(Washington, DC) Mayor Anthony A. Williams welcomed the fourth cohort of Capital City Fellows on July 14, as they began their two-year appointments to work for the District government. Inaugurated by Mayor Williams in 1999, the Capital City Fellows Program (CCFP) invites recent graduates of master's degree programs in public administration, public policy, urban planning, and related fields to compete for two-year fellowship appointments to work for the city. During the Fellows' tenure, they complete four six-month rotations in different city agencies.

The following candidates were awarded fellowships through a rigorous application process. Next to their names are the universities where they earned their graduate degrees, and the agency where they will complete their first rotation:

• Evelyn Bandoh, American University, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety
• Rasheen Coleman, Texas A&M University, Department of Motor Vehicles
• Samira Cook, The George Washington University, Department of Transportation
• Geraldine Gardner, UCLA, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
• Bradley Hicks, University of Georgia, Office of Finance and Resource Management
• Sarah Latterner, University of Maryland, Department of Transportation
• Jeff Marootian, The George Washington University, Department of Human Services
• Adrienne Vyfhuis, Boston University, Department of Health

This is also the inaugural year of the Capital City Fellows Engineering Track. Engineering Fellows complete two one-year rotations in District government agencies. Our first Capital City Engineering Fellow is:

• Faisal Hameed, The George Washington University, Department of Transportation

The District also welcomed three additional Fellows into the third cohort in December 2002:

• Michael Sarich, University of Maryland
• Lincoln Lashley, Howard University
• John Bullock, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Agency placements involve Fellows in a range of initiatives, from budget development and analysis to strategic planning and constituent services. Fellows work closely with experienced government leaders who design assignments to utilize the Fellows' education and training and apply their skills to real challenges faced by the city. Completion of the program prepares Fellows to meet the challenges of local government public service and develops a cohort of management talent for the city.

Additional information about the program is available on the DC Office of Personnel website at http://www.dcop.dc.gov/services/employmt_opp/capcity_program/capcity_program.shtm.