this year has completed a thesis on the efficacy of Contingent Convertible Bonds as a regulatory tool in global banking. Louise is actively involved in several charitable organisations including the Special Olympics, the Fate and Light movement, St Vincent de Paul and Trócaire. Louise is also a recipient of an All-Ireland Scholarship.
 
Louise and Victoria will be maintaining personal blogs throughout their internships which can be followed at website: www.wiprogram.org