The World Traveler Internship (http://www.worldtravelerinternship.com) is back for 2010 and applications are now open. Two Interns will travel the world for three months taking photographs, videos, blogging, and tweeting to share their experience with their followers.  This is the fourth year of the Internship and we’ve got mtvU on board this year and the UK division of STA Travel is sending two additional Interns who will follow a separate itinerary. I think this amazing opportunity would be of interest to students at Columbia University.

Plus, the 2008 World Traveler Intern is a student at Columbia University and is available for interviews to help make the story relevant to your readers.

The Highlights

– Two Interns traveling the world for three months on STA’s dime

– Destinations include Australia, Turkey and Peru

– mtvU has joined STA as a partner for the 2010 World Traveler Internship

– In addition to the two U.S. Interns, the UK division of STA Travel is sending two Interns as well during the same time period, but on a separate itinerary

– Applications are open now and close on March 2

–  Just submit a two-to-three-minute video as a response to our original on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/worldtravelerinterns) and then send us the link by registering at worldtravelerinternship.com

If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call at (972) 538-8843. The full press release is pasted below.

WANTED: World Traveler Interns to Explore the World on STA Travel’s Dime

STA Travel – a global travel specialist with more than 30 years experience sending students, teachers and young professionals around the world – today announced the opening of applications for the 2010 World Traveler Internship: a three-month, 8-country-plus, out-of-the-office Internship for two lucky young people with every expense covered by STA Travel.

The World Traveler Internship is open to any young person in the U.S. under the age of 26 who wants the opportunity of a lifetime to travel around the world for three months blogging, shooting photos and videos, and tweeting about their adventures from June through August 2010.

To apply, just visit worldtravelerinternship.com to fill out a short application and submit a link to your two-to-three-minute YouTube video response telling the panel of STA Travel Experts and World Traveler Internship partner judges, including a representative from mtvU, why you should be one of the two World Traveler Interns from the U.S.

All applications must be completed and submitted by March 2, 2010, with the World Traveler Interns being announced on April 13, 2010.

Itinerary

The World Traveler Internship program is known for putting together some of the most exotic and exciting itineraries ever seen and this year is no different.

The World Traveler Interns start their journey in Peru, volunteering at the STA-supported voluntourism project providing after-school tutoring and warm meals to orphaned children in Cuzco, near iconic Machu Picchu. Follow that with a trip through Brazil and Argentina, and a couple weeks in Australia, including a stop in Tasmania, and the Interns are off to a flying start.

The Interns start July in Japan hitting Tokyo and Kyoto before making their way to Thailand for some island hopping and Turkey, where they will visit Istanbul and the site of the Trojan War.

August offers a bit more freedom for the Interns. After a week in Egypt with the pyramids, the Interns will help plan their own itinerary with a Eurail Global Pass and two weeks to explore Western Europe before heading home to the U.S.

Application Process

To apply, potential World Traveler Interns must fill out a short application at worldtravelerinternship.com with a link to their two-to-three-minute YouTube video response detailing why they should be a World Traveler Intern.

Applications close on March 2, 2010, for deliberation by the panel of travel experts, who will then select and notify the top 50 applicants. Those top 50 applicants will then be required to submit a full application, including a formal resume, references and past experience. It is a job after all.

The top 50 are trimmed to the 20 best applicants who must complete a phone interview with one member of the panel of travel experts before they can advanced to the final round of judging. The 10 finalists will be required to submit a second video that will determine the two World Traveler Interns and the two runners-up, who will also receive trip prizes. The Interns and runners-up will be announced on April 13.

mtvU

For 2010, STA Travel is partnering with mtvU, the largest and most comprehensive multi-platform channel for college students, to spread the word about the World Traveler Internship.

The 2010 World Traveler Internship will be featured on mtvU broadcast and online programming and content from the World TravelerIntern’s journey will be featured on the mtvU network later in 2010.

UK World Traveller Internship

For the first time in the four-year World Traveler Internship program, not only will two young people from the U.S. be embarking on the journey of a lifetime this summer, two representatives from the United Kingdom will be taking the plunge as well.

Applications for the two UK World Traveller Internship spots will be accepted at http://www.worldtravellerintern.co.uk/, with the application deadline of March 23 and the two UK Interns being announced on April 27.

About STA Travel

STA Travel is a global travel specialist with 30 years experience helping students, teachers and young professionals travel the world. We offer a unique range of products with exclusive discounts on airfare, accommodations, tours, rail passes and more. Globally we are present in 90 countries with 400 retail locations, sending over 6 million travelers away each year.