When you’ve been awarded five government internships during your undergraduate years at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, it’s hard to pinpoint a favorite one. That’s the case for College of Social Sciences’ senior Cindy Ng, who is graduating in May with a double-major in Political Science and Peace & Conflict Resolution, a minor in Chinese, and now the honor of being named 2021 CSS Outstanding Graduating Senior.
“I am so happy to receive this award,” said Ng, 22. “I appreciate getting to meet and collaborate with some of the most passionate and dedicated people at the College. Their energy and enthusiasm have been a model to follow.”
Ng earned a 3.95 grade point average, and took 15-19 credits per semester. She was selected for her first Mānoa Political Internship in 2018, when she worked at the local district office of then Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa. Internships followed with the Office of the Public Defender, Hawaiʻi Senator Karl Rhoads, and the federal government’s Office of the Diplomat in Residence in Southern California.
This semester she interned in the D.C. office of U.S. Senator Brian Schatz, where she supported his legislative priorities through targeted research on issues including U.S.-China relations and environmental initiatives, among other duties. “I’ve gained a better understanding of how to write effective policies, along with a greater appreciation for the challenges and rewards of public service,” she said.
Ng is the eldest daughter of Chinese immigrants who came to the U.S. 30 years ago. “My family was grateful to experience the empathy and generosity that exists within government,” she said. “When my parents were gaining their foothold in America, various agencies stepped in to make sure we were taken care of. That is why I vowed to enter public service, so I could repay the kindness extended to me and my family.”
When she was not in class, Ng kept busy with a number of CSS activities, including serving as a campus leader through the College Ambassador Program, which assists with student and alumni engagement and helps strengthen the alliance between CSS students and the Dean. “To me, my biggest achievement was assisting in the start-up and running of The Social Manoa podcast, which is a modern avenue in communicating with students and the broader community,” she said.
Now, with her bachelor’s degree and the Outstanding Graduating Senior laurel in hand, Ng is ready to begin a career in government. “I’d like to help advance and improve U.S. domestic and foreign relations,” she said. “Public service has always been an important part of my college life, and I want to continue traveling along that pathway.”
