TAP Stories shared by our Alumni

On this site we will pusblish stories from our TAP Alumni to share their experience with you and keep you updated.

Transatlantic Program: Training the future with a focus in renewable energies

Thomas Opp, TAP 2007 Alum and 2008 graduate from the University of Rhode Island, is one of many examples illustrating the eye-opening effect TAP participation has had on U.S. college students. Tom spent 3 months at Ecologic gGmbH in Berlin, an independent non-profit environmental policy think-tank

focusing primarily on policy measures at the European level. “I came to Germany hoping to get a glimpse of environmental policy making in action, so that I could gauge whether it interests me as a career path. Both through my work and numerous discussions with colleagues I expanded my view of a variety of issues, adding new perspectives on environmental policy and enhancing my German language skills along the way. My experience at Ecologic certainly shifted my path”, says Tom in reflecting upon his participation in the TAP 2007.

Having completed his undergraduate studies, Tom has decided to return to Berlin where he has independently coordinated working at Ecologic for another 12 months, upon which he intends to apply for Master’s programs in Public Policy with a concentration in energy and environmental policy.

Barbara Zollmann has left GACCoM

After seven years with GACCoM and seven generations of TAP, Barbara Zollmann, Vice President of GACCoM in Chicago returned to Germany to work with the parent organization of the German Chambers (DIHK) in Berlin. At the DIHK (which stands for Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce), Barbara is now responsible for coordination of the German Chambers abroad, in particular for the Chambers located in North and South America as well as Western Europe. Barbara's commitment was crucial in making the program over the year such a success.

Tyler Brebberman, TAP 2007, now managing set up of German office

“… I took my experience with German business and proposed the creation of a branch office in Germany. Luckily this proposal was accepted and I am now managing the process of setting up the German office in Hamburg under the name of QOMO HiteVision Europe GmbH.”

Read the entire story here…

TAP Article in German American Trade Read the article about the Transatlantic Program published in the German American Trade Magazine Vol. 18 No. 7 as a PDF. The German American Trade magazine published jointly by the German American Chambers of Commerce has a distribution of approx. 25,000 executive readers from the German American business community per issue.

Marquette Tribune reports about the Transatlantic Program

An article about the Transatlantic Program was published in the Marquette Tribune after the completion of the selection process for the 2008 program.

Two students from Marquette University, John Shusterich and Daniel Downes, were selected to participate in the Transatlantic Program 2008.

Read about their motivation to participate in the program, what they expect from their stay in Germany and what Program Manager Sabine Klensch says about the goals of the Transatlantic Program.

• Marquette Tribune (01/29/08): Two students selected to study in Germany. New program offers international summer internships.

Alumni promoting the Transatlantic Program across the USA

Every year the TAP-Team enlists their Alumni to help promote the upcoming Transatlantic Program. A lot of Transatlantic Program participants from former years go to their universities and colleges to speak in front of interested students. At this time, we have already received a couple of pictures and reports about compelling speeches given by TAP Alumni.

Drake Dowsett, participant of TAP 2006, advertised the new Transatlantic Program 2008 at the German Club’s opening event at his university, the University of Texas in Austin. He is now the official TAP representative at the German Department and will spread the word and answer questions about the Transatlantic Program 2008.

Another hard worker in the Transatlantic Program promotion is TAP 2007 participant Lauren Covert. She made a speech at the 3. Oktober Study Abroad round table and Filmabend at her university, the Transylvania University in Lexington. She also started a mailing to all interested students at her university.

Thank you very much for all your help! We really appreciate your engagement.

Particle dispersion techniques and Käsespätzle

After the immersion seminar in Berlin, Laura Harvey, newly elected Co-President of the Alumni Network, moved on to Heroldsberg where she started her internship with Schwan-STABILO Cosmetics.

Read more about her internship experience in this article that was published in the company newspaper.

Laura Harvey doing research on pigment processing techniques at Schwan Cosmetics.

Meeting the Federal Foreign Minister

Alina Zakharchuk is participant of the Transatlantic Program 2008 and intern at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin.

One day before the end of the German EU Council Presidency she met Federal Foreign Minister Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier with a group of interns.

Getting ready for the internship experience...

More than a chance of a lifetime

Shena van Etten was participant of the Transatlantic Program 2005 and intern at the American Chamber of Commerce in Germany e.V.. 

In the course of her internship she met, among others, His Holiness the XIV. Dalai Lama, Consulate General Peter Bodden, and the Governor of the State of Hessen, Roland Koch. Click here, to see some pictures of these events. (pdf document)

Shena von Etten reflects on her internship and her participation in the GACCoM Transatlantic Program:

“Had I not been given the chance through the Transatlantic Program, I would have never met some of the most influential people for Germany’s government and economy!

I have learned more than I could have ever imagined this summer and I plan on taking my experience from this summer and applying them to future opportunities. AmCham Germany has been a wonderful host, and gave me the chance to apply the essential information needed for everyday international business relations.

Thanks TAP for allowing me to take part in this internship, it has been more than a chance of a lifetime!!!”

Shena van Etten (second from left) with the AmCham team