UCLA Alumnus Lands Prestigious White House Internship

Posse alumnus Erick Quintero’s initiative and determination have landed him in Washington, D.C. as a White House intern in the office of communication. Erick, who in 2013 completed his political science degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, in three years, is thrilled that his professional experiences have prepared him for this opportunity.

“I wanted to work at the White House because many of President Obama’s policies have positively influenced my family and my community,” Erick says.

Erick grew up in South Gate, a working class community in southeast Los Angeles with a large Latino population. His hometown is a long way from the United States capital, where he is now a Spanish media intern. 

Erick’s work includes collecting articles of relevance to the administration and helping write blog posts and press releases in Spanish for the government’s website.

“Working at the White House is surreal,” says Erick.

Monitoring media outlets for hot-button items such as the Affordable Care Act and immigration resonates with Erick. His connection to these issues stems from his deep involvement in his community, where he still remains an active volunteer with his former Boy Scout troop.

“Coming out of school I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” says Erick. “Based on this internship, I’m looking into getting involved with public relations or working for a campaign.”