LI’s Summer Interns Arrive Next Week with Already 474 hours of LI Training

Next week the Leadership Institute will welcome 12 conservatives hailing from nine American states and two countries as interns for the summer 2012 semester.

Already these 12 young people have taken 474 hours of Leadership Institute trainings in topics as various as public speaking, youth leadership, campaign management, public relations, campus elections, TV training, and fundraising.

As interns, they will have the opportunity to take additional free LI trainings for the next year, be mentored by LI’s staff in their departments as they complete 40-hour work weeks, stay rent-free in the Sacher Intern House just blocks from the office, attend private dinners with conservative leaders, and host a weekly conservative book discussion.

“We have a fantastic group of interns coming this summer, all with very unique backgrounds and experiences,” LI’s Intern Coordinator Eliza Thurston said.  “I’m excited to get to know each one of them as they find their places here at the Leadership Institute."

Eugenio Gómez-Chico

Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México

Mexico City, Mexico

President’s Office








Eugenio is pursuing dual degrees in International Relations and Law at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México. In addition to his studies, Eugenio has volunteered his time extensively with a variety of international organizations including the Nosara Civic Association (Costa Rica), the World Youth Conference and the Great Basin Institute at the University of Nevada, Reno. Last summer Eugenio volunteered with the Mexican Consulate-General in Denver, Colorado with their Department of Legal Affairs. After taking the 2012 Mexican Youth Leadership School Eugenio co-founded Mas Por Libertad A.C., an organization dedicated to promoting ideas of liberty within Mexican society.

LI training and events: Mexico City’s Youth Leadership School in January 2012

 

Ryan Bolyard

Hillsdale College

Doylestown, OH

Technology











Ryan has combined his two passions, campaigns and computers, to study Politics and Computer Science at Hillsdale College. He has extensive experience in both, and had the opportunity to put both in to practice while serving as Youth Coordinator and Chief Technology Officer/Developer for a 2010 Congressional campaign. In addition, as the Chairman of the Campaign Committee for Hillsdale’s College Republicans, Ryan has organized many successful campaign trips for his fellow students.  While on campus Ryan served on Hillsdale’s Student Government and currently volunteers with Students for Free Enterprise and the Aliaga Foundation. Through Aliaga, Ryan is working to establish an exchange program between Peruvian students and Hillsdale College.  

LI training and events: West Lafayette, Indiana’s Youth Leadership School in October 2009 and LI’s CPAC Job & Internship Fair in February 2011




Alejandro Capote

Florida State University

Hialeah, Fl 

Grassroots








Alejandro is a rising junior at Florida State University where he is working on degrees in Political Science and International Affairs. A native of Cuba, Alejandro recently became a United States citizen, a privilege he has not taken lightly. While in high school Alejandro was heavily involved in student life and served as the president of his Student Government.  Alejandro has been involved with numerous political campaigns, both with individual candidates and through the Republican Party of Florida. Last year Alejandro switched gears from the campaign field to serve as an intern in the office of Florida State Senator Rene Garcia. Alejandro is also an active member of the Leon County Republican Party.

Please go here to read about Alejandro as the Institute’s 100,000th graduate since 1979.

LI training and events: Arlington, Virginia’s Youth Leadership School in July 2011 and LI’s Tallahassee, Florida’s Youth Leadership School in October 2011
 


 

Braden Goodgame

Georgia State University

Snellville, GA

Recruitment







Braden is studying Political Science at Georgia State University where he is a rising sophomore. An active member of GSU’s College Republicans, Braden currently serves as the club’s Director of Communications. In addition to maintaining his own lawn care business through high school, Braden co-founded a Young Conservatives Club at his school. Braden has also volunteered extensively with youth, serving both as a Youth Leader at Grace Fellowship Church and as a Youth League baseball umpire. Braden is a cadet in the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Georgia State and plans to become a commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army.

LI training and events: Chapel Hill, North Carolina’s Youth Leadership School in March 2012 and LI’s CPAC Job & Internship Fair in February 2012

 

 

Amanda Haas

Liberty University

Dallas, TX

Campus Leadership Program
















Amanda recently received her degree in Government from Liberty University. During her freshman year Amanda became president of Liberty’s chapter of Young Women for America (YWA), an organization she served with throughout her college career. In her role as executive secretary for Liberty’s Student Government Association, Amanda organized the college’s largest pro-life conference with nearly 13,000 participants. As a result of her dedication to the pro-life movement Amanda received the 2011 Susan B. Anthony Young Leaders Award. In addition to her campus activities, Amanda has also worked with Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, both as a congressional intern and as an intern field representative on the Congresswoman’s presidential campaign.

LI training and events: Arlington, Virginia’s Youth Leadership School in March 2012, LI’s Public Relations School in June 2011, LI’s Travel—Campaign Management School in Lynchburg, Virginia, and LI’s conservative Job Fair at CPAC in February 2009

 

 

Brandon Hartness          

University of Chapel Hill

Taylorsville, NC               

Events







Brandon is a rising senior at the University of Chapel Hill where he is pursuing a double major in Political Science and Peace, War and Defense Studies. As the National and State Political Chair of the UNC College Republicans, Brandon frequently contributes to campus media outlets and organizes events at UNC. Brandon writes regularly for the Carolina Review, helping to expose bias and abuse on campus. He also serves as the president of Committee for a Better Carolina, another group on campus dedicated to providing intellectual diversity and a conservative voice at UNC. In addition to his campus activities, Brandon spent the past couple months interning with the Orange County Republican Party. 

