NEW YORK: Adelphi University student Nitin Chatriniyom has been chosen winner of Western Union's South Asia Essay Competition. Chatriniyom will receive a check in the amount of $5,000 towards his tuition. Western Union, the leading money transfer services company had conducted the essay competition in April 2008, open to US legal residents, 18 years or older and enrolled in a NY/NJ public or private college or graduate school.

The question for the essay was, "What do you think the benefits are of sending money through a regulated money transmitter like Western Union?" Three runners-up also received prizes -- first runner up, Kedar Telang from NYU, received a backpack; the second runner up, Saboor Atrafi from Columbia University, received a $125 Best Buy Gift Card; and the third runner up, Sandesh Tuladhar from Adelphi University, received an Ipod Nano.

"We wanted to hear from future money senders and receivers about their perception of the industry," said Arti Kumar Caprihan, marketing director at Western Union. "What better group to voice their opinion than the student body - those that presently are the recipients of money transfers," Caprihan continued. "I am delighted with the results of this program and will be championing the cause to make it a regular feature of our company," she said.Simultaneously, Western Union also has an internship program.

It is inviting students to become a part of the process by submitting resumes for consideration as a candidate to intern this summer at the company's Montvale, New Jersey location. The opportunity will provide the selected student with first-hand experience in the marketing department, focusing on its business to South Asia, during the upcoming 2008 summer months. Western Union's senior recruiter, Stephanie Gray, grassroots marketing manager, Mohit Bijlani, and marketing manager, Dave Majumdar, met with the applicants and sieved through their resumes and profiles.

The internship is open to senior and graduate students working towards a major in marketing with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. "Our internship program is a great opportunity to connect with South Asian students and tap into bright thinking," said Caprihan about the program. "We see it as the best route to finding the right talent to learn about our industry and to groom potential future business leaders," she continued.