We are very excited to introduce you to our three student interns for the 2016 Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement (CLDE) Meeting. Angelo, Maryam, and Manisha introduce themselves below and represent the capacity of students in our network to engage meaningfully on our campuses, in our classrooms, and in our broader communities and democracy. In the coming weeks they will work with the meeting planning committee on the program, arranging a student symposium and specifically on creating networking, learning, and organizing opportunities for the students that attend the conference in Indianapolis from June 1-4 and for students committed to civic learning and democratic engagement in higher education to continue to connect with each other and to push us to become the best faculty, administrators, campuses, and communities we’re capable of being. 

Please join us in welcoming Angelo, Maryam, and Manisha!

—Jen, Gabriel & Stephanie

My name is Angelo Kapp. I am currently a sophomore attending Delta College (Mich.) and plan to transfer to Northwood University (Mich.) pursuing a degree in advertising and marketing. I previously worked in the automotive industry for seven years. In 2014, my plant closed and I decided to go back to school. I am a member of six different clubs at school and serve as vice president for Citizens In Action, a student-led club that promotes student civic engagement around campus and local communities. Recently I was awarded from the Michigan Campus Compact, Commitment to Service Award.

My name is Maryam Sarhan and I am a junior attending Stockton University (N.J.) pursuing a degree in political science with a minor in international studies. For the past two years, I have served as the student trustee on Stockton’s Board of Trustees and advocated for my fellow peers’ needs and concerns, while also  helping to establish a $30,000 fund to address food insecurity on campus. This past year, I was part of Stockton’s UptoUs team, a national bipartisan campaign that raises awareness about the national debt crisis. My team and I placed first nationally against 44 other schools and earned recognition from former President Bill Clinton.

My name is Manisha Vepa, and I am a sophomore economics and global studies double major at theUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) (Md). I am a Sondheim Public Affairs Scholar, which is a program at UMBC that supports talented undergraduates aspiring to careers in service of the public interest in government, non-profit organizations, corporations, and the community; and am working towards a career in public service and government affairs. I am part of a number of civic engagement efforts on campus both formal and informal. In the student government association, I advocate for student interests to be reflected in mandatory fee changes. I am also involved with the UMBC BreakingGround Initiative and collaborate with other students, faculty, and staff to provide grants and suggest projects that would strengthen the campus community.

It is an honor to be selected to represent students and be a voice on the 2016 CLDE Planning Committee. We believe that this opportunity will be an invaluable experience to share our experiences and to learn from others. Together, we plan to create an environment at the meeting where students can better network and share ideas for engaging their peers in their communities. We want to encourage students to commit to building national and community partnerships now and in their future endeavors. Furthermore, we hope to build a strong national network to collaborate on larger civic learning and democratic engagement initiatives. After the conference, we will take the lessons we have learned during the meeting and share them on our home campuses. We will also continue to engage with students across the nation to continue the conversations and work started at the 2016 CLDE. We are looking forward to helping empower students and make strides in creating a more civically engaged population.

To learn more about the 2016 CLDE Meeting visit the event website today.