LI training and events: Chapel Hill, North Carolina’s Youth Leadership School in October 2011 and LI’s CPAC Trainings—Getting Your Message Heard and Resume Consultations in February 2012

 

 

Pamela Meyerhofer

Xavier University

Buffalo, NY

Youth Leadership School











Pamela is a rising junior at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH where she is double-majoring in Economics and Philosophy, Politics and the Public. No stranger to the campaign trail, Pamela has interned with local, state and federal campaigns. Last summer while working with a congressional campaign Pamela organized a Get Out the Vote initiative with over 200 volunteers. On campus, Pamela is active in College Republicans and is also a fundraiser with Xavier University’s Phonathon. Since being on the Phonathan team Pamela has personally raised $27,000 for the university.

LI training and events: Newark, Ohio’s Youth Leadership School in February 2012, Grassroots Activism training in Buffalo, New York in June 2011, and LI’s CPAC Job & Internship Fair in February 2012


 

Caleb Parke

Grove City College

Findlay, OH

Employment Placement Services












Caleb is a rising senior at Grove City College where he is majoring in Political Science and Economics. Over the past couple years Caleb has volunteered on numerous state-wide campaigns. Last year Caleb completed an eight-month internship in the district office of Congressman Jim Jordan. In addition to his political activity, Caleb actively participates in Grove City student life. He serves as the Junior Class President, Co-President of Christians United for Israel, and the Style Editor of the Journal of Law & Public Policy. Caleb has been honored with the President’s Call to Service Award for his many hours spent serving his community.     

LI training and events: Grove City, Pennsylvania’s Youth Leadership School in March 2011, Land a Job or Internship in DC training in March 2011, CPAC training called Landing a Conservative Job: the Hill and Beyond in February 2012


 

Christine Rousselle

Providence College

Scarborough, Maine

Campus Reform Online







Christine is currently pursuing a degree in Political Science and a minor in French at Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island. On campus, Christine is the Assistant News Editor for The Cowl and Vice-Chair of the Providence College Republicans. Christine has been featured in multiple national news outlets and blogs regularly for the TheCollegeConservative.  She also provides the conservative perspective for The Portland Press Herald’s blog The Way Politics Should Be.

Go here to read her post on LI’s CampusReform.org.

LI training and events: One-On-One Television Workshop in January 2012, Boston, Massachusetts’ Youth Leadership School in October 2011, History of the American Right in July 2011, The Year of the Youth: Why Youth Engagement is Vital in Politics in July 2011, Campus Elections Workshop in June 2011, Student Publications School in June 2011, and another Campus Elections Workshop in May 2011.


 


Danielle Saul

Minnesota State University, Moorhead

Fergus Falls, MN

Recruitment



Danielle recently received a degree in Communication Studies with a minor in Leadership Studies from Minnesota State University, Moorhead. While on campus Danielle was President of her College Republicans, a member of the MSUM Student Senate and founder of MSUM Students Against Human Trafficking.  Danielle also interned with the Minnesota State Senate and the radio program We the People, hosted by Chris Berg. Since June 2011 Danielle has been a writer/contributor to BigGovernment.com.  In addition, Danielle frequently volunteers in her community and has served at the Center for the Arts, the YMCA and with flood relief efforts. 

LI training and events: Minneapolis, Minnesota’s Youth Leadership School in April 2012, Beating the Liberal Media at Their Own Game in June 2011, Moorhead, Minnesota’s Youth Leadership School in April 2011, and LI’s CPAC Job & Internship Fair in February 2012

 

 

Katie Shupe

University of Florida

Tampa, Fl

Department of Political Training













Katie received dual degrees in Communications and Acting for the Stage and Screen from Palm Beach Atlantic University last May. She is currently pursuing her Masters in Advertising at the University of Florida, Gainesville. On campus, Katie has been involved in UF’s chapter of Young Americans for Liberty and the College Republicans. While at PBAU Katie served on Student Government as the Judicial Chair. She has dedicated over 200 hours of community service, working with Habitat for Humanity, Service to the Homeless and other local projects. Katie also recruits for and travels with WinShape (Chick-fil-A) to implement day camps for youth in area communities.

LI training and events: Orlando, Florida’s Youth Leadership School in October 2007 and LI’s CPAC 2012 Job & Internship Fair in February 2012



 

Abbey Torkelson

Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana

Walton, Indiana

Development


















Abbey joined the exciting world of conservative activism after attending the Greenville, South Carolina Republican Presidential Debate last May. Since January 2012 she has been interning with Young Americans for Liberty supporting YAL’s social media and donor relations outreach. Prior to coming to Washington, DC Abbey worked as the office manager for Indiana Irrigation Co., Inc. Abbey has also worked in nursing and was involved with Civil Air Patrol for nearly ten years. In 2005 Abbey was named Indiana’s Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year and received Commander’s Commendations in 2006 and 2008.

LI training and events: Campaign Management School in July 2011, High-Dollar Fundraising School in April 2012, Online Fundraising Workshop in April 2012, Political Voter Mail Workshop in April 2012, Public Relations School in March 2012, Public Speaking Workshop in April 2012, Arlington, Virginia’s Youth Leadership School in March 2012, Indianapolis, Indiana’s Youth Leadership School in September 2011, and numerous Wake-Up Club Breakfasts and LI happy hours.

 

For more information about LI’s internship, please click here.

Please help us welcome our newest members to the team!