News
Whittier College Nixon Fellows Tackle U.S. Politics
April 22, 2008 Press Release
The Whittier College Richard M. Nixon Fellowship program is taking full advantage of the 2008 presidential election year to bring new learning opportunities to Whittier College students. Among the five awarded fellowships for the 2008-09 year, two students will attend the Democratic and Republican National Conventions this summer. An additional two students will go to the 2009 Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C.
Political science majors Stephen Addezio '09 and Daniel Strauss '09 will participate in the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Denver, Colorado, and the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, respectively. Both will hold volunteer positions during the conventions and will participate in a week-long seminar conducted by The Washington Center. Addezio's project will investigate super-delegates' voting behavior, while Strauss will analyze media coverage—omissions, angles, and select story emphasis—leading up to and during the RNC.
For Addezio, the opportunity to attend the DNC during this particular race will provide important context to much of his studies up to now. "It's different when you read about a lion, versus when you get to go and pet the lion. This is me getting to pet the lion."
Heading to Washington, D.C. in January to be part of the 44th Presidential Inauguration are political science major Teresa Baranowski '09 and Whittier Scholar Neslie Tumulac '09. While at the capital, the two will also participate in a 10-day academic and activities seminar conducted by The Washington Center, culminating in behind-the-scenes work for and attendance at the formal inauguration ceremony.
The fifth Nixon Fellow, Caitlin Finley '09, will complete a yearlong, self-directed project, which will include an internship with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees. Finley's research will examine the Nixon administration's approach toward refugees from the Korean and Vietnam conflicts—work relevant to situations today, including those resulting from the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.
Created to honor 1934 Whittier College alumnus and former U. S. President Richard M. Nixon, the Nixon Fellowship Program is designed to prepare exceptional students for informed citizenship and service through internships, scholarship, and research opportunities that echo Nixon's successful legacy in domestic and foreign policy. Students named Nixon Fellows will develop leadership skills, increase international understanding, and experience the rewards inherent in a career dedicated to the public good.
Founded by Quakers in 1887, Whittier College is an independent, four-year college offering a traditional liberal arts program integrated with both professional and pre-professional courses of study. With an emphasis on diversity, community, and curricular innovation, the College’s primary mission is to endow students with the education, skills, and values appropriate for global leadership and service. Whittier College is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).
Whittier Law School, which is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools, is located on a separate campus in Orange County.
