Kevin Sarmiento

Congressional Intern, Presented by Walmart  

Hometown: Mission, Kansas  

School: University of Missouri-Kansas City  

Major: Business Administration; International Relations  

Placement: Office of Rep. Nellie Pou   

Kevin Sarmiento was born in New Jersey to parents who immigrated from El Salvador and Ecuador, and raised in West New York and Overland Park, Kansas. Watching his father work tirelessly as an owner of an Ecuadorian restaurant and his mother as a teacher’s aide, Kevin was influenced by his parents’ acumen to learn and fuel opportunity.   

As a recent graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kevin received University Honors as Double Major in Business Management and International Studies with a Minor in the Spanish. On campus, Kevin was involved as a senator bringing issues such as language access to the forefront of governance, and as lead tutor, where he guided dozens of students through finance and business courses. Locally, Kevin has also demonstrated his commitment to his community by serving as a Workforce Intern for Guadalupe Centers and as a Public Policy Intern for the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.   

Kevin holds a variety of outside experiences, including serving as a banker for a Kansas City institution, where he assisted small businesses and processed individual transactions. He also interned for the Sudan Office at the U.S. Department of State, where he applied his strategic skills in research and analysis related to international relations.  

Aspiring to enter international business, Kevin hopes to gain valuable experience and build connections through his CHCI internship, particularly within legislative processes with a focus on strategy and communication. Ultimately, he aims to develop the skill set essential for creating positive change and expanding opportunities for all communities.