DOINews: OSMRE Home to Cherry Blossom Royalty

This spring, OSMRE Public Administration Fellow Kelly Kim will represent her home state of California as the state's 2014 California Cherry Blossom Princess.

She will be among 60-70 other women representing their state, territory, or country in the National Cherry Blossom Festival taking place April 6-12, 2014, in Washington, D.C.

The Cherry Blossom Princess Program, a program of the National Conference of State Societies, is a week-long “Washington classroom” experience that offers cultural and educational opportunities for women from across the U.S. and around the world, usually college students between the ages of 19 and 24.

They are selected by a state society or an embassy based on their leadership, academic achievements, and interest in social, civic, community and world affairs.

Since 1948, more than 3,000 women have participated in the program. Alumnae include U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

A graduate of California State University, Fullerton, Kelly has served as a Public Administration Fellow in OSMRE's Division of Reclamation Support since June 2012. She assists in the administration of the OSMRE/VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) Teams, OSMRE Intern Program, and other youth engagement opportunities.