Intern Update: Eric Welkos
APA interns Eric Welkos and Jasmine Fernandez at the Smithsonian staff holiday party.
My name is Eric Welkos. I am a recent graduate of McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. I have dedicated an extraordinary amount of my time both in and out of school to study Indian arts and culture. Having had the chance to make use of my research skills and knowledge for the Asian Pacific American Program’s HomeSpun initiative as an intern has been enormously enriching.
I was given the opportunity to gather information and develop themes of Indian American Heritage for the upcoming HomeSpun travelling exhibition, entitled Speaking Up!: Asian Indian Americans Shape the Nation. My research included the history of Indian American medical professionals as well as topics of immigration and yoga. Dr. Pawan Dhingra, my supervisor and the Curator of HomeSpun, encouraged me to research the history of modern yoga and its ever-changing role in the 20th century. Through these studies, I enhanced my familiarity with yogic practice and developed my own thesis centered on devotional (Bhakti) traditions of American Hinduism.
Ultimately, my involvement with HomeSpun and its rewarding accomplishments will be foundational to my future endeavors. My internship with the APA Program has instilled in me the notion that the Smithsonian Institution is an extremely valuable resource for a dynamic world; it is the place where I have progressed as an individual, while forming unique relationships along the way. I want to thank the staff at the Asian Pacific American Program for providing me and my fellow interns with a truly amazing experience!
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