For Immediate Release; list of local students at end

Contact:         Christina Butterfield
                        News & Media Relations
                        Galloway, NJ 08205
                        Christina.Butterfield@stockton.edu
                        (609) 626-3845
                        www.stockton.edu/media

 

Galloway, N.J. – Nine Stockton University students are attending either the Republican or Democratic National Conventions as part of a two-week seminar program offered through The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC).

Two Stockton students are attending the TWC’s Republican National Convention seminar, being held from July 10 – 22, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio, and seven Stockton students will attend the TWC’s Democratic National Convention seminar, being held from July 17 – 29, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pa.

The convention seminars are part of the TWC Campaign 2016 series, which combines formal instruction, panels, tours, site visits and fieldwork assignments. The program gives students the opportunity to experience the convention from behind the scenes, and to witness democracy in action at both the grassroots and national levels.

Through academic partnerships with Temple University and Baldwin Wallace University, participants will attend guest lectures led by prominent political leaders and scholars and then volunteer on-site on the convention grounds.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our students to experience and participate in the presidential nominating process and to learn from a series of featured speakers and instruction,” said Michael Rodriguez, associate professor of Political Science at Stockton, who will serve as a faculty leader for TWC at the Democratic National Convention.

 Rodriguez’s group in Philadelphia will consist of all seven Stockton students and eight students from other institutions. The Stockton students will also take an independent study course with Rodriguez during the fall semester based on their convention experience and will participate in activities related to the 2016 presidential election.

“The conventions give students an insider’s perspective on the political process and a front row seat to history,” said TWC President Mike Smith. “This seminar is an immersion into the campaign world, giving students numerous opportunities to study the nomination process from start to finish. I can’t think of a more meaningful way to take part in political discourse.”

More than 350 students from over 50 colleges and universities are expected to attend the two-week seminars. Prominent speakers will lead discussions on the history of political campaigns, convention procedures and the role of the media. The second half of the program will be spent at the convention, with students participating in fieldwork assignments and attending convention receptions and rallies.

In 2008 and 2012, Stockton paid for one student to attend each convention, Rodriguez explained. “This year we raised sufficient funds to enable a number of students to go. Cost is quite high at $4,695 per student - but with internal funding support, we were able to get it down to $1,700 per student,” he said.

The following students are attending the Republican National Convention: Cooper Terrell, junior Criminal Justice major, of Linwood, N.J. and Thomas Delany, sophomore Political Science major, of Galloway, N.J.

The following students will attend the Democratic National Convention: Brittney Welch, sophomore Communications major, of Dalton, Ohio; Shaun O’Connor, junior Political Science major, of Cape May, N.J.; Sparkle Prevard, sophomore, undecided major, of Ventnor City, N.J.; Maryam Sarhan, senior Political Science major, of Somers Point, N.J.; William Wilson IV, junior Political Science major, of Newtonville, N.J.; Cristian Moreno-Rodriguez, senior Political Science major, of Ventnor City, N.J.; and Tyler Osborne, senior Political Science major, of Manahawkin, N.J.

About The Washington Center
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is an independent, nonprofit organization that serves hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States and other countries by providing selected students challenging opportunities to work and learn in Washington, D.C., for academic credit. The largest program of its kind, The Washington Center has more than 50,000 alumni who have become leaders in numerous professions and nations around the world. It was established in 1975.

Republican Convention - July 10-22
Democratic Convention - July 17-29

 

